May 3rd 2018 - Study on Maritime Search and Rescue activities, including current challenges and opportunities - Glenn Priestley (Northern Air Transport Association)

Senator Poirier: I am from New Brunswick. I know this is happening in our schools at home, and I am assuming it is probably happening in schools across the country — hopefully, it is. Once students get into the end of Grade 11 and into Grade 12, they have orientation career days where sometimes they have different people — it could be from post-secondary institutions, or from different businesses, specifically if there is a lack in the country of a demand — come into the schools to speak with the students to make them aware that there are job opportunities out there in certain areas. They give them information on what the job is and what the salary levels are, et cetera. Is that something your company participates in or does?

Mr. Priestley: NATA members do. On a regular basis there are career fairs of that nature taking place.

One of the problems you mentioned was the expense of getting into aviation as flight crew is quite high. We don’t have a lot of funding support in that area. If I could focus back on to the role of the search and rescue and the opportunities and challenges, I am asking the question: Is there a need for a civilian SAR tech, for instance? We know how wonderful those guys are working out of our search and rescue places, whether CFS Gander or Halifax. I was asked earlier by another senator: Is there a skill set that we can provide a northern person that will enhance their employability and livability in the North? Perhaps they’re already a ground crew with a company in Yellowknife. Can we get that person involved? Do we have that capability now? I don’t know the answer to that.

Senator Poirier: I know in most of these different places, there are auxiliaries or groups that work on a volunteer basis. Do you have any interaction with these groups at all?

Mr. Priestley: No, and I would be encouraged to do that. I would like to have that opportunity. In each of those communities, there may be someone who would like to go further that may not know about us.

Senator Poirier: Regarding the type of training you are looking for right now, what should it look like and should it have a component of search and rescue? What would be your recommendations on that?

Mr. Priestley: Again, I go back to the model of the CASARA program. I reiterate: Do we have any form of program? I would love to help with an observer program.

Every year, I put on an education day for the North. This year, on April 23, we put on “Fit to Fly.” We looked at all the conditions that cause distractions in human performance. Next year, I would like to put one on how to be an observer. That is, how to respond to a call. We have a child lost or a boat overturned or missing. What do you do? Right off the bat, I would like to do that. I would like to see some of the search and rescue people in the room. We did that last in 2016 in Yellowknife. About 100 people gathered from across the North. I thought it was useful.

Senator Poirier: Is it a challenge to get the people to give the training? Do you have enough people out there who have the training you want who are willing to go up North to give the training, or is that also a challenge?

Mr. Priestley: For the training, we do, yes, because we have to abide by various regulations. I don’t know what various search and rescue training programs would be given, but we would identify the people and we could certainly do it if there is a will to do it.

The first thing I thought was useful in our meeting today was to recognize NATA and its willingness to provide whatever it is and to help in the enhancement of the response capability.

Senator Poirier: Thank you very much and thank you for being here with us.

Mr. Priestley: Thank you.

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