12 Wing Shearwater

Who we are

12 Wing Shearwater is the centre of naval aviation in Canada. Home of the CH-124 Sea King helicopter, 12 Wing supports the Navy with up to nine helicopter air detachments for international and domestic operations.

It is an exciting time to be part of 12 Wing, home to the Maritime Helicopter community. With the announcement of the Sea King replacement, the CH-148 Cyclone and continued operational commitments, the Wing has never been busier.

Personnel and aircraft are deployed around the world primarily as part of Helicopter Air Detachments (HELAIRDETS) that deploy with Navy ships on the East and West coast. While deployed personnel become part of the ship's crew and the helicopter acts as an extension of the ship, extending its sensor and weapons delivery capability.

The Sea King is one of the busiest Aircraft in Canada's Air Force, participating in a variety of international and domestic operations. In recent years, this has included Operation SAIPH, Canada’s periodic contribution to counter-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa; Operation LAMA, A joint humanitarian relief mission that helped Newfoundland communities crippled by Hurricane Igor; Operation HESTIA, the Canadian Forces participation in humanitarian operations conducted in response to the catastrophic earthquake that struck Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Op PODIUM, the Canadian Forces contingency operation that supported the RCMP-led Integrated Security Unit during the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Games; and, most recently, as part of Operation MOBILE was the Canadian Forces’ participation in the international response to the popular uprising in Libya against the regime of Moammar Gadhafi.

12 Wing is located at Canadian Forces Base Shearwater.