The Department of National Defence and Royal Canadian Air Force have announced training exercises will be conducted in some areas of Vancouver Island next week.
The training exercises will be conducted from Monday, September 22nd to Friday, September 26th, and will take place in the mid-island region and the Sunshine Coast.
This endeavour is a part of the annual National Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX 2025) where search and rescue teams from across Canada and the United States will test interoperability and share best practices.
Other international participants in SAREX 2025 will include visitors from Brazil, Chile and Spain.
During this training, the Department of National Defense is warning members of the public that they may see increased air traffic and noise.
Aircrafts will reportedly be seen flying at low altitudes above mountain ranges, establishing search patterns, parachuting and dropping parachute cargo.
They will also be doing drills concerning exercising hoist operations, maritime search and rescue.
SAREX 2025 organizers say they have taken measures to inform local communities of the exercise.
Aside from some additional noise and low-altitude flight sightings, Air Force Beach in Comox will be closed to the public on Friday September 26th, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., as the area will be used for the final scenario of the exercise.
“To ensure public safety, access to the designated beach area will be restricted,” said a representative from 19 Wing Comox, who are hosting the exercise.
“Signage and personnel will be in place to enforce the closure. We ask for your cooperation in respecting these boundaries.”
They added that the closure will not affect the campground, but campers will be asked to remain clear of the exercise area.
All scenario locations are within 110 kilometers from 19 Wing Comox and the exercise will have no impact to daily search and rescue operations.
