Welcome to

Cold Lake Air Weapons Range
(CLAWR)

Your safety is our priority

The Air Force conducts live fire training exercises on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR). Access to and movement within CLAWR is strictly controlled to ensure your safety.

The information found on this site must be reviewed prior to entering CLAWR, before planning or conducting work projects, and during daily safety meetings. The Operational Notices are subject to frequent change and all personnel are accountable to have the most-up-to-date information.

Range Control Mission Statement

Range Control will facilitate safe, effective, efficient coordination / access control for petroleum industry operators on the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR) through a team approach, supporting both military and industry management requests, whilst promoting appropriate communication at all levels.

History – Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR)

4 Wing Cold Lake was established in 1952 when the site was chosen by the Royal Canadian Air Force for an air weapons training base. In 1953, the federal government signed an agreement with the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan for the use of a tract of land 220 km by 74 km for use as an air weapons range.

The CLAWR covers an area of 1.17 million hectares straddling the Alberta/Saskatchewan border. 4 Wing Cold Lake hosts Canada's world-class tactical fighter force, as well as deploys and supports fighter aircraft at a moment's notice to fulfill both domestic and international mandates of Canada's Air Force. 4 Wing Cold Lake is located 40 kilometers south of the CLAWR and is home to five flying squadrons of aircraft.

It is also the host of the internationally renowned Maple Flag Exercise. Maple Flag is a six-week international air combat exercise at 4 Wing Cold Lake. It provides Canadian and allied aircrew with realistic training in a modern simulated air combat environment and emphasizes air operations involving large package coalition forces.

Aircraft

CF-188 Hornet
CF-188 Hornet - Squadrons 401, 409, 410
CH-146 Griffon
CH-146 Griffon - Squadron 417
CT-155 Hawk
CT-155 Hawk - Squadron 419

Squadrons

401 Squadron
401 Squadron
409 Squadron
409 Squadron
410 Squadron
410 Squadron
417 Squadron
417 Squadron
419 Squadron
419 Squadron

Cold Lake First Nation (CLFN)

The Boreal forest
The Boreal forest

Although there is no fishing or hunting permitted on the range, under an Agreement between the Federal Government and Cold Lake First Nations (CLFN), designated members of First Nations are allowed access onto the Range to conduct traditional pursuits and visit heritage sites.

All heritage sites (gravesites, cabins, village sites) are protected under Federal and Provincial Heritage Acts and personnel must:

  • Report these sites when found; and
  • Not interfere with or remove anything from the sites

CLAWR Range Control Role

The Cold Lake Air Weapons Range is managed under the authority of the:

  • National Defence Act (NDA)
  • Defence Controlled Access Area Regulations (DCAARs)
  • 4 Wing Flying and Range Orders
  • CLAWR Policy

Under the 1986 Federal/Provincial agreement (governing access for Oil and Gas development within the CLAWR), the CLAWR range control team has been assigned the responsibility for access control to all persons involved in oil and gas operations and associated activities on the CLAWR.

CLAWR Range Control staff are designated as security guards as defined in DCAAR and empowered under the NDA. These policies contain provisions that authorize them to suspend or deny CLAWR access to persons failing or refusing to follow instructions. Additionally, Range Control may suspend or deny access for any violation of these orders, 4 Wing Flying and Range Orders (WFROs) or Department of National Defence (DND) Policies and Regulations related to access to the CLAWR.

Range Control Mandate

  • Single point of contact for Industry / DND discussions
  • Coordinate access, occupation & deconfliction with Canadian Forces personnel
  • Ensure compliance with DCAARS/related 4 Wing and Company orders
  • Ensure 4 Wing is kept abreast of personnel and activities of interest on the range

Resources

CLAWR Orientation Centre

CLAWR General Access Briefing

CLAWR Orientation Centre
CLAWR Orientation Centre
Phone: 780.573.7206

Only authorized company personnel and contractors who have completed the CLAWR General Access Briefing and have been issued an access card will be permitted entry to the CLAWR. The training can be completed online or in person at the CLAWR Orientation Centre where the access cards are issued.

