CASARA members are pilots, navigators, spotters, search coordinators, electronic search specialists, radio operators and administration staff who are trained to carry out searches using light aircraft, and ground vehicles. CASARA members are also trained to work as spotters on military aircraft. The primary focus of CASARA operations is visual and electronic search for missing aircraft. The ground search activities of CASARA are generally limited to electronic searches for aircraft emergency location transmitters.
While CASARA operates primarily in support of the military for aircraft searches, CASARA Ontario also has a memorandum of understanding with the Ontario Provincial Police and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to provide air support to ground SAR taskings. This support can be in the form of visual search capability or communications support. CASARA may also act in a liason and communications role between local authorities and the military SAR resources where required.
CASARA Ontario has nine units covering most of the province. CASARA Ottawa covers a region approximately bordered by the St. Lawrence river to Pembroke, and the Quebec border to Peterborough. In addition CASARA Ottawa may operate in support of major searches anywhere in Ontario and western Quebec at the request of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre at CFB Trenton, working with 424 Transport and Rescue Squadron.
CASARA Ottawa is a fully mobile unit with no fixed base of operations, and is organized to be able to deploy to any location in Ontario to carry out operations in support of a search. All members of CASARA Ottawa are trained in basic First Aid and a number of our members are trained to an advanced level. While CASARA is not a first response rescue organization, our members are trained to properly manage a crash scene should they be the first on scene. Our training also includes wilderness survival and wilderness First Aid, especially for those members operating as active air or ground crew. CASARA Ottawa also has a significant contingent of skilled radio operators who support our operations through established radio facilities or through temporary field installations as required.
The Rockcliffe Flying Club provides support through the availability of facilities for classes and exercises, and by providing rental aircraft for exercises and searches. The Ottawa Flying Club provides support in the form of meeting facilities for our monthly meetings.
If you're 18 or over in good health, with good eyesight and like flying in light aircraft (or think that you might like to try flying in light aircraft) we need you to fill the most critical role in search flying, that of spotter. If you're looking for a challenge to fill some of your spare time, and you want an opportunity to perhaps help someone in trouble, come out to a meeting.
CASARA Ottawa meets on the third Tuesday of every month, except December, at the Ottawa Flying Club, at 19:00 local. A one day Search and Rescue exercise is held on the weekend following the meeting, alternating between Saturday (odd months) and Sunday (even months). The location of these exercises may vary from month to month and is briefed at the meeting. There are also additional academic and practical training sessions scheduled as required. A detailed schedule is available on the training page.
Last Updated on Sep. 8, 2009