June 26, 2014 - Ottawa
Lieutenant-General Yvan Blondin, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), along with other North and South American air force commanders, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for mutual cooperation and aid in the event of disasters. The MOU was signed during the Air Chiefs Conference of the Americas, known as CONJEFAMER, that is taking place in Medellin, Colombia from 23-27 June, 2014.
The MOU, which will come into effect in 30 days, is a non-legally binding arrangement among the air forces that make up the System of Cooperation Among the American Air Forces (SICOFAA). It outlines the conditions necessary for the participation of SICOFAA air forces that are requested to support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations in one of the SICOFAA member states. Such conditions would include providing the assisted country with a list of personnel and resources deployed as part of the operation, as well as procedures for medical assistance.
Most importantly, this arrangement will help standardize procedures amongst the air forces involved and foster confidence and cooperation amongst smaller countries in the region.
The Chilean Air Force Commander, General Jorge Rojas, proposed this MOU at the 52nd CONJEFAMER held in 2012 in Ottawa. All attending air force commanders voted unanimously in favour of the proposal.
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