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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Canadian search and rescue specialists hosted about two dozen American air force personnel during the 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron search and rescue exercise this week.

Capt. Jeff Hunter, left, of the 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, and Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association zone commander David Taylor, left, stand in front of a giant area map at the Ursus Aviation hangar Wednesday. The two were involved in the annual 435 Rescue Squadron search and rescue exercise that took place from July 15 to 19. - Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo

The exercise, which takes place in selected locations every year, allows search and rescue personnel with the Canadian Forces to practise simulated major search scenarios in remote locations around the country.

Most activity was based in the search headquarters at the Ursus Aviation hangar and was carried out from July 15 to 19.

Capt. Jordan Woodman, a public affairs officer with the 1st Canadian Air Division based in Winnipeg, said the exercises brought 75 Canadian Forces personnel, 50 members of the Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) and 25 members of the 39th Rescue Squadron of the United States Air Force based at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida.

"Every search and rescue squadron does this every year and what they are training for is to relocate from their home base and establish a headquarters in a remote location away from the home base," said Woodman. "So these types of skills would be required for when a search gets to the level of being a major search, after an initial search."

If an aircraft was to go down near the city, the Canadian Forces would initially launch a CC-130 Hercules from Winnipeg and work in close partnership with a group like CASARA or other search and rescue assets, like the local 440 "Vampire" Transport Squadron, which uses a Twin Otter.

If an initial search does not locate the missing aircraft after 24 to 48 hours, the search is typically revamped as a major search.

"At that point a squadron is located with a search and rescue capability and get them to remotely relocate and set up a major search headquarters and run the search from there," said Woodman.

This would mean the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, which is the command centre for marine and air searches based in CFB Trenton, would pass control over to the remote location.

Exercises have real-world applications, Woodman said. For example, an exercise could result in improved procedures for such major search and rescue operations, such as the one for downed pilot Terry Johnson near Norman Wells in 2010.

"The Norman Wells search a couple of years ago carried out exactly what we were training to do here," said Woodman. "The squadron (at that time) went to the remote location of Norman Wells, established a search headquarters and conducted a search from there."

CASARA members had a large presence in this year's exercise, with crews from Hay River, Yellowknife, Inuvik and Norman Wells.

As well, the civilian effort had nine aircraft and held 10 to 20 search flights a day.

"We (had) live targets on the ground and in the water provided by our SAR partners and members of the public," stated CASARA Yellowknife zone commander David Taylor in a press release. Partners included the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, Yellowknife Search and Rescue and the RCMP.

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