Even though most of us get a break from work during Christmas our service men and women from all Search and Rescue Squadrons are either working or at least are on stand by.
My buddy who's flying Hercs in Trenton recently became an AC (Aircraft Commander). It was very interesting to listen to some of his recent stories. Like going on the first flight as an AC and getting a newbie co-pilot. That's when you know that everything is in your hands. I can't imagine how intense some of these first flights must be.
Two of such flights occurred while he was on standby between Christmas and New Years. Both of the calls were about an ELT. These are electronic transmitters that send out a distress signal when an airplane crashes. Usually high fliers like Air Canada or WestJest would pickup the signal while flying over some remote area and advice the SAR center. Then, the Herc gets tasked to go and pinpoint where the signal is coming from.
The first one was from Trois Riviere in Quebec. They flew out there and determined that it was coming from an airport. A ground team was sent out and found out that a truck hit one of the planes on the ground and that activated an ELT. False alarm.
The second time around an ELT signal was coming from around Sherbrooke. It was also a false alarm as an ELT went off in one of the planes in some barn. The weather was bad though and they had to land in Sherbrooke. Apparently the runway was quite icy and as they landed the plane was skidding on ice. I can only imagine what the gut must be feeling in moments like these.
Anyways, he estimated that one of such missions cost about 240,000 dollars (yup, quarter of a million dollars). That's because it takes 30 grand to operate the beast for just one hour (8000 of that is gas alone). So here you go. You get to fly some cool and expensive missions in the army!
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