Royal Canadian Air Force search and rescue exercise underway in Lethbridge
More than 100 members of the Royal Canadian Air Force have touched down in Lethbridge for annual search and rescue exercises.
"We're simulating that there is a float plane crash at Beaver Mines Lake, so another team is going to be deployed out there and they're going to parachute to the water where there is the HMCS Tecumseh -- the Navy Reserve -- they have a boat on the lake and we're going to have a helicopter go and extract them," said Capt. Jules Pankoski, an organizer of the Chinthex SAR operations exercise.
CC-130H Hercules planes, CH-146 Griffon helicopters and a CC-138 Twin Otter are part of the training.
Pankoski says Lethbridge and southern Alberta offers a wide range of terrain, including the mountains.
"Being able to operate out of Lethbridge, we are only a stone's throw away from the foothills and the Rocky Mountains, so it gives us some diverse terrain that we can work in that we could be expected to be deployed to work on an operational callout," Pankoski said.
Held by 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, this exercise includes participants from various Royal Canadian Air Force agencies, including support from 17 Wing Winnipeg and 19 Wing Comox.
Crews will also take advantage of combined training with United States Air Force squadrons, local Ground Search and Rescue teams and members of the Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association.
"It's important that we have these events so that we can prove our capabilities and how we can work with each other, so that when we're called in a real-world environment to effect a rescue that we have the expertise and we have good knowledge of what each other brings to the table," said Lt.-Col. Josh Leveque, commanding officer for 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron.
Along with training at Beaver Mines Lake, a crew took part in a plane rescue near Cranbrook, B.C.
Members had to locate a plane experiencing technical difficulties and guide it back to the airport.
However, as part of the exercise, the plane didn't make it back and landed in a remote area, with members having to rappel down and provide medical attention.
"(This training) is pretty important because the mission may come at any day, any night or weekend," said Warrant Officer Eric Beaudoin, search and rescue technician leader for the 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron.
"We have crews on alert constantly."
The squadron covers 10 million square kilometres extending east to Quebec City and west to the Alberta-B.C. border.
"If another unit would be in need of assistance due to serviceability issue or the size of the incident, we're ready to answer to a mission anywhere in Canada at any time," Beaudoin said.
Photo courtesy Sailor 1st Class Megan Sterritt, 17 Operations Support Squadron, Winnipeg.
Training will feature high-angle rescues, finding a lost aircraft, technicians parachuting and water rescues with the help of the Navy.
"The Navy brings a unique skill set -- we bring that maritime skill set," said Lt. John Foster, public affairs officer for the Naval Reserve, Western Region.
"So, on this very large, intricate exercise with many, many moving parts, we have the element of the maritime aspect, so we're bringing down a rigged-haul inflatable boat to help at Beaver Mines Lake."
The exercise is held annually at different cities across the country.
The last time Lethbridge hosted Chinthex was in 2016.
"Although we train almost every day, continually ensuring that our skills are honed and sharpened, we don't always get to work with all the other agencies that we work with on an actual SAR callout, so being able to bring everyone together in one spot and being able to more realistically replicate how we would work together on a callout is really important," Pankoski said.
Training is set to wrap up on June 11.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.