This C-130 Hercules was spotted in the skies above La Ronge. (submitted photo/Kandis Riese)

By Derek Cornet

military exercise

C-130 Hercules involved with training missions near La Ronge

Jul 10, 2020 | 4:54 PM

A C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft dominating the skies above La Ronge recently is part of a training exercise between the Canadian Armed Forces and the Civic Air Search and Rescue Assocation (CASARA).

“I was there yesterday working with CASARA,” said Major Kevin Coulombe. “They are a volunteer group who also does search and rescue, and we work with them quite a bit. Yesterday, they were pretending to be a lost aircraft, so they departed La Ronge and went 40 miles away and we went and searched for them.”

The exercise was completed using direction-finding instruments on the plane, as well as radio contact with those on the ground. Once the personnel in the C-130 Hercules spotted the other crew, they were then given direction on how to make their way back.

Coulombe mentioned among those also participating in the training were search and rescue specialists. They were interested in a field surrounded by trees near the airport, which is known as a confined area. Coulombe explained search and rescue specialists also training in scuba diving and mountain climbing, and are responsible for staying with a patient and administering First Aid.

“There’s quite a few (confined areas) in the Prairies, but La Ronge is one of the few places where we can get back to the airport without getting into a vehicle, which we don’t want to do these days,” Coulombe said. “I suspect that’s why there has been a number of planes in the last week going there.”

health care

RBC Foundation gifts $7,500 to assist in training La Ronge nurses

22h ago

town council

Strong opposition for downtown homeless shelter ahead of Tuesday public hearing

Apr 22, 2024

long-term care

La Ronge housing shortage discussed at SUMA convention

Apr 18, 2024

This C-130 Hercules was seen at the La Ronge Airport. (submitted photo)

Aside from search and rescue missions, Coulombe noted the C-130 Hercules is also used for air-to-air fueling, as well as wildfire evacuations. The aircraft was spotted in La Ronge June 18 and July 9.

If residents have photos of the aircraft during the exercises in La Ronge, the Canadian Armed Forces are requesting people to tag the photos on social media with the hashtags #19WingStong or #435Squadron.

–

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno