Captain Jon Phipps, a helicopter instructor at 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School (CFFTS) in Southport, found himself thrust from the routine of training into the heart of the Manitoba wildfire crisis this past weekend.

Alongside fellow aviators, he piloted a CH-146 Griffon helicopter on a critical mission, airlifting evacuees from the fire-threatened northern Manitoba community of Pukatawagan to safety.

Assigned unexpectedly on Friday, May 30th, Captain Phipps and two other CFFTS crews rapidly deployed their Bell 412 helicopters, capable of carrying about 12 people or significant payloads. They arrived at Pukatawagan – referred to as "the Pas" or "Puck" by crews – by 1:00 PM, establishing operations at the local airport, the community's only viable escape route after wildfires sev

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