Royal Canadian Air Force

Explore Canada's air and space force: its organization, aircraft by role, and occupations across operations, maintenance and support.

How it is organized

A simplified guide to the main parts and how they relate. Expand an item for context; this is not a complete operational chain of command.

RCAF headquarters

The headquarters directs the RCAF. Its official organization page describes three divisions and the Aerospace Warfare Centre reporting to headquarters.

Air operations: 1 Canadian Air Division

1 Canadian Air Division is the operational headquarters. Its commander also holds Canadian NORAD Region responsibilities; NORAD is not a level beneath a squadron.

Training: 2 Canadian Air Division

2 Canadian Air Division focuses on personnel training and education. Training and operational organizations serve different purposes.

Space: 3 Canadian Space Division

3 Canadian Space Division delivers space effects in support of CAF operations, including through 7 Wing (Space). Air Force organization includes more than aircraft.

Wings and squadrons

Wings and squadrons organize operational and support capabilities. Use the official directory for each wing’s units and responsibilities rather than assuming every wing has the same structure.

Official organization and context. Guide reviewed 14 September 2026. Unit assignments and structures can change.

What the Air Force operates

Browse this site’s selection by role. Each entry retains its own status; a replacement programme is not equipment already in service. Counts describe entries in this reference, not fleet readiness.

Trades of the Air Force

Start with occupations tagged only to this environment in the site’s dataset, or switch to include shared occupations. These categories describe the listings, not where a member will necessarily be posted.

Ranks and pay

Every rank in the Air Force alongside its equivalents in the other two elements, with the incentive pay levels inside each range.

Ranks & Pay

Other branches

See how the Army and Navy structure their commands and ranks.

Canadian Army Royal Canadian Navy