Canada has now received its second giant strategic airlifter, the CC-177 Globemaster III. 
The plane landed at its new home of 8 Wing Trenton piloted by Aircraft Commander Major Jeremy Reynolds. His first officer was Captain Jeff Jackson while the loadmasters on board were Warrant Officers Pete Lessard and Dave Evans.
Acquiring strategic airlift allows Canada to make timely and relevant contributions to international operations that few other countries can, and to be able to better respond to crises domestically.
Examples include:
-Supporting humanitarian aid operations through Canadian Forces Disaster Assistance Response Team operations;
-Providing relief to domestic crises such as floods, ice storms and forest fires; and
-Transporting two combat ready Light Armoured Vehicles to Afghanistan.
A fleet size of four aircraft is sufficient to provide requisite strategic airlift and maintenance, and to enable the operational flexibility to permit the conduct of multiple tasks in supporting domestic and international deployed operations.
The first aircraft arrived in early August, while the last two are expected to arrive in spring 2008.