Infographic: Fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft replacement

The new fleet of fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft will be modern, effective and reliable. It will enable our women & men in uniform to conduct even more effective search and rescue missions across Canada’s vast territory.

The aircraft will:

• Detect, identify and classify objects and people, in low light and bad weather conditions, using state-of the-art sensors.
• Communicate better with other search and rescue assets and their systems, through modern communication, navigation, and data management tools.
• Conduct searches at low speed and low altitude, whether it’s over the Rockies, the Arctic, or an ocean.
• The new aircraft will be able to meet all three extremes of Canada’s search and rescue area of responsibility.
• Be available when needed thanks to robust in-service support, including maintenance, engineering and training support.

18 million km²: Canada’s search and rescue area of responsibility is one of the largest and most challenging in the world. It is bordered by three oceans, crossed by a sharp mountain range and capped by vast Arctic territory.

The area is divided into three very diverse search and rescue regions. The aircraft will be based in Comox, Winnipeg, Trenton and Greenwood.

Between 2005 and 2011*, fixed-wing aircraft responded to more than 2600 search and rescue incidents across the country.

Crew minimum of 6 personnel

• 2 pilots
• 2 SAR tech
• 1 Air Combat Systems Officer
• 1 Flight Engineer

*This historical data was collected early during the procurement project, to establish the requirements for the future aircraft.