Locals and visitors in the Mid-Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast areas can expect to hear more noise in the sky than usual, as the 19 Wing Comox base is hosting the Canadian Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX 2025) this week.
From Sept. 22 to 26, teams from Canada, the U.S. Brazil, Chile and Spain, will be stationed in Comox to share best practices and run multinational search and rescue exercises.
“Aircraft taking part in the exercise may be seen flying at low altitudes above mountain ranges, establishing search patterns, parachuting, parachute cargo drops, hoist operations and maritime search and rescue,” states the Department of National Defence.
Search and Rescue crews from 14 squadrons and units will be responding to more than 100 scenarios, using 18 aircraft.
Major Blake McNaughton, CH-149 Cormorant Helicopter pilot and flight commander calls the event in Comox is significant for bringing together “a group of professional search and rescue people and we’re going to challenge ourselves with dynamic scenarios and we’re going to learn from each other and make ourselves better for future SAR operations.”
The DND says the scenarios aim to test crews on their ability to respond regardless of the terrain.
“Scenario locations are all within 110 kilometers from 19 Wing Comox and the exercise will have no impact to daily search and rescue operations,” states the DND.
On Friday, Sept. 26, Air Force Beach will be closed to the public from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the final scenario of the exercise.
However, the campground will remain open, but campers are asked to avoid the exercise area.
The DND says signs will be posted to notify the public.
