An interesting event this weekend: Buffalos On The Air (BOTA) is an
Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) event taking place 22 July 2023 to celebrate the retirement of the
RCAF CC115 Buffalo aircraft in cooperation with the Comox Heritage Airpark, Royal Aviation
Museum of Western Canada, National Air Force Museum of Canada, and Summerside Air
Force Heritage Park where the clubs will be broadcasting from and where the public is invited to
go out and visit on 22 July, 2023.
During the weekend of July 21-23, Amateur Radio operators across Canada will be using the
HF antennas on the four Buffalos across the country combined with Amateur Radio transceivers
to conduct a radio event to contact other amateur radio operators around the world. Special
event callsigns have been issued by Spectrum Management Canada for each aircraft station as
shown below along with each local coordinator:
VC7BUFF457 Comox BC – Phillip Tanner VA7XOZ phillipmaxtanner@gmail.com
VC4BUFF462 Winnipeg MB – Calvin Winter VE4AJ winter@mymts.net
VC3BUFF456 Trenton ON – Dave Ackerman VE3OX dackerman13@gmail.com
VY2BUFF451 Summerside PEI – Doug Silliker VY2DS vy2ds@hotmail.com
The event will officially take place on 22 July, but some clubs such as Summerside have elected to start as early as the Friday evening. We will be attempting a Buffalo net coast to coast between the four aircraft on 14.135 MHz SSB at noon EST (0900 PST) on 22 July. Otherwise, each station will determine their own bands and transmission methods, which will include CW, FT8, SSB on whatever bands they are getting a good signal on, but likely ranging from 10M through 40M. During the event, each station will make their best effort to routinely update their band and method on our Facebook group www.bit.ly/buffaloradio so that radio operators seeking them can more easily track them down. Additionally, licensed radio operators around the world can seek them by their individual callsigns. Amateur radio operators who make contact with more than one station are welcome to contact Mr. Doug Silliker VY2DS at email to request a certificate.
About BOTA: Buffalos On The Air is a personal project by Cpl Phillip Tanner, a currently serving Avionics Technician in the RCAF who worked for several years on the CC115 Buffalo at 442 Sqn CFB Comox; including during its retirement. Phill is an avid Amateur Radio enthusiast, callsign VA7XOZ and a member of the Comox Valley Amateur Radio Club (CVARC). The event is also supported by the following Amateur Radio Clubs who put in a massive effort to make this event happen: CVARC Comox Valley Radio Club, WARC Winnipeg Amateur Radio Club, PERC Prince Edward Radio Club, QARC Quinte Amateur Radio Club, CARC Charlottetown Amateur Radio Club, SARC Summerside Amateur Radio Club.