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Helicopter

Two snowmobilers, two separate rescues for search teams in the Shuswap

SHUSWAP - Every minute of daylight counted as search and rescue crews raced to the aid of two snowmobilers during two separate incidents in the Shuswap this week. The first call came in around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27, with a report of an injured snowmobiler, possibly with a fractured spine, at Blue Lake near...

Kamloops RCMP helicopter is officially moving north

KAMLOOPS - The RCMP helicopter is officially leaving the Kamloops hangar, with a spring 2016 move planned. The local helicopter, which currently covers the Southeast district, will fly to the North District. The move is based on human resources, cost and operational requirements according to Staff Sgt. Rob Vermeulen, a media relations officer for the...

Vernon Search and Rescue deploys helicopter to injured hiker

VERNON - A seriously injured hiker in Kimberly has Vernon Search and Rescue to thank for getting him to the hospital in record time. Leigh Pearson, with Vernon SAR, says the group’s helicopter winch rescue team was deployed on Friday, April 3, for a mutual aid call in Kimberly. After navigating around some bad weather,...

Southeast District RCMP may not lose its helicopter

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The RCMP helicopter based in Kamloops may not move up north just yet according to an RCMP spokesperson who says the move is merely a 'recommendation' still under review. “Our assessment of Air Services in B.C., recommends the re-aligning of these resources more effectively by moving one of two helicopters currently in the...

RCMP helicopter permanently flying north

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Don't expect to see RCMP helicopters flying overhead as often going forward, a Kamloops-based RCMP helicopter will be handed over to the North District this April leaving only one to cover the entire district. “They’re moving the one from Kamloops to Prince George. (The district-level decision) was based on the fact that they...

$400,000 worth helicopter parts stolen in West Kelowna worthless to thief: police

WEST KELOWNA - Someone has made off with $400,000 worth of helicopter parts from the back of a van in West Kelowna but police say they're worthless to the thief. Alpine Helicopters reported the theft to the RCMP on Saturday, saying 31 helicopter parts in several boxes were taken. Jill Seaton, the company's chief financial...

Groundbreaking training will help Vernon search and rescue help you

VERNON - Members of Vernon Search and Rescue are trying something new as they huddle around a helicopter watching a teammate dangle a few feet off the ground. The apparatus they're using is called a winch, and it will allow qualified technicians the ability to descend as much as 300 feet to the ground to...

WATCH: Vernon Search and Rescue to demo groundbreaking rescue technique

VERNON - Vernon Search and Rescue is taking its skill set to all new heights.  The unit is launching a ground-breaking, two-year pilot project to test out an operation known as the Helicopter Winch Rescue. The procedure is used around the world, as well as inby the Canadian Coast Guard, the military and specialized emergency...

STAHN: The view from up here

You may think I’m wrong to admit this, but I am actually really excited about this fire season. I have been since murmurs of another active season began. The opportunity to see our guys and gals in action, putting themselves in harms way to save our homes, the air tankers and helicopters constantly buzzing above:...