442 Transport and Rescue Squadron are conducting a series of practice scenarios as part of their annual search and rescue training exercise (SAREX). The exercise is based at Victoria Airport from Tuesday through Thursday, Feb. 7.

Major Kristen Simpson is commanding the exercise, which utilizes three aircraft, 73 military personnel and co-ordinates 40 different military and civilian agencies. The aircraft being used are a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter, a CC-115 Buffalo and a CC-138 Twin Otter, fixed-wing aircraft.

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All three aircraft are easily recognizable by their distinctive yellow paint schemes, although the exerciseB次元官网网址檚 training scenarios are mostly out of public view.

Simpson, who is an aerospace engineer, likens her role to that of a B次元官网网址榤omma bearB次元官网网址�, conscientiously looking after the personnel under her command. She operates from a B次元官网网址楯oint rescue coordination cellB次元官网网址� and oversees the administration, discipline and execution of the exercise. She is assisted by the Search Master, who is responsible for directing the search. Simpson notes that the exercise is progressing as intended and that all agencies are working well together. B次元官网网址淲e are trying to simulate on-scene decision making. Adapt and react.B次元官网网址� she added.

A snapshot of the training was last nightB次元官网网址檚 mission, which involved the specialist Search and Rescue Technicians, known as SAR Techs.

The brief was a simulated medical rescue. A vessel had sunk three nautical miles off the coast. With little information, the specialist crews were scrambled to locate and attend the B次元官网网址榮ailors in distress.B次元官网网址� Inside just 1.30hrs, they found the crewB次元官网网址檚 liferaft, illuminated the cold February night with flares, and had quickly assessed a combination of factors that contribute to the B次元官网网址榮urvivabilityB次元官网网址� of themselves and the distressed.

Master Corporal, Nathan Seal described how his team of SAR Techs were flown over the area in the Buffalo and parachuted from the aircraft, wearing full scuba gear, at 3000ft. Once they had swum and clambered aboard the liferaft, they provided first-aid and the five sailors were then winched to safety by the Cormorant helicopter.

Simpson said that the SAR TechsB次元官网网址� motto is B次元官网网址楽o others may liveB次元官网网址� and apart from being trained in parachuting, they are also highly trained in paramedicine, cold-weather survival and mountain rescue.

Captain Sean Petrie, who has planned and organized some of the logistical support, also has the difficult job of operating the hoist on the Cormorant helicopter. He explained the purpose of the training. B次元官网网址淵ou have Currencies and Proficiencies. Currencies are keeping your skills up. Proficiencies are getting excellent at those skills and challenging yourself to learn new things and do them in different ways.B次元官网网址�

442 Transport and Rescue Squadron maintain operational vigilance during the exercises and can conceivably be called away to mount a real rescue.

Petrie says the more realistic the training, the better he performs.B次元官网网址滻tB次元官网网址檚 using our skills on a daily basis, when the call comes in and we have to hook, thatB次元官网网址檚 what we do.B次元官网网址�

nick.murray@peninsulanewsreview.com

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