'Gizmo', 'Satan,' and 'McLovin': Inside the changing world of pilot calls signs at CFB Cold Lake
Animal names including 'Pug,' 'Tiger,' 'Piglet,' and 'Walrus,' were also assigned as call signs as were foods including 'Jelly Bean' and 'Loaf.'
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Some call signs produced amusing juxtapositions, including the potential of 'Moses' and 'Satan' flying together on the same mission.
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Those nicknames are selected by what's known as a call sign review board (CRB), that despite the formal name, are an invite-only social gathering.
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'Due to the unprecedented times we have lived through over the past two years none of you have been adequately exposed to mess culture or to the morale building exercises central to the identity of an operational unit such as ours,' reads an emailed invitation to pilots from an acting commanding officer at CFB Cold Lake, adding the CRB will 'ensure your proper amalgamation into the fighter controller community.'
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'Traditions are important,' his email ends.
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The documents indicate meetings of CRBs can include consumption of alcohol by attendees, are sometimes preceded by a slideshow full of internet memes, and in one case, encouraged invitees to obtain an item from a rival squadron on base to be 'ransomed' back to its rightful owner at a later date.
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Potential call signs for a given pilot are set out to the group by the leader of the CRB, referenced in the documents as 'the mayor.' Those suggestions are then debated by the 'congregation' of other pilots while the member awaiting his or her new call sign, known as 'the defendant,' waits outside.
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Upon being invited back into the room, the pilot is informed of the group's choice and bestowed with that as their call sign.
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While often whimsical or humorous, some call signs have been deemed to be problematic in the past.
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In 2022, two senior officers were disciplined and fined for not intervening during a call sign review board at CFB Cold Lake that assigned a junior male pilot a homophobic call sign that referenced a specific female pilot.
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Maj.-Gen. Iain Huddleston told the Canadian Press then that the call sign was 'egregious,' and the incident led the RCAF to promise to add more controls over how call signs are assigned.
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A 2023 lessons learned report included in the documents presented several recommendations regarding CRBs, including that commanding officers pre-vet any prospective call signs which are also to be presented to pilots privately 'to ensure all perceived pressure to consent is removed.'
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'The RCAF reviewed and updated its direction surrounding call sign assignment practices to ensure alignment with Canadian Armed Forces values, including professionalism, respect, dignity, and inclusion,' Bilodeau stated.
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Calgary Herald
26-07-2025
- Calgary Herald
'Gizmo', 'Satan,' and 'McLovin': Inside the changing world of pilot calls signs at CFB Cold Lake
Article content Animal names including 'Pug,' 'Tiger,' 'Piglet,' and 'Walrus,' were also assigned as call signs as were foods including 'Jelly Bean' and 'Loaf.' Article content Some call signs produced amusing juxtapositions, including the potential of 'Moses' and 'Satan' flying together on the same mission. Article content Those nicknames are selected by what's known as a call sign review board (CRB), that despite the formal name, are an invite-only social gathering. Article content 'Due to the unprecedented times we have lived through over the past two years none of you have been adequately exposed to mess culture or to the morale building exercises central to the identity of an operational unit such as ours,' reads an emailed invitation to pilots from an acting commanding officer at CFB Cold Lake, adding the CRB will 'ensure your proper amalgamation into the fighter controller community.' Article content Article content 'Traditions are important,' his email ends. Article content The documents indicate meetings of CRBs can include consumption of alcohol by attendees, are sometimes preceded by a slideshow full of internet memes, and in one case, encouraged invitees to obtain an item from a rival squadron on base to be 'ransomed' back to its rightful owner at a later date. Article content Potential call signs for a given pilot are set out to the group by the leader of the CRB, referenced in the documents as 'the mayor.' Those suggestions are then debated by the 'congregation' of other pilots while the member awaiting his or her new call sign, known as 'the defendant,' waits outside. Article content Upon being invited back into the room, the pilot is informed of the group's choice and bestowed with that as their call sign. Article content While often whimsical or humorous, some call signs have been deemed to be problematic in the past. Article content Article content In 2022, two senior officers were disciplined and fined for not intervening during a call sign review board at CFB Cold Lake that assigned a junior male pilot a homophobic call sign that referenced a specific female pilot. Article content Maj.-Gen. Iain Huddleston told the Canadian Press then that the call sign was 'egregious,' and the incident led the RCAF to promise to add more controls over how call signs are assigned. Article content A 2023 lessons learned report included in the documents presented several recommendations regarding CRBs, including that commanding officers pre-vet any prospective call signs which are also to be presented to pilots privately 'to ensure all perceived pressure to consent is removed.' Article content 'The RCAF reviewed and updated its direction surrounding call sign assignment practices to ensure alignment with Canadian Armed Forces values, including professionalism, respect, dignity, and inclusion,' Bilodeau stated.
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What is Shavuot? The Jewish festival that started hours after Boulder, Colorado, attack
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