CLAWR General Access Briefing

This learning module is courtesy of Cenovus Energy.

Detailed requirements, regulations and procedures for those personnel authorized access to the CLAWR can be found in the Range Control Policies.

Off-Road Training Module

If you intend to travel off any high grade, all season road surface on the CLAWR, as detailed in the CLAWR General Access Briefing, you must also complete the Off-Road Training Module in person at the CLAWR Orientation Centre.

Maps

Resources

Range Patrol logo

Operational notices

CRC Alerts and Advisories

Emergency Call Centre (ECC)

Emergency Call Centre (ECC)
Emergency Call Centre (ECC)

The Emergency Call Centre (ECC) provides 24/7 emergency response for dispatching of first responders. All emergencies, environmental upsets, and wildlife incidents affecting workers must first be reported to the CLAWR ECC which serves industry and DND alike in a “911” fashion.

ECC contact information

Emergencies: (780) 573-7321
Non-emergencies: (780) 815-6642
Email: CLAWR.EmergencyCallCentre@RangeSafety.ca

The ECC provides five distinct functions

Inside the ECC
Inside the ECC
  1. Emergency Call Line Reception: ECC staff receive, record and provide initial notification to Emergency Response Plan (ERP) designates and emergency managers for any emergency (includes emergency radio calls on channel 9 for off-road traffic).
  2. Off-road traffic control & monitoring: The ECC (radio call sign SENTRY) is responsible for coordination, dispatch and control of all off-road movement by oil and gas personnel operating in the CLAWR. Additionally, they have responsibility for monitoring and “flight following” of all civilian air traffic operating in the CLAWR in support of oil and gas operations.
  3. Dispatch and information support to range Control: The ECC provides “central dispatch” services to range patrol Officers, bear aversion specialists, and emergency services personnel.
  4. Environmental reporting: As mandated by 4 Wing Cold Lake, corporate environmental reporting protocols must meet CLAWR incident reporting requirements. All environmental incidents must be reported to the CLAWR ECC for notification to senior military staff.
  5. Emergency Response Preparedness (ERP) protocols: Based on military requirements for notification, all industry ERP protocols for the CLAWR (regardless of company) must have the ECC integrated as a primary notification agency. All emergencies occurring within the CLAWR must be reported to the ECC immediately.

resources

Map tutorial video

On the CLAWR, locations off the main road structure or "high grade" are described using a four digit descriptor for the Legal Subdivision or LSD. The following Map tutorial will explain how to locate an LSD for a location on the CLAWR and an example of proper radio usage for off road travel when communicating with the Emergency Call Centre .

Contact us

CLAWR Range Safety and Coordination Centre

(780) 594.2554
CRC@RangeSafety.ca

Mailing address: Cold Lake Office
5101 46 Ave Suite 3001
Cold Lake AB, T9M 0C8

CLAWR Emergency Call Centre (ECC)

Emergencies: (780) 573.7321
Non-emergencies: (780) 815.6642
CLAWR.EmergencyCallCentre@RangeSafety.ca

CLAWR Orientation Centre

Orientation briefing staff: 780-573-7206
CLAWR.Orientation@rangesafety.ca

Range Control team

Darwin Bateyko
Darwin Bateyko
Manager, Military & Environment Military & Environment, HSER
Carolyn O’Connell
Carolyn O’Connell
Range Control Logistics Analyst Military, Regulatory & Liability, HSER
Brad Williamson
Brad Williamson
Sr. Advisor, CLAWR Engagement Military Liaison CRC, HSER
Sheldon Tuttosi
Sheldon Tuttosi
Senior Advisor, CLAWR Operations Military Liaison CRC, HSER
Mark Palman
Mark Palman
Range Control Safety Advisor Military Liaison CRC, HSER
Bob Irwin
Bob Irwin
Range Control Operations Advisor Military Liaison CRC, HSER