Features

By Holly Bridges

It's every aircrew's nightmare.  Crashing or setting down (in the case of a helicopter) into the wilderness, with casualties on board, and having to survive until help arrives.  While some Air Force members have lived that nightmare, many others hope it will never happen to them.

Still, the Canadian Forces require that all aircrews are trained in wilderness survival techniques so they can save themselves, or others around them, in the event of a crash or catastrophic event in the middle of nowhere.

Members of 444 Combat Support Squadron at 5 Wing Goose Bay did just that in early December during a wilderness survival exercise that saw two pilots and a flight engineer living outdoors for 48 hours in -20^o C weather with only the provisions they normally carry on board their CH-146 Griffon helicopter.

"The operations order was put out about a month ago, but we kept it quiet among the aircrew for the element of surprise," says exercise organizer and Search and Rescue Technician (SAR Tech), Master Corporal Duane Bryson, a highly trained survival specialist himself.  "This morning, our operations desk basically told a crew coming back from a flight to divert to another location.  I drove out and met them there and announced that this was their survival training.  It was a surprise, for sure."

Aircrew do know what to do in such an emergency - an exercise such as this simply gives them the opportunity to actually do it - for example, check for survivors, perform first aid, light fire signals, set up camp and find food and water, and all in that order.

"We have a lot of snow here in Goose Bay so the crew just boiled up some water and began eating survival candies that we had on board," says MCpl Bryson.  "The boys have what we call a ‘B-25' bag on board the helicopter which has everything they need if they crash or have to put down for the night.  It has dry clothes, some food and other equipment."

MCpl Bryson says the crew handled the exercise very well, saying they worked together as a team.  He says exercises such as this are vital to helping aircrews train to save lives - their own, their crewmembers' and any passengers who may be on board.

"Exercises like this are important for our operational capabilities," says MCpl Bryson.  "If I ever get stuck in a situation like this, I want to know that my crew can help me or someone else on board."

On July 18, 2002, Master Corporal Dave Pawulski, then a Flight Engineer with 444 Combat Support Squadron, saved the life of a fellow crewmember after their helicopter crashed in a heavily wooded area of northeastern Labrador. Following the crash, MCpl Pawulski managed to free himself from the wreckage, in spite of serious back and neck fractures.

Using a satellite phone, he placed a distress call after assessing the condition of his three fellow crewmembers. With the still-roaring engines posing a serious threat, MCpl Pawulski freed the other surviving crewmember (a SAR Tech) from the twisted debris and dragged him away from the wreckage to render first aid. In spite of fading daylight and heavy rain, MCpl Pawulski, ignoring the pain from his own injuries, spent the next two and a half hours preparing signals for a search and rescue team to locate the site and airlift them to safety. Sadly, the tragedy claimed the lives of the two pilots, Captains Colin Sonosky and Juli-Ann MacKenzie.

MCpl Pawulski was awarded the Star of Courage for his efforts in 2004.  Sergeant Mario Michaud, Search and Rescue Technician, survived the crash but did not return to active duty as a SAR Tech.