Date:
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
Contact:
Tom Peterson
Several years ago, Silver Star members started training with the state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Aviation Division to serve as air spotters for aircraft search missions. Out of this, a partnership developed with a local aviation group of volunteer pilots, Camas Washougal Aviation Association, (CWAA) to provide capabilities previously unavailable in Washington.
Aircraft rescue missions are funded by WSDOT Aviation Division through fees collected from aircraft and pilot registration and carried out mostly by volunteer pilots. Ground searches are administered by county agencies, overseen by the state’s Emergency Management Division (EMD) and include mostly volunteer personnel. These two different organizational chains were brought together to provide ground recovery assets to downed aircraft searches and “eyes in the sky” for ground search efforts. The result of this partnership and coordination is quicker response for the rescue of downed aircraft victims, and dramatically more effective searching for lost subjects in the wilderness, as shown by recent results.
In August of 2004, Silver Star and CWAA personnel were responsible for finding a downed aircraft near Kelso, WA. Two of the three passengers survived the ordeal, in large part due to finding them quickly. Recently, a similar partnership was formed in the Spokane area, which contributed to the successful find of a lost two year old, according to Tom Peterson, from WSDOT Aviation Division.
For more information on this partnership, contact Tom DuBos or Tom Peterson.
Source: Silver Star Search and Rescue.
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