Whitehorse residents or those spending time in the mountains near the territorial capital on July 10 and 11 may get an air show as a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) search and rescue unit conducts training.
According to a July 8 notice from the Canadian Forces, an RCAF CC-130H Hercules might be seen flying at low altitudes as its crew practices flying search patterns and conducting parachute operations. Onlookers may see the four-engine plane dropping biodegradable paper streamers, a measure that the notice from the Canadian Forces states is important for the safety of search and rescue technicians.
The search and rescue training is being conducted by the 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron, a portion of RCAF 19 Wing, based in Comox, British Columbia.
“These crews provide search and rescue support to the Yukon territory and must be familiar with the local landscape and airport infrastructure. This training is a valuable opportunity for the crew to work with Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) to share best practices and ensure interoperability,” the notice reads.
The notice lists several possible training locations throughout the mountains around Whitehorse and Haines Junction: Joe Mountain, Cap Mountain, Mount Byng, Mount Lorne, Mount Lansdown, Mount Archibald, Mount Martha Black, Mount Granger, Double Mountain, Ibex Mountain and Mount Arkell.
The CC-130H that will be in Whitehorse is primarily used for life-saving search and rescue work but the Canadian Forces information web page on the aircraft notes that it also carries out transportation missions.
“It has a range of more than 7,200 kilometres and can transport approximately 80 passengers, operate on short unpaved runways and fly in severe weather conditions. These capabilities make the CC-130H an excellent aircraft for search and rescue operations over the vast span of Canada’s central and northern regions,” the information page reads.
The notice about the training exercise states that Yukoners may note increased noise as the aircraft passes by, takes off or lands but that the training exercise will be carefully controlled for public safety.
Contact Jim Elliot at jim.elliot@yukon-news.com
