WEBVTT

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On the evening of March 2nd,

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413 Transport
and Rescue Squadron

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was tasked to conduct
a search and rescue mission

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of crew members
aboard a fishing vessel

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off the coast of Yarmouth,
Nova Scotia.

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Captain Jeremy Appolloni
joins us today

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to tell us more about
this incredible effort.

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Thanks for joining us today,
Captain Appolloni.

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To start, can you give us
a quick overview

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of the situation on March 2nd

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and why 413 Squadron was tasked

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to conduct a
search and rescue mission?

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Yes. So I was
the aircraft commander

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and the pilot flying
during this tasking.

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I received the call shortly
after sundown, on March 2nd,

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from the Rescue Coordination
Center in Halifax,

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telling us that the
approximately 43-metre vessel

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<i>Atlantic Destiny </i>was
suffering a fire on board

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and they were taking on water
in rough sea states

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and they were asking
for our assistance.

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So I accepted the mission

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as well as the C-130 Hercules
aircraft commander

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who would be providing
top cover that evening.

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And we went to work.

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They took off sooner than we did

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because they were in for a night
trainer and they went on scene

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to establish communications
with the vessel,

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to drop kit if able,

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and as well to prepare to drop
flares to illuminate the horizon

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so that we could fly in close
proximity to the vessel.

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What were some of the challenges
that you and the team faced?

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So the challenges were obviously
the weather conditions.

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It's hard to train
in a storm like that.

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We don't do it

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but we train in situations
leading after that

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so that we're ready
when that call comes.

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Night is a challenge
in its own.

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Eight-metre waves are
a challenge in their own.

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They're like two to three-storey
apartment buildings

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rolling through
and hitting the vessel.

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The vessel being on fire

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and taking on water meant
that time was not on our side.

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And the winds were
very powerful as well

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and they were rocking the boat

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and preventing us from
manoeuvring the helicopter

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any which way we had to point
into the wind.

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How does this search
and rescue mission

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compare to the previous ones
you've been part of?

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So, it compares
in a couple of ways.

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In a good way,

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with the joint effort
of all the parties involved,

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we were able to save
all 31 souls on board.

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That's a highlight.

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As well, having to deal
with that emergency

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and leave my search
and rescue technicians

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on board a vessel
that's on fire and sinking

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was very uncomfortable,

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as we transited back to land
knowing that two of our own

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are still on the vessel
with the other fishers.

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Anything you'd like to add?

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Yes, I'd like to add
that that evening,

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Sgt Brad Nisbet
and Sgt Fern Bianco

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were the epitome of search
and rescue technician heroes,

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and they used every piece of
training and experience they had

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in order to save
all 31 souls off that vessel.

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Thank so much
for joining us today.

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My pleasure.

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♪