Parachutists over Yellowknife
Week-long air search-and-rescue exercises designed to test and improve skills
Robin Grant
Northern News Services
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
There will be more than the usual amount of Canadian Air Force helicopters and airplanes flying over Frame Lake and Great Slave Lake this week - but don't fret, they aren't part of a military invasion.
Sgt. Greg Grandy aims to land on the designated mark after jumping out of a CC-130 Hercules during a precision pair jump demonstration that marked the beginning of the Royal Canadian Armed Forces annual National Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX 2016) in Somba K'e Civic Plaza on Monday afternoon. - Robin Grant/NNSL photo |
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) squadrons are conducting their annual National Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX 2016) throughout the week - and they are inviting Yellowknifers to come out and watch the planes, the parachutes and the helicopters do their thing.
Yellowknife resident Emma Pike joined about 100 observers in Somba K'e Civic Plaza on Monday afternoon to watch a precision pair demonstration on Monday, which kicked off the week-long exercises.
Just after 2 p.m., two Royal Canadian Air Force members floated gracefully out of the sky from a CC-130 Hercules plane, clad in bright orange jumpsuits. One landed in the designated mark set up in the park and the other parachutist missed slightly, landing in the parking lot.
"Obviously search and rescue is a very important aspect of living in a fairly remote location," Pike said. "You value the contribution that they bring to the community and you just want to see what it's like for them - what kinds of challenges they have."
During the series of exercises that will happen throughout the week, military and civilian teams will compete against each other in tasks designed to test their skillsets using realistic and challenging land and water-based training scenarios.
The tasks are designed to maintain and refine skills in parachute accuracy, emergency medical response, search procedures, communication, aircraft and equipment maintenance.
Pilot Maj. Kevin Howe, SAREX 2016 exercise co-ordinator and operator, said the drills are taking place in Yellowknife this year to show that the Canadian Air Force is fully capable of operating in the North.
He said being able to practice search-and-rescue drills in cold climates is necessary because the force's main facilities are not located this far North.
"It's showing that we can get here in a very timely fashion, and get set up and be able to be here for long periods of time as required," he said.
The Cormorant helicopters, for example, which military personnel are using throughout the week, he said are fully ice capable.
"We can fly them in almost any weather conditions," Howe said, adding that a fall date instead of the winter was chosen for the exercises so people could come out and watch.
The occasion brings together the air force with civilian search and rescue communities, including the national NGO dedicated to promoting search and rescue called the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association, and other first responders. The exercise aims to standardize and evaluate skills in aerial and ground searches, medical responses, parachute accuracy, and land and marine rescues.
Every year, the event takes place in different locations across the country.
