Dear Canadian Helicopter Operator,
In 2002 AgustaWestland Industries, manufacturers of the Canadian Forces’ Cormorant search and rescue helicopters, commissioned a trophy to be presented annually to a civilian, government or military Canadian helicopter crew that had performed the most demanding helicopter rescue of the year. Every year the Canadian Forces issues a call for nominations to all recognized helicopter operators in Canada for the award now known as the Cormorant Trophy. From the nominations received last year, the selection committee chose a CH-149 crew from 413 Squadron, Greenwood Nova Scotia as the recipients of the 2005 Cormorant Trophy. The CH-149 crew of “Rescue 910” rescued the 5-member crew of the Fishing Vessel Sandy Beach, a ship in danger of sinking in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, during a storm in March 2005. The trophy was presented to the winning crew last fall at the Canadian Forces National “SAREX” search and rescue exercise in Summerside, PEI.
Accordingly, I am writing now, to solicit nominations from your organization for a crew, not an individual or an organization, mission in accordance with the following criteria:
a. occurred within Canada’s Search and Rescue area of responsibility;
b. was conducted by a Canadian civilian, government or military helicopter crew;
c. involved a rescue or attempted rescue where lives were saved or the potential for saving lives was high;
d. was performed between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2006.
In order for nominations to be received and given due consideration in time for a presentation in September at this year’s National SAREX in North Bay, ON. Nominations should be forwarded by 20 August 2006 to:
1 Canadian Air Division/Canadian NORAD Region
PO Box 17000, Stn Forces
Winnipeg MB R3J 3Y5
Attention: A3 SARE-mail : Susin.MW@forces.gc.ca (Major Mike Susin)
Fax : (204) 833-2526
A selection committee will be established at 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters, and will be chaired by A3 SAR, Lieutenant-Colonel Colin Goodman, a very experienced search and rescue helicopter pilot. The committee will also include appropriate representation from Transport Canada, the National Search and Rescue Secretariat, AgustaWestland Industries and the Canadian helicopter industry at large. In reviewing nominations, the committee will take into account the following considerations:
a. the severity of the environmental conditions under which the mission was flown;
b. the difficulty of the mission with respect to the performance capabilities of the helicopter used; and
c. the courage, dedication and professionalism demonstrated by the crew.
We look forward once again to recognizing Canadian helicopter crews that performed “above and beyond” in the interest of saving lives, and I truly hope that you will join with us in identifying deserving nominees for this award. Should you desire any additional information, kindly contact Lieutenant-Colonel Goodman at (204) 833-2500 extension 5265 or Major Susin at extension 5198.
M.W. Susin
Major
A3 SAR Readiness
