CAF Story | Search and Rescue (SAR) with the C-295 Kingfisher
Video / January 23, 2026
Transcript
(RV) I’m Capt. Rock Veilleux of 442 Search and Rescue Squadron. Everything I know about search and rescue is the C-295. From what I can see, what this aircraft brings, it’s incredible. With this plane, we’re able to reduce search times.
The best example was when the U.S. Coast Guard asked us to help them find a boat. We took off from here. As soon as we passed over the mountains, the Tactical Officer was able to use the radar and see where the boat was right away. We were still two hours away. The boat is here; with its velocity, winds and everything, the boat is going to be there. So, we went straight to that spot, met the boat, then descended to 400 feet above the water. With the camera we have, we were able to prepare the boat for the helicopter.
(Tactical Officer) Tantrum, this is 515. Yeah, we’re gonna go to where the Zodiac is at, that back left. If you can clean it up as much as possible, move anything you can out of the way, and move that boom to the starboard side. As well, make sure that the Zodiac is properly tied down. It’s not a showstopper if it’s in the way.
(Ship Captain) Roger. OK. We’ll clear out everything and put the boom to the starboard.
(RV) And once the boat was ready, communications were established, we just went back up above the clouds and flew towards Oregon to meet an American search and rescue helicopter. We helped them right up to the last moment when they took the passengers or the person who needed to be evacuated on board.
(Coast Guard) Good working, with you guys. We’re gonna take good care of your guy. We’re gonna get ‘em to a higher level of care here. I hope you guys have a good rest of the voyage.
(RV) A mission like this used to be more difficult. The Hercules or the Buffalo didn’t have the radar. So they would have had to find the boat on the ocean. Because of the cloud cover, they wouldn’t really have been able to see it. We saved time.
It gives you a sense of pride. If I had someone in my family who had a problem or whatever, a friend, well, they can pick up the phone. And, obviously, we’re the last line. We’re going to succeed. We’re going to save lives.