Civilian Search And Rescue Helo Pilots

[Coastal]

Hey all, new to the forum here and happy I stumbled across it! Lots of valuable info and some cool cats for sure.

 

I'm wondering about the prospects of civilian helicopter pilots who perform SAR. Does anyone on this forum do it? How does the civ SAR scene work in general? If someone could steer me in a direction w/ further info that'd be great.

 

I'm going to be CPL-h training soon and am very interested in SAR as a potential goal to work toward...so if civ SAR is something that just doesn't happen, please let me know (have heard a mixed bag from various pilots in the industry)!!

 

Thanks alot.

 

Coastal

[Human External Cargo]

Talon Helicopters, Blackcomb Helicopters, and Valley Helicopters do the majority of SAR flying on the South Coast. All three have pilots who are Class D qualified and have regular training sessions with the local SAR Teams to maintain proficiency in Class D operations, hover entry/exit procedures, and mountain terrain search and rescue techniques.

[212wrench]

Add Alpine Helicopters, Canmore, and Yellowhead Helicopters in Valemount for mountain rescue with Parks Canada, and Couger Helicopters has a SAR 61 in the Gulf of Mexico.

[Coastal]

Thanks fellas, anybody else?

[bleed air]

Alpine, out of Golden, of course, and I'm pretty sure that Bighorn out of Fernie does the Class D mountain rescue for Waterton Nat'l Park.

[407 Driver]

Yes, Bleed Air, Bighorn, with your ex pilot Greg G in Fernie.

 

The local Golden SAR group is almost ready to start up Class D Ops through BC PEP, as the Whistler and North Shore groups do now.

 

Don't forget Matthew C, Arrow Helicopters ( who bought the Kokanee Base) out of Revelstoke with Parks Canada, and Selkirk Mountain Helicopters with approval through VSI ( Dave West) for the BC PEP.

 

Of course, Doug Makkonen and the boys in Kluane Park in the Yukon with ???