Op Driftnet: Demons in the South Pacific

News Article / March 4, 2019

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RCAF Public Affairs

Based at 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia, 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron, augmented by Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and US Coast Guard (USCG) personnel, carried out surveillance patrols in January 2019 to counter illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing. In support of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and USCG District 14 Hawaii Pacific, the deployment, a “first” for 407 Squadron, was based out of Nadi [pronounced “NON-di”], Fiji, with flights spanning the Fijian Economic Exclusion Zone as well as international waters within Oceania while working closely with the USCG High-Endurance Cutter Mellon.

Fiji may evoke thoughts of sunshine, cloudless skies, white sandy beaches, and palm trees swaying in the breeze. However, the crew quickly learned that the Fijian summer, coinciding with cyclone season, brings torrential rainstorms to Nadi nearly every afternoon and evening. Despite the weather, all of the allotted missions were flown—close to 60 hours in total—while groundcrew persevered in all weather conditions to ensure the CP-140M Aurora was ready. The sound of the Aurora starting its engines never failed to draw a crowd in a place that rarely sees RCAF aircraft.

During a scheduled break, several members of the crew and DFO personnel travelled to the capital of Suva with Commander Ted Summers, the Canadian Defence Advisor to New Zealand, to meet crew from USCGC Mellon and from the Fijian Ministry of Fisheries to provide mission updates. As well, the crew enjoyed local tourist activities and witnessed first-hand the Fijian love of rugby when their Rugby Sevens team won gold in Hamilton, New Zealand.

From the 407 Squadron crew perspective, it was an interesting and fulfilling deployment in an area that is rarely patrolled by RCAF assets. “Vinaka vaka levu” (thank you very much) to the CAF, DFO, USCG, and Fijian personnel who ensured a successful deployment to Fiji and a memorable start to 2019.