Local pilots help with search and rescue training

FALLBROOK — Civil Air Patrol Fallbrook Squadron 87 members supported the search and rescue training exercise called SARCity October 11-12 at the Barstow/Daggett Airport.

SARCity is an annual event designed to train new members of the search and rescue fraternity in their craft and to create and foster the cooperative relationships necessary between Civil Air Patrol, local, state and federal agencies.

Fallbrook Squadron Capt. Dale Hetrick assisted the Incident Commander in coordinating the tasking of the ground and air teams while and Maj. Jim Redmon served as a mentor pilot for the exercise and piloted the Fallbrook Squadron 87 Cessna 182 aircraft.

The training was divided into eight hours of intensive classroom instruction on map reading, air navigation, air crew coordination, search methods designed to locate missing aircraft, directing of ground teams from the air to the crash site and survival techniques in the event of a forced landing.

The exercise provided valuable hands-on experience for all personnel that will allow them to better perform their jobs when needed.