Update: The following press release was issued regarding the end of the search for two men after their plane was reported missing on April 14. Upcoming story:
April 24, 2022 – Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. – National Defense / Canadian Armed Forces
After ten days of intense efforts, the search for two people on board a plane that was reported missing on Thursday (April 14th) during a flight between Delhi and Marathon, Ontario, has been suspended.
The effort was coordinated by the Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Center and included a total of five Royal Canadian Air Forces, one Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), one Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), one Ontario Department of Natural Resources and five Ontario Civil Aviation and Aircraft the rescue association (CASARA). The air task force flew 360 hours and covered approximately 17,300 square kilometers during the search. Efforts include more than 100 military, coast guard and civilian searchers, as well as coordination and support staff.
The search will be handed over to the OPP as a case for missing persons.
quotes
“On behalf of all those involved in the search effort, I would like to express my thoughts and prayers to both families. With these in mind, we have worked tirelessly, despite the challenging weather and geography, over the past few days with our Search and Rescue (SAR) partners to find any indication of the aircraft. All information we have gathered during the search will be passed on to the OPP. “
Captain Martin Zimmer, Master of Search, 1st Canadian Air Division / Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Center
Quick facts
· RCAF search masters require the cessation of air search only after it has been established that the probability of survival is no longer viable based on survivor models; after all reasonable efforts have been made; and all investigative data has been completely exhausted in an attempt to find the missing plane and the persons on board.
· Unless new information emerges indicating the likelihood of survivors being found, no further search activities will be carried out at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center and the case will be referred to the OPP as a case of missing persons.
· Search headquarters with additional staff from RCAF and Sault Ste. The Marie-based air task force was dedicated to search efforts.
· In the event of a search for the missing Piper Comanche with two people on board, 75 flights above the specified search area are performed for a period of ten days.
· The search was conducted in accordance with the Canadian Guidelines for Air Navigation and Maritime Search and Rescue, which describes in detail the procedures for conducting effective air navigation searches.
· Demand included five RCAFs (CC-130H Hercules, two CH-146 Griffons, CP-140 Aurora and CH-149 Cormorant), a CCG helicopter, an OPP helicopter, the Ontario Department of Nature Resource Helicopter and five CASARA aircraft. flown by volunteers. Up to 25 CASARA observers served on RCAF, CCG and CASARA aircraft.
· RCAF personnel and aircraft were from: Trenton Joint Rescue Coordination Center / 1 Canadian Air Division; 424th Rescue Squadron, 8th Trenton Wing; 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, 19 Wing Comox (based at 17 Wing Winnipeg), 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron, 14 Wing Greenwood; 405 long-range patrol squadron, 14 Greenwood wings.
· Search uses a number of technologies, including night vision, forward-facing infrared cameras, synthetic aperture radar (RCAF CP-140 Aurora) and satellite imagery. New technology was also used in the form of photo search with color recognition software (CASARA Skymaster aircraft).
· OPP Ground SAR surveyed areas around the last known position of the aircraft, but difficult terrain and snow hampered efforts.
· SAR incidents under the federal SAR mandate are defined as all aircraft incidents and all marine incidents in waters under federal jurisdiction. With the exception of federal-owned national parks, the overall responsibility for searching and rescuing land and inland waters lies with the provinces, territories and municipalities.
Original story: After nine days and more than 350 hours of searching, efforts to find and rescue two men and their missing plane have been suspended since Sunday afternoon.
Their plane disappeared from radar in the Wawa area, north of Lake Superior on April 14.
Many aspects of search and rescue teams, including the OPP, the Coast Guard, the MNR, civilian assets and the air force, have been involved in locating the aircraft, battling unpredictable weather conditions everywhere.
We will soon have an update from the Commander of the Air Task Force Headquarters and an official press release is forthcoming.
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