A 442 Squadron search and rescue (SAR) technician dangles from the hoist of a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter on his way to the container ship Dorian, steaming more then 300 km off the B.C. coast in April 2003. (Courtesy DND/MCpl J.P. Cossette)
During the Second World War the Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force were frequently called on to rescue people from downed aircraft, or sinking or sunken ships.
In January 1947, the Royal Canadian Air Force formally took charge of four rescue zones: Atlantic, Eastern, Western and Pacific. The RCAF’s main responsibility was downed military aircraft. but it was also responsible for vessels in distress and for fulfilling Canada’s obligations to support civil aviation.
By the 1950s it was clear that, at least on the East Coast, there were many more marine rescue calls than those involving aircraft.
The system was revamped a number of times until it reached its present configuration.
Canada is divided into three zones, each with its own search and rescue co-ordination centre.
JRCC Victoria is responsible for all of British Columbia, the Yukon and 1,200 kilometres westward into the Pacific Ocean.
JRCC Trenton covers much of the country, more than seven million square kilometres from the B.C.-Alberta border to the North Pole and Quebec City.
JRCC Halifax is responsible for eastern Quebec, Atlantic Canada and the waters of the North Atlantic.
In addition there are two Maritime Rescue Sub-centres:
MRSC Laurentians, based in Quebec City, is responsible for “maritime incidents” in the navigable waters of the St. Lawrence River, St. Lawrence Seaway and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
MRSC Newfoundland, based in St. John’s, is responsible for “maritime incidents” along the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, and adjacent areas of the North Atlantic.
The United States also has rescue co-ordination centres in Juneau, Alaska; Langley, Va; Seattle, Wash., and Elmendorf, Ark.
As well there is a Mission Control Centre at CFB Trenton, which is a ground station for receiving distress signals picked up by satellite. Since the 1980s various satellites, including the dedicated SARSAT system, have been capable of picking up signals from various emergency locator transmitters (ELTs). If an aircraft, vessel or individual is in distress, the signal is picked up by an overhead satellite and then relayed to the MCC.
The ELT saves time and lives by helping to zero in a search, especially with the help of today’s Global Positioning Satellites. However, there have been increasing complaints that ELTs are sending out false alarms or are used for trivial reasons, often triggering an expensive rescue effort.
Canadian Rescue Co-ordination Centres are staffed 24 hours a day, with the minimum of an air co-ordinator from the air force, two maritime co-ordinators from the coast guard and support staff from the Canadian Forces and coast guard.
The system is designed to act quickly. The RCC is notified of a possible emergency, confirms that there is a problem and then begins working through a well-practised checklist, depending on the nature of the search and rescue operation.
If the emergency is on water, the coast guard and coast guard auxiliary are assigned, often assisted by Canadian Forces aircraft. At sea, nearby naval, commercial or private vessels may also be asked to assist.
If it is an aeronautical emergency, the appropriate air force units are alerted, sometimes along with civilian volunteers using their own aircraft.
In either case, a search area is identified and assigned and the crews and other search teams briefed and dispatched, with the rescue co-ordination centre handling the information flow and having command and control of the operation.
