442 SQUADRON EVACUATES STRANDED PILOT NEAR LYTTON
Written by 19 WING COMOX **
Monday, 23 April 2012
Last Saturday night, April 21st, members of 442 Squadron evacuated a stranded pilot in a mountainous area of Spences Bridge, British Columbia, approximately 40 km northeast of Lytton.
The pilot had landed his light aircraft along a lakeside road, but when he attempted to taxi for take-off, a wheel became lodged in a sinkhole, trapping the aircraft. The pilot was able to use his aircraft radio to give his position to a passing airliner, which then relayed the distress call to Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Victoria. JRCC Victoria dispatched a CC-115 Buffalo and a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter from Comox. With darkness fast approaching, the Buffalo dropped a handheld radio to the stranded pilot in order to check on his condition.
“The strobe flashlight the pilot had with him made all the difference,” said Major Paul Hodge, Buffalo aircraft commander. “The Search and Rescue Technicians (SAR Techs) in the back were able to spot the pilot and we got him on the radio to confirm that he was uninjured.”
As the Buffalo lit the way with flares, the Cormorant landed shortly thereafter to pick up the pilot and fly him to Abbotsford. “He was uninjured, but he could have been in trouble if not evacuated,” said Sergeant Dan Pasieka, lead SAR Tech on the Cormorant. “A short flight in an aircraft can still get you a long ways from help and pilots need to be prepared.”
All pilots are encouraged to file a detailed flight itinerary before every trip and ensure their flight path follows this itinerary. Aircraft should be equipped with a functioning, up-to-date Emergency Locator Transmitter as well as an emergency kit.