National SAR EX

20-26 September 2009

Host - 103 Search and Rescue Squadron

Gander, Newfoundland

SAR Tech, PJ and Rescue Swimmer sections are required to have equipment to conduct Over Water Operations to include hoisting and surface swimming. As water temperatures can be cold in this region, dry suit gear or heavier thickness wet suits are recommended.

 Joining Instructions (French translation pending)
*** Conference Fee has been amended to read Entertainment fee.  For all CF mbrs this is a non-claimable expense

International Involvement

Units are asked to access their needs for airlift capability for their personnel and/or equipment to and from Gander, Newfoundland for National SAREX 09. Unit OPI’s are asked to forward this information to SAREX OPI Captain Paul Hamlyn ASAP to ensure all Units needs are addressed, Thanks.

Units are advised to choose team captains and judges as soon as possible.

Units are asked to provide financial code to ensure your hotel and car rentals are available.

Gander has cellular and BlackBerry limitations that should be addressed to the people coming for SAREX in September. Currently, only CDMA service is available in Gander and surrounding areas. In other words, only Telus and Bell cell phones and BlackBerrys will work here. Rogers devices will not work because they operate on the GSM network. At the present time, no one offers GSM service in this area. If users arrive with Rogers devices, they will not be able to send or receive voice or data. The only exception to this is if the Rogers device is considered "International" and capable of transmitting on both the GSM and CDMA networks. Users can verify if their device is International by contacting their local WTIS helpdesk.

Stay tuned to this Web site for accommodations, rentals and schedule of events.

This site will be updated weekly.

SAR EX

OPI -Major Bill Wyss - Contact # (709) 256-1703 EXT 1350, william.wyss@forces.gc.ca

D/OPI - Captain Paul Hamlyn - Contact #(709) 256-1703 EXT 1395, paul.hamlyn@forces.gc.ca

Ops O - Captain Jim Pinhorn - Contact #(709) 256-1703 EXT 1342, jim.pinhorn@forces.gc.ca

Operational issues - contact Duty OPS WO Dwight Holloway at (709) 256-1703 EXT 1342, kevin.holloway@forces.gc.ca

   

We will have a number of cell phones available but the intent is for local calling only. These phones will be issued to judges, aircraft commanders and one additional crew member, and servicing crew chiefs if applicable.

VIPs, (COs and above) if you will require a cell phone with Canada wide coverage for the week, please advise soonest.