Re: Search and Rescue

by **Hammercore** Wed 20 Nov 2019, 7:16 pm

Military facing likely delay in delivery of new search-and-rescue plane

By The Canadian Press...POSTED NOV 20, 2019

https://edmonton.citynews.ca/2019/11/20/military-facing-likely-delay-in-delivery-of-new-search-and-rescue-plane/

by **Spider** Tue 24 Dec 2019, 8:27 am

Search and Rescue - Page 4 Cpt119-the-canadian-press-3

Air Force accepts first new search-and-rescue plane despite issue with manuals

The Canadian Press
Lee Berthiaume
December 24, 2019

https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/air-force-accepts-first-new-search-and-rescue-plane-despite-issue-with-manuals

by **Accer** Fri 31 Jan 2020, 10:33 am

RCAF crews to get look at new C-
295 aircraft as it tours bases

DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN .. January 31, 2020

Search and Rescue - Page 4 C-295-trainer-leaving-spain

A C-295 to be used for training for the RCAF leaves Spain on Jan. 27 for Canada. Airbus photo.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/rcaf-crews-to-get-look-at-new-c-295-aircraft-as-it-tours-bases

by Jackal Mon 09 Mar 2020, 5:13 pm

Military search and rescue missions delayed by aircraft, refuelling problems: report

BY STAFF THE CANADIAN PRESS
Posted March 9, 2020

https://globalnews.ca/news/6650860/military-search-rescue-mission-problems/

by Jumper Mon 03 Aug 2020, 3:23 pm

Military to fly old rescue planes longer as COVID-19 delays new aircraft

Published Monday, August 3, 2020

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/military-to-fly-old-rescue-planes-longer-as-covid-19-delays-new-aircraft-1.5049616

by Cypher Fri 18 Sep 2020, 9:09 am

RCAF's first C-295 search and rescue aircraft arrives in Canada

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date:Sep 17, 2020

Search and Rescue - Page 4 C295-FWSAR_Airbus-copy

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/rcafs-first-c-295-search-and-rescue-aircraft-arrives-in-canada?fbclid=IwAR15U0SLJoNa7pNjxHHxDelJXDswD32SlLN2yCzAsqYXnxs1suucAsQQQY0

by **Edgefore** Fri 25 Sep 2020, 4:34 pm

Canada nears end to long, tortuous search for military rescue planes

Published Friday, September 25, 2020

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/canada-nears-end-to-long-tortuous-search-for-military-rescue-planes-1.5120442

by **Slider** Fri 25 Sep 2020, 8:50 pm

A new era for military search-and-rescue begins with the Kingfisher

Murray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Sep 25, 2020

Search and Rescue - Page 4 C-295-kingfisher-search-and-rescue-plane

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/search-rescue-plane-1.5739524?fbclid=IwAR1GUgyE3sCGWCl2aP9j0FYd-X728XhvvAdjV2soODsqnt0uCDErDoaQu4E

by Dalton Thu 03 Dec 2020, 9:35 am

Canadian military comes to rescue of officer, suspect trapped in B.C. ravine

By Darrian Matassa-Fung . Global News
Posted December 2, 2020

Search and Rescue - Page 4 BC-RCMP-ravine-rescue

A flare lights up the area where a B.C. RCMP officer and a suspect were trapped in a ravine on Tuesday night.

https://globalnews.ca/news/7497644/candian-armed-forces-rescue-rcmp-officer-prisoner/

by **Accer** Mon 05 Jul 2021, 1:10 pm

Modernization of RCAF search and rescue helicopters deemed unaffordable — project on hold for now

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Jul 05, 2021

Defence Watch

by Firefox Sun 25 Jul 2021, 9:19 pm

Canadian Forces members rescue pilot whose plane crashed near Petawawa, Ont.

Published Sunday, July 25, 2021

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/mobile/canadian-forces-members-rescue-pilot-whose-plane-crashed-near-petawawa-ont-1.5522657?fbclid=IwAR330x4p6kgfrRN82Xw3IIAt7xjmP0CnRwPt6ZcF6TxuT8EPiU54H6AbqtI

by **Hammercore** Mon 24 Jan 2022, 4:17 pm

New search and rescue aircraft won’t be operating this summer, military confirms

Initial operational capability for the new fleet was supposed to be mid-2021.

Author of the article:David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Jan 24, 2022

The Canadian military’s new fleet of search-and-rescue aircraft won’t be operating this summer as originally planned because of delays caused by the pandemic and other technical issues.

The military can’t say at this point when C-295 fixed-wing aircraft will be available for missions.

National Defence spokesperson Dan Le Bouthillier said the plan was to have the new aircraft reach an initial operational capability in the summer. “However this timeline is shifting to allow for aircraft certification and qualification which has been running longer than anticipated as a result of the volume and complexity of the work associated with developing the CC-295 capability, and the global COVID-19 pandemic situation,” he explained in an email.

“A revised schedule is currently being subjected to an extensive analysis that itself will take some time to complete because of its complexity,” Le Bouthillier added.

Sources told this newspaper there are also technical concerns regarding a centre-of-gravity issue due to the cabin configuration of the CC-295, commonly referred to as C-295, as well as problems involving search-and-rescue technicians parachuting from the plane’s back ramp.

