Media Advisory: National Search and Rescue Exercise

17 WING/CFB WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - Sept. 11, 2013) - Media are invited to attend events at the National Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) which showcases Search and Rescue (SAR) capabilities of the Royal Canadian Air Force and other participating SAR agencies.

** RSVP REQUIRED TO ATTEND ANY OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING**

Event 1: AIRCRAFT ARRIVAL

When:	Sunday, September 15, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
Where:	Gimli Industrial Park Airport - Hangar 1 (Air Cadet Hangar)
What:	Capture footage of crews arriving in airplanes and helicopters at Gimli airport in preparation for SAR activities.

Event 2: MEDIA FLIGHT

When:	Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 8:30 a.m.
Where:	Gimli Industrial Park Airport - Hangar 1 (Air Cadet Hangar)
What:	Be flown by plane over marine rescue sites in the waters of Lake Winnipeg; fly over ground & cliff exercise sites in Thalberg, MB and Minaki, ON.
Directions:	Follow Highway #8 towards Gimli. As you approach Gimli look for green airplane road signs to direct you to the airport. Turn West at Hwy 231 and follow for ~1.5kms and turn South at Municipal Drive. Continue to intersection and turn right on Dunlop Avenue. Follow until you reach aircraft hangars, then park and seek someone from Public Affairs.

Event 3: SEARCH AND RESCUE GROUND EXERCISE

When:	Thursday, September 19, 2013 afternoon - exact times below.
Where:	Thalberg, Manitoba - directions below.
What:	This event will challenge SAR aircrews and Ground SAR crews in an unusual and dynamic SAR / medical treatment scenario involving multiple mock casualties of an air crash and drawing on expertise of Canada's SAR partners.
Directions:	Transportation will be provided from the Gimli Airport - departure time is 9:00 a.m. - returning at 2:30. If driving alone from Winnipeg - travel time to the site is roughly 2 hours: Directions to the site from Winnipeg - head north on Route 59; turn east on Hwy 317 (past Selkirk); head north on the Hwy 12; east on RR 90 N; north on RR 46 E which leads to the only road/trail into the Thalberg exercise area. The position of the area is 50 21N 96 24W on Google Earth. Bring a bag lunch and bug spray.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS:

**The following opportunities must be arranged with a public affairs officer.**

1 - Embed in rescue as a casualty: Using gory make-up called "moulage" reporter will serve as an air crash victim with serious injuries in Thalberg Ground rescue scenario. ~ 5 hours in bush on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

2 - Marine Rescue: departing from the Gimli harbour, media will be taken by boat to the scene of a mock air-to-water rescue of a stricken vessel ~ 4-5 hours on water on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 (This is an airplane rescue with parachuting SAR Techs - no helicopter hoisting.)

Note: All timings are subject to change based on weather and aircraft serviceability.

To all media please RSVP your attendance in order to arrange for access to the site by contacting Mr. David Elias at 204-833-2500 x 5524 by FRIDAY 13 Sept or by email at: david.elias@forces.gc.ca. Alternately, you can contact Captain Jordan Woodman (204) 833-2500, extension 6499, cell (204) 227-3439 or by email at: jordan.woodman@forces.gc.ca