Locals and visitors in the Mid-Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast areas can expect to hear more noise in the sky than usual, as the 19 Wing Comox base is hosting the Canadian Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX 2025) this week.

From Sept. 22 to 26, teams from Canada, the U.S., Brazil, Chile and Spain, will be stationed in Comox to share best practices and run multinational search and rescue exercises.

“Aircraft taking part in the exercise may be seen flying at low altitudes above mountain ranges, establishing search patterns, parachuting, parachute cargo drops, hoist operations and maritime search and rescue,” states the Department of National Defence.

Major Blake McNaughton, CH-149 Cormorant Helicopter pilot and flight commander calls the event in Comox “significant” as it brings togeth

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