Air Force Hercules Evacuates 92 From eastmain River, Quebec

CC-130 Hercules

JUNE 6- 1 CANADIAN AIR DIVISION HEADQUARTERS, WINNIPEG, Man. - An Air Force CC-130 Hercules transport from 8 Wing Trenton evacuated 92 people from
fire-threatened Eastmain River, Quebec, to the airport at Val D'Or, Quebec.

The Hercules crew was able to land on the 3,511-foot gravel runway in daylight today following a refuelling stop at Val D'Or, after aborting an attempt to land overnight due to dense smoke and poor weather
obscuring the runway.

"This is typical of the missions that the Air Force's CC-130 Hercules crews are asked to undertake on a daily basis," said acting 1 Canadian Air Division commander Brig.-Gen. Dwight Davies. "Hercules crews conduct a variety of tasks for Canadians from humanitarian operations, as in this case, through air-to-air refuelling of fighters conducting the NORAD mission."

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre at 8 Wing Trenton coordinates air and marine search and rescue in most of Quebec, Ontario, the Prairies, the North-West Territories and Nunavut from the Great Lakes to the North Pole. Dedicated search and rescue aircraft and crews are on 24-hour a day standby at 8 Wing Trenton and 17 Wing Winnipeg to respond to calls for help in this part of the country.