(Submitted Photo/Carla Ambros)

By Derek Craddock

MYSTERY PLANE

Mystery in plane sight! What flew over P.A. on Wednesday?

Feb 17, 2022 | 12:22 PM

Several residents were puzzled after seeing a large, dark object fly over Prince Albert Wednesday afternoon.

No, this wasn’t a UFO or foreign aircraft, it was in fact a Canadian Forces plane, the C-130H Hercules, taking part in search and rescue exercises over the city.

Some videos that were sent to paNOW show the plane flying overhead with what appeared to be smoke or mist coming from behind.

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According to the Canadian Forces, this was all part of training routines regularly done by search and rescue crews.

“This was a Search and Rescue (SAR) training flight for equipment drops; practice drops of SAR equipment took place over the local airport, with the concurrence of airport authorities,” said Cpt. Christine MacNeil in a statement to paNOW.

(Photo 59022106 / Canadian © Gordzam | Dreamstime.com)

“As the Royal Canadian Air Force SAR crews can be called in to any terrain, in any weather, and at any time of day, it is important that their training never become routine. Therefore, they train in different landscapes, different altitudes, all types of weather, and to ever-changing scenarios. As a result, RCAF SAR crews are highly trained specialists who stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice.”

While this sight caught some residents off-guard, it’s not the first and won’t be the last time these planes come to town.

Manager of the Prince Albert Airport, Corey Nygaard said these search and rescue teams fly in several times a year.

“They usually come to Prince Albert airport about eight times a year to exercise their search and rescue tactics. They usually circle the airport a few times and get their gear ready. They deploy streamers to test the winds before they deploy their jumpers and than they usually drop a parachute with some equipment and then drop a couple of paramedics or search and rescue technicians onto the airfield.”

Nygaard said he doesn’t know the exact dates and times the search and rescue crews will arrive in Prince Albert. The flight traffic controllers are notified just before the aircraft approach as is common procedure.

While he couldn’t point to an exact reason the RCAF chooses Prince Albert for these exercises, he did have some theories.

“We’re an airport that has approaches so they get to practice their airport approaches unlike a smaller airport. We’re not as busy as a Saskatoon or Regina (airport), so they actually have some time and ability to do their activity.”

Nygaard also pointed to the city’s flight service technicians who make sure all activity in the air around the airport is safe which he believes is beneficial to the search and rescue teams.

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @pa_craddock