Air Board

The Air Board was Canada's first governing body for aviation, operating from 1919 to 1923. The Canadian government established the Air Board by act of Parliament on June 6, 1919, with the purpose of controlling all flying within Canada. Canada was the first country to legislate and implement rules governing the entire domain of aviation. Functions The Air Board had three functions: devising a means of, and administering Canadian air defence; controlling and conducting all civil (non-military) government flying operations; and providing rules and regulations for flying within Canada, which included licensing, issuing air regulations and managing air traffic. The Board consisted of three sections: 1) the Department of the Controller of Civil Aviation which controlled all civil flying; 2) the Directorate of Flying Operations which controlled civil flying operations of the Air Board; and 3) the Headquarters of the Canadian Air Force (CAF), which operated at Camp Borden. Flying operations Five air stations were established for civil flying operations in 1920: Halifax, Nova Scotia, a former US Navy seaplane base responsible for the overhaul of Curtiss HS-2L flying boats, fishery and forestry patrols, and aerial photography. Roberval, Quebec, a seaplane base on Lac Saint-Jean responsible primarily for forestry patrols and surveying. Jericho Beach, British Columbia, a seaplane base responsible for fishery, forestry, anti-smuggling patrols. Morley, Alberta, a landplane base responsible primarily for forestry patrols. Rockcliffe, Ontario, a landplane and seaplane base responsible primarily for photo surveying.