The Buttonville Flying Club COPA Flight 44

Tour of North bays Norad Under groud complex

On Sept 14th we were treated to a tour of CFB North Bay (22 Wing), a Canadian Forces Base located in North Bay, Ontario. The tour included a unique peak at the NORAD underground complex (UGC) built 68 stories down into hard granite of the Canadian shield. Staffed by 400 Canadian and American air force personnel the North Bay UCG has played a major role in the air defense of North America for the last 43 years. Able to run sealed up for weeks at a time, it is rivaled only by its more famous cousin, the Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center in Colorado.
Currently the day-to-day operations have been consolidated, for purposes of efficiency, into a new ordinary building above ground on the base. The UGC will be kept as a backup in "warm standby," but might soon be on the real-estate market. Any takers? Not much of a view, but if you always wanted your very own super sized Bat Cave able to withstand a some Jokers ( or penguins ) Nuke strike then this is the home for you! Personally I think it would make a great Movie set for the next James bond movie… or a perfect location for a corporate retreat for workaholics … no cell phone can possible work down here!
Seriously, this place is a data centers manager’s dream. Raised floors, massive air conditioning, totally secure from data snoopers and able to survive any natural disaster or act of terrorism…. Some serious potential here!
The base Commander came out and greeted us at the airport and we were treated to the full VIP treatment. Everyone was friendly and approachable. For Lunch we had our own table set up with silverware in the mess. A number of military people joined us for the meal including the ranking NCO. Afterwards we visited the new above ground complex and got to see all the latest equipment and meet the talented people guarding our skies.
This was a tour to remember! Thank you Paul Hayes for making it happen!