'Gizmo', 'Satan,' and 'McLovin': Inside the changing world of pilot calls signs at CFB Cold Lake
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Such short-hand monikers are used in official and unofficial communications as well as by Canada's allies, and have appeared in pop culture through films like Top Gun.
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The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) says call signs serve as more than identification markers, and reflect both generations of aviation heritage as well as the contemporary pilots who assign the nicknames to their peers.
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While once considered to be permanent, call signs and the policies that govern them have been updated in recent years amid controversy over some individual nicknames and the process by which they were assigned.
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Those concerns prompted an overhaul of standards around call signs and the process used to choose them, according to over 200 pages of records acquired by Postmedia via several access to information requests that produced records primarily from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta but also to other bases.
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'While the RCAF continues to value tradition and camaraderie, we recognize that certain call signs previously considered acceptable may no longer reflect the evolving culture of the organization,' reads a statement to Postmedia from Maj. Marie-Eve Bilodeau with the Canadian Armed Forces.
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'Our approach remains flexible, allowing the fighter force culture to evolve alongside broader societal expectations.'
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The documents list close to 100 different call signs, and while the origins of many of those are difficult to determine many are apparent attempts at humour.
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Call signs referencing first or last names were common, including one pilot with the surname Chu who was given the call sign 'Pica' in reference to the Pokemon character.
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Entertainment was a popular source of inspiration for call signs including 'Bollywood,' 'Jar Jar,' 'Gizmo,' 'Footloose,' and 'McLovin' in apparent reference to the 2007 film Superbad.
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'Call signs, much like nicknames between good friends, are intended to maintain tradition and contribute to esprit de corps,' Bilodeau stated.
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Some call signs were acronyms, including 'POG' in reference to TSN's Play of the Game highlight segment, 'RIC' referring to an officer who rides (his motorcycle) in crocs, and 'DATA' for a pilot whose colleagues apparently believe doesn't always think ahead.
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As far back as the Second World War, Canadian pilots have used call signs to identify themselves to colleagues in the air and on the ground. Article content Such short-hand monikers are used in official and unofficial communications as well as by Canada's allies, and have appeared in pop culture through films like Top Gun. Article content Article content The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) says call signs serve as more than identification markers, and reflect both generations of aviation heritage as well as the contemporary pilots who assign the nicknames to their peers. Article content Article content While once considered to be permanent, call signs and the policies that govern them have been updated in recent years amid controversy over some individual nicknames and the process by which they were assigned. Article content Article content Those concerns prompted an overhaul of standards around call signs and the process used to choose them, according to over 200 pages of records acquired by Postmedia via several access to information requests that produced records primarily from CFB Cold Lake in Alberta but also to other bases. Article content 'While the RCAF continues to value tradition and camaraderie, we recognize that certain call signs previously considered acceptable may no longer reflect the evolving culture of the organization,' reads a statement to Postmedia from Maj. Marie-Eve Bilodeau with the Canadian Armed Forces. Article content 'Our approach remains flexible, allowing the fighter force culture to evolve alongside broader societal expectations.' Article content Article content The documents list close to 100 different call signs, and while the origins of many of those are difficult to determine many are apparent attempts at humour. Article content Call signs referencing first or last names were common, including one pilot with the surname Chu who was given the call sign 'Pica' in reference to the Pokemon character. Article content Entertainment was a popular source of inspiration for call signs including 'Bollywood,' 'Jar Jar,' 'Gizmo,' 'Footloose,' and 'McLovin' in apparent reference to the 2007 film Superbad. Article content 'Call signs, much like nicknames between good friends, are intended to maintain tradition and contribute to esprit de corps,' Bilodeau stated. Article content Some call signs were acronyms, including 'POG' in reference to TSN's Play of the Game highlight segment, 'RIC' referring to an officer who rides (his motorcycle) in crocs, and 'DATA' for a pilot whose colleagues apparently believe doesn't always think ahead.
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