RCAF Takes Part in Disaster Relief Exercise in Peru

Royal Canadian Air Force

Ottawa, April 19th, 2014

Approximately 60 members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are deploying to Peru to take part in Exercise COOPERACIÓN III, a key Latin American multinational exercise with a focus on disaster relief, which will be conducted from April 19 to May 2, 2014.

During Exercise COOPERACIÓN III, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) will conduct air expeditionary training, search and rescue, and humanitarian aid delivery training. The RCAF will test the air-transportability of the CH-149 Cormorant via a C-177 Globemaster III Strategic Airlift plane. This deployment marks a milestone for the Cormorant fleet, as this is the first time the helicopter will deploy outside of North America.

As part of the Government of Canada’s Global Engagement Strategy, the CAF is working toward a more prosperous, secure and democratic hemisphere through participation in exercises like COOPERACIÓN III. The RCAF plays a significant role in this commitment as a member of the System of Cooperation among the Air Forces of the Americas, known in Spanish as the Sistema de Cooperación entre las Fuerzas Aéreas Americanas (SICOFAA).

Quick Facts

- A 426 Squadron CC-130J Hercules transport plane and a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter from 413 Squadron will participate in the exercise. A 429 Squadron CC-177 Globemaster III will airlift the helicopter to and from Lima, Peru.

- Deploying aircrews will be from 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario, 9 Wing Gander, Newfoundland, 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia and 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia.

- Crews flying a CC-130J Hercules and a CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopter will operate from Lima and Pisco, Peru, respectively.

- Exercise COOPERACIÓN III marks the first deployment of a CH-149 Cormorant by a CC-177 Globemaster III. The exercise will test the air-transportability of the helicopter in an expeditionary setting to simulate response to an international crisis.

- This is the second Exercise COOPERACIÓN for the RCAF; in 2010, it participated in Exercise COOPERACIÓN I, which was hosted by the Republic of Chile.

Quotes

"Canada is honoured to have been invited to take part in Exercise COOPERACIÓN III. As part of the Government of Canada’s Global Engagement Strategy, the Canadian Armed Forces is working toward a more prosperous, secure and democratic hemisphere through participation in exercises like COOPERACIÓN III."
The Honourable Rob Nicholson
PC, QC, MP for Niagara Falls and Minister of National Defence

"This exercise highlights the importance of partnerships and interoperability within SICOFAA nations. By conducting air expeditionary training, and practicing our humanitarian aid delivery and search and rescue capabilities in this region, the RCAF will be even better prepared should we ever be called upon to assist in the event of a natural disaster."
Lieutenant-General Yvan Blondin
Commander, Royal Canadian Air Force

"This is the first time a Cormorant helicopter will be transported by a CC-177. Cormorant crews have demonstrated time and again that they can help those in need at home, and through this exercise, Canadians can be proud to know that we are demonstrating our ability to help those in need abroad."
Colonel Jim Benninger
RCAF Air Task Force Commander

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