“We’re aware of the parachute and gravity issues, which is why we conduct testing and trials,” Le Bouthillier confirmed. “In short, these are problems that will be addressed as we work towards ensuring the fleet is safe for operational use.”

Canada announced in December 2016 that it was purchasing 16 C-295 aircraft for fixed-wing search and rescue as part of a $2.2-billion project. Initial operational capability for the new fleet was supposed to be mid-2021. That was later revised to summer 2022.

Le Bouthillier said there are currently four C-295 aircraft in Canada and five at the manufacturer’s facility in Spain. Aircraft qualification work was ongoing in both locations, he added.

Earlier this month, the Royal Canadian Air Force removed from service its aging Buffalo search-and-rescue planes. Until the C-295s become operational, Hercules aircraft from Winnipeg will be used for search-and-rescue response on the west coast. Some of those aircraft will be based out of Comox, B.C., “during the high-tempo period in the summer and will hold response posture from their home base at 17 Wing Winnipeg during periods of low operational tempo,” according to the RCAF. In addition, up to five Cormorant search-and-rescue helicopters will be available.

But that type of interim solution is dangerous, says the United Fishermen and Allied Workers’ Union-Unifor, which represents those involved in the west coast fishing industry.

“We are working all-year-round,” union president James Lawson said. “Emergencies just don’t happen during the busy season.”

Lawson noted that fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft were essential to any response to an emergency and were able to cover large search areas. If a Hercules has to travel from Winnipeg to get to the west coast rescue location, that puts those seeking help at risk, he added.

Lawson said the union would raise the issue with members of Parliament and hope they respond. “It doesn’t seem right to begin with that we have to ask MPs to make sure we’re treated properly,” he said. “We shouldn’t have to argue for safety.”

The Hercules aircraft, which are already widely used in a search-and-rescue role, are capable of responding quickly to emergencies such as ships in distress in challenging weather, the RCAF says. They can be used to parachute search-and-rescue technicians, emergency gear and food, life rafts, bailing pumps, arctic survival gear and illumination flares to support rescue missions.

The interim capability involving the Hercules will be in place until the new C-295 fleet is fully operational. That could happen in 2024 or 2025.

The RCAF says it had no choice but to remove the Buffalo aircraft from service. The fleet underwent a life extension program, which ensured the planes were able to safely and effectively support search-and-rescue operations up to Jan. 15, 2022. With the life extension program now concluded, the Buffalo was no longer able to support operations, the RCAF noted.

Defence Watch

by **Wolfman** Thu 10 Mar 2022, 6:10 pm

Cormorant helicopter crashes at Gander air base

CBC News · Posted: Mar 10, 2022

Search and Rescue - Page 4 Cormorant-crash

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/gander-helicopter-crash-1.6380399

by **Accer** Mon 14 Mar 2022, 1:27 pm

Military crew now all out of hospital after CH-149 Cormorant helicopter crash in N.L.

Published March 13, 2022

GANDER, N.L. - All of the crew members hospitalized following a Cormorant military helicopter crash last week at the Gander, N.L., airport have been discharged from hospital.

Four of the six crew of a CH-149 search and rescue aircraft were sent for medical care after the crash occurred at about 3:40 p.m. Thursday at the Gander International Airport.

Two were released soon after the crash, the third crew member was released Friday during the day, and the last was released Friday night.

David Lavallee, a public affairs officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force, said in an email the crew -- including the two pilots, two flight engineers and two search and rescue technicians -- are "in good spirits" and "thank people who have expressed their concern."

Lavallee says the squadron is taking a break from its regular duties until Monday, and in the meantime search and rescue units from elsewhere in the Atlantic region will provide backup if needed.

The crash, which occurred at the intersection of the two runways, has been described by Lavallee as causing "significant damage" to the military helicopter.

However, he declined to provide further details about the impact to the aircraft -- which entered service in 2001 -- citing an ongoing investigation by the flight safety directorate into the circumstances of the crash.

Pictures from the scene showed the aircraft on its side with its tail apparently missing.

CH-149 Cormorant helicopters are long-range aircraft that can operate in severe conditions, according to the air force. The aircraft's frame is nearly 23 metres long, and its rotor span is 18.5 metres.

CTV News

by Rocko Wed 06 Apr 2022, 5:54 pm

Canadian Armed Forces Releases Details of 9 Wing Gander Helicopter Crash

Apr 6, 2022

Search and Rescue - Page 4 Gander-helicopter-crash-via-andrew-pritchard-2

The Canadian Armed Forces has released a brief summary of the circumstances surrounding the crash of a Cormorant helicopter at 9 Wing Gander on March 10.

There were six people on board the aircraft when the incident occurred. Three of the six suffered minor injuries, while two were sent to hospital with serious injuries.

The investigator says the aircraft, known as “Outcast 903” was scheduled for two training missions at 9 Wing Gander.

At the end of the first training mission, the crew conducted hover maneouvers at the intersection of runways 31 and 21.

During the final clockwise hover turn sequence, the pilot’s seat suddenly and unexpectedly dropped. That caused the aircraft to change from a clockwise rotation to the opposite direction. The aircraft yawed left, causing the helicopter to bank to the right. That’s when the right wheel, horizontal stabilizer and main rotor blades struck the runway.

The crash resulted in serious damage to the helicopter and the investigation into the cause is focusing on material and human factors.

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