It may have all the markings of an emergency rescue operation, however it’s a practice run . . . this time.
All this week, a combined search and rescue exercise will take place simulating a marine distress call in Lake Erie.
You can expect to see a CC-130H Hercules aircraft and a Griffon helicopter from RCAF 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron in Trenton, as well as vessels from the Canadian Coast Guard and Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary and a civilian aircraft from the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA).
These aircraft will be flying at a low altitude to locate and offer assistance to individuals who might be in distress.
In a release outlining the exercise it notes, “This type of exercise helps prepare teams to respond to distress calls that often save lives. Training for these missions is essential for maintaining the skill of aircrews, so they are ready to safely execute their missions alongside search and rescue partners.”
The release adds, “For this training, Search and Rescue Technicians will be deployed via hoist using different techniques to the assisting vessels. Smoke markers will be used to indicate the wind direction and approximate velocity in order to ensure the placement of life-saving equipment and also to help locate people in the water.”
The exercise begins Monday and runs through to Friday.
Written by Ian McCallum
