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The Royal Canadian Air Force is hosting the National Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) from Sept. 15 to 20, 2014 in Newfoundland and Labrador.
This year’s annual exercise, organized by 9 Wing Gander and held at 5 Wing Goose Bay, will include about 250 participants from the Canadian Armed Forces, the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA), the Canadian Coast Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary.
“The national search and rescue exercise, held at a different location in Canada annually, gives our Canadian Armed Forces’ SAR [search and rescue] professionals and our partners the opportunity to exchange ideas on best practices and lessons learned,” said Major-General David Wheeler, the commander of 1 Canadian Air Division, headquartered in Winnipeg, Man.
“The training is essential for our SAR personnel to take those lessons and apply them to the multiple SAR challenges we face across our great and vast country so that others may live.”
“Cooperation and interoperability between various government agencies and other contributors is crucial in the effective execution of search and rescue. SAREX 14 will provide all participants with demanding northern scenarios while facilitating liaison between search and rescue units and organizations, said Lieutenant-Colonel Kevin Toone, the commander of 9 Wing Gander.
SAREX is an exercise that provides realistic training scenarios to enhance interoperability and decision-making among Canada’s search and rescue (SAR) community. During SAREX 2014, participants will be challenged with land-, air-, and water-based search and rescue (SAR) scenarios. These scenarios are designed to test a variety of skills, including search techniques, parachute accuracy, mountaineering, water rescue, and emergency medical response. SAREX enables military personnel to become proficient in the use of the equipment, technology and techniques required to execute the rescue of persons in distress anywhere in Canada.
Royal Canadian Air Force participation includes search and rescue technicians, pilots, flight engineers, air combat systems officers, load masters as well as maintenance and support personnel. Primary search and rescue air assets include CH-146 Griffon and CH-149 Cormorant helicopters, CC-130H Hercules and CC-115 Buffalo aircraft, and four CASARA search and rescue aircraft.
“Supporting the training of Canadian Armed Forces various capabilities is part of 5 Wing’s mandate, said Lieutenant-Colonel Luc Sabourin, the commander of 5 Wing Goose Bay. “5 Wing is unique in that it offers excellent infrastructure to support SAREX participants while being in close proximity to Labrador’s environmental realities to challenge them. I am confident that we will meet SAREX organizers’ unique training objectives.”
National search and rescue readiness will be maintained at the rescue units across Canada. In the event of a major distress or nearby request for help, the exercise will be suspended in order to respond.
The Royal Canadian Air Force responds to about 1,000 search and rescue calls annually. Canada’s area of responsibility for search and rescue is the largest in the world, with some of the most remote and arduous terrain, challenging weather conditions, and longest coastline.
