Flyby of CC-144 Challenger over TD Place cancelled due to weather

Due to poor weather the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CC-144 Challenger will not conduct a flight over TD Place on Thursday evening.

The flyby was scheduled just as the Ottawa Redblack’s were to kick off the season.

The surrounding Ottawa area is under a tornado watch that was issued by Environment Canada on Thursday morning.

Meteorologists said “conditions are favourable” for severe thunderstorms that could produce tornadoes. They said wind gusts could reach 110 km/h with nickle to toonie sized hail and heavy rain is possible.

The aircraft was supposed to fly directly over the field heading west at 7:33 p.m., with a return fly over at approximately 7:38 p.m.

The RCAF said these flybys are carefully planned and closely controlled for public safety and are dependent upon weather and flying conditions.