413 Sqn take part in SAREX 2009
Members of 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron from 14 Wing Greenwood, N.S. and 103 Search and Rescue Squadron from 9 Wing Gander, N.L of the Canadian Armed Forces deployed to Sydney, Nova Scotia in March for a joint search and rescue exercise (SAREX).
413 Squadron plans an exercise of this nature every year, but this was the first time they worked with personnel from 103 Squadron. This was a great training opportunity as well as a chance to share mutual experiences and knowledge. SAREX 2009 was a great success - despite ending early due to a real emergency situation.
Two Hercules and six Cormorant aircraft, together with two Civil Air Search and Rescue Association airplanes, scoured the south-eastern coast of Nova Scotia looking a simulated site and casualties. They also took advantage of the fantastic weather to practice their hoisting and water work as well as practice their ability to deploy to a new location with only an evening's notice.
The exercise ended earlier than expected due to the tragic crash of a Cougar Helicopter flight 91. A Sikorsky S-92 with 18 souls on board crashed into the North Atlantic just 90 kilometres off-shore. The squadrons launched two Hercules and four Cormorant aircrafts in less than 30 minutes from notification of the incident to provide assistance to the search and rescue effort.
By Lieutenant Sophie McDuff - Canadian Armed Forces
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