In this first installment of The Rescue, Captain Jason Shaw and Sergeant Vincent C-Benoit of 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron take us inside the world of Canadian search and rescue operations. From their early days in the Canadian Army and Air Force - including deployments to Afghanistan and Bosnia - to the rigorous training pipeline for pilots and SAR Techs, Jason and Vince share how they became leaders in one of the most demanding trades in the RCAF.

They walk us through the skills, mindset, and teamwork required to fly the CC-130H Hercules into some of the harshest environments in Canada. Along the way, they recount intense training experiences, mountain rescues, operational jumps, and life-or-death missions that prepared them for one of the most dramatic rescues of recent years: the Air Tindi crash in the Northwest Territories.

This episode is Part 1 of their story, focusing on careers, training, and earlier rescues that set the stage for the high-stakes mission at the heart of this two-part series.

Counter-Drug and Search and Rescue Aviation in the Caribbean with PAL Aerospace

What is it like to fly counter-drug interdiction and Search and Rescue missions in the Caribbean? What does it take to qualify for this demanding aviation work, and how do crews prepare to execute missions as part of Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South)?

In this episode, retired RCAF Lieutenant-Colonel Trevor Juby, now Chief Pilot with Provincial Airlines / PAL Aerospace in Curaçao, and retired RCAF Master Warrant Officer Pat Lalande, now a tactical coordinator and mission commander with PAL Aerospace, discuss their transition from the Royal Canadian Air Force to international operations in the Caribbean.

They provide insight into the training, teamwork, and operational challenges of counter-drug and SAR missions, while highlighting the crucial role PAL Aerospace plays in supporting multinational efforts to disrupt trafficking and save lives.

RCAF to Counter-Drug and Search & Rescue Missions in the Caribbean

What is it like to fly long-range patrol missions in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), face close calls in high-stakes operations, and then transition to counter-drug and Search and Rescue (SAR) missions in the Caribbean? How do Canadian military pilots prepare for this demanding work, and what challenges do they face operating in one of the busiest regions for international aviation operations?

In this episode, retired RCAF Lieutenant-Colonel Trevor Juby, now Chief Pilot with PAL Aerospace / Provincial Airlines in Curaçao, and retired RCAF Master Warrant Officer Pat Lalande, now a tactical coordinator and mission commander with PAL Aerospace, share their experiences. They discuss RCAF patrol missions, the skills and training needed for counter-narcotics aviation, and the realities of flying SAR operations in the Caribbean.