ARCHIVED - Civil Air Search and Rescue Association recognized for outstanding contributions
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News Article / December 3, 2015
From RCAF Public Affairs
Canada’s Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) was awarded the Master’s North American Trophy by the Honourable Company of Air Pilots (North America) [HCAP(NA)] in a November 2, 2015, ceremony at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Ontario. The award recognizes outstanding, enduring and meritorious contribution to search and rescue in Canada.
“This award is for aviation excellence in an area specific to flying in North America,” Jeremy Tracy, Chairman of HCAP(NA), wrote about the award to CASARA. “This is a tremendous way to recognize the excellence of your volunteers from CASARA, who have become a mainstay of search and rescue.”
CASARA, a volunteer organization, was formed in 1986 and established as a federally funded Department of National Defence arms-length organization that is tasked directly by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centres throughout Canada. It has operational zones and volunteers in every province and territory, covering about 15,000,000 square kilometres and operating 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
About 1,900 volunteers with access to 350 aircraft donate almost 150,000 hours of personal time annually to training, flying on CASARA aircraft for SAR missions or functioning as spotters on Royal Canadian Air Force aircraft. CASARA volunteers also become involved with ground searches for missing or lost persons, canoeists, hikers and snowmobilers.
The principal activities of HCAP involve sponsoring and encouraging actions and activities designed to ensure that aircraft are piloted and navigated safely by individuals who are highly competent, dependable, self-reliant, and respected. The Company fosters sound education and training of air pilots, from initial to specialist training.
The Master of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots (HCAP) visited 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia, on November 6, 2015, as part of an extensive tour to aviation organizations around the world.
Royal Air Force Squadron Leader (retired) Chris Ford; Sue Jones, his partner; and Jeremy Tracy, HCAP(North America) chairman, experienced a full day at 19 Wing that included flights in CC-115 Buffalo and CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue aircraft, tours of 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron and 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron, and a luncheon with members of 19 Wing and the RCAF association.
The visitors left their messages of gratitude in the 19 Wing guestbook.
HCAP was established (as a guild) in 1929 to represent pilot and navigator interests within all areas of aviation. Members are or have been professional licence holders, operating aircraft for airlines, in corporate aviation, and in all branches of Her Majesty’s armed forces. Other members are private licence holders who are not fulltime professional airmen and airwomen but who fly in every area of general aviation, sporting aviation, and recreational flying.
HCAP’s charitable activities, education and training, technical committee work, aircrew aptitude testing, scholarships and sponsorship, advice, and recognition of the achievements of fellow aviators worldwide keep it at the forefront of the aviation world.
With files from the Honourable Company of Air Pilots (North America), and 19 Wing Comox base newspaper Totem Times.