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(L-R) Jim Thoreson (Pilot), Nicole Holinaty (Spotter), Denis Smith (Navigator), part of the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association taking place at the Red Deer Regional Airport from August 19-21. (CASARA Red Deer)
Aug. 19-21: Red Deer Regional Airport

Search & rescue exercise comes to central Alberta skies

Aug 18, 2022 | 11:38 AM

The Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) Red Deer Zone, will be hosting the Western Canada Search and Rescue exercise out of the Red Deer Regional Airport this weekend.

From August 19-21, flight crews from across the western provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia will come together to complete a large scale training exercise for missing aircraft and persons.

The organization includes trained individuals who support the Royal Canadian Air Force Search and Rescue missions as spotters on military search aircraft. The CASARA also provides pilots, navigators, spotters and aircraft when needed as additional search resources.

“This organization is a vital part of military search and rescue efforts, and the exercise will take place across Central Alberta skies; saving lives and helping locate missing persons and aircraft,” said officials in a release.

The search area for 2022 will span from Three Hills, to Drayton Valley, and into the Rocky Mountains with the search’s headquarter operation at the Red Deer Regional Airport.

The schedule is to begin with pilots, navigators, spotters, and ground crews arriving in Red Deer on Friday.

At 7:30 p.m., a mass briefing will be held for aircrews and attendees at the Holiday Inn & Suites hotel in Gasoline Alley (33 Petrolia Drive). Crews will be informed of the overall operation and will receive their assigned tasks for the next day.

Saturday morning at 8 a.m., crews will then receive their weather briefing and an update of their flights for the day.

The crews will repeat the process on Sunday, completing their tasks by noon to conclude their trip with a mass briefing.