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Cormorant crashes during training exercise

An early morning Cormorant crash during a training exercise off the coast of eastern Nova Scotia killed three crew members and injured four others on July 13.

The CH-149 Cormorant crew was performing a standard joint SAR training operation with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), when it suddenly crashed into the water at 12:30am. The Canadian Forces and CCG were practicing lowering crew from the helicopter to the deck of a vessel and then hoisting them back up.

The Canadian Forces has not yet released details about the crash, but has said each Cormorant crew member has been interviewed and the helicopter’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been sent for analysis.

The crew of a nearby Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel, the Four Sisters, helped rescue the four surviving crew members.

A memorial service was held on July 18 at CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia for Sgt. Duane Brazil, 39, of Gander, N.L., Master Cpl. Kirk Noel, 33, of St. Anthony, N.L., and Cpl. Trevor McDavid, 31, of Sudbury, Ont.

Canadian receives USCG Volunteer Service Award

Kenneth White of Powell River, British Columbia has been a volunteer watch-stander for over 25 years, helping both the Canadian and American rescue co-ordination centres throughout the Pacific Basin. To recognize Mr. White’s efforts, Captain Mark Ashley of the U.S. Coast Guard has awarded Mr. White the United States Coast Guard Volunteer Service Award for providing a “transnational life saving communication link.”

Safe Boating Week targets seven million boaters

Organized by the Safe Boating Council, Safe Boating Awareness Week, kicked off May 20 to promote a wide range of safe boating practices to an estimated seven million recreational boaters across the country.

“Our goal is to work with Transport Canada to ensure that the millions of Canadians who head out on the water in canoes and kayaks, sailboards and sailboats, fishing boats, personal watercraft, power boats and cruisers are equipped with the knowledge for a safe day on the water,” said Randy Whaley, Chair of the Canadian Safe Boating Council.

New satellite launched by NOAA

In late spring, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration launched GOES-N, the latest geostationary operational environmental satellite (GOES) which will provide continuous monitoring of the Earth’s weather systems and the near earth space environment.

This satellite will be a vital contributor to weather, solar, and space operations and future science improvements with weather prediction and remote sensing. The GOES-N Series will aid severe storm warnings, resource management, search and rescue and more.

Finding icebergs

IcebergFinder.com is a new interactive web site that tracks icebergs in bays, inlets and off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It uses images from Canada’s RADARSAT-1 and ENVISAT, a European satellite, to detect and locate them.

Annual Report shows slight increase in federal SAR incidents

In 2005, Joint Rescue Coordination Centres responded to 8,015 incidents. They handled 5,947 marine-related SAR incidents, which represents 74% of total SAR incidents within the federal mandate. While the number of humanitarian cases remained relatively static, there was a slight increase in the number of air and marine cases.

The SAR program was enhanced in 2005 by the acquisition of secondary SAR resources in the Canadian Coast Guard and the strengthening of the financial management of the SAR New Initiatives Fund, among other developments.

This information forms part of the National Search and Rescue Program Annual Report for 2005, published in August under authority of the Lead Minister for Search and Rescue, The Hon. Gordon O’Connor, Minister of National Defence. The report highlights the accomplishments, challenges and resources over the past year and is available in full at www.nss.gc.ca.

Volunteers account for one million jobs

Statistics Canada’s third study on volunteering and donating found that 45% of Canadians volunteer through a group or organization, contributing two billion hours. This is the equivalent of one million full- time jobs, the report says.

The study also found that Newfoundland and Labrador rate highest for the number of people who donate to charity, Alberta rates highest for the amount of donations and Saskatchewan has the highest percentage of volunteers. For more information on the 2004 Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering and Participating go to www.statcan.ca.

CASARA 20^th Anniversary

Congratulations to the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

B.C. SAR Teams receive boost from charity drive

The second annual SAR charity drive organized by Home Restaurants Ltd. was a huge success.

Though the fundraising campaign only lasted for the month of June, $10,536 was raised for SAR teams in Maple Ridge, Hope, Merritt and The Shuswap – more than doubling the amount received in 2005.

“These programs are vital for the survival of local SAR teams”, said Bruce McLaren, President of Home Restaurants Ltd. “Volunteers donate such an enormous amount of their time and effort, so it only seemed fitting to help in some way.”

Weather forecast office to reopen in Newfoundland and Labrador

As part of his election promise, Prime Minister Stephen Harper committed to reopening the weather forecast office for Newfoundland and Labrador in Gander.

Closed by the former Liberal government, the forecast office will begin forecasting this fall while the full reinstatement of the office will take place over 18 months.

With more accurate weather forecasts for the province, avoidable SAR incidents may be prevented. “The lives of men and women who work in the already choppy waters of the Atlantic shouldn’t be needlessly endangered because of the arrival of an unforecasted squall,” said Prime Minister Harper.