NOASARA Purchases a SAR Aircraft
Left to Right: Pete Stolk (1 of 4 previous owners of C-GQFZ) and Jason Hughes, President & Unit Director of NOASARA
February 15, 2008 - The Northwestern Ontario Air Search & Rescue Association (NOASARA) and member of the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) in Thunder Bay is happy to announce that we have purchased a dedicated Search and Rescue (SAR) aircraft. The aircraft is C-GQFZ a Cessna 17N and is 100% owned by NOASARA and stored at the Paterson Hangar in Thunder Bay, Ontario. This project has taken almost one year from start to purchase. Thanks to the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), we received $75,000 in December 2007 to purchase the aircraft. I would like to also acknowledge the Paterson Foundation and the John Andrews Foundation for donating $12,000 in December 2007 and Steve Hunsberger for his hard work on the application.
The aircraft will be used primarily for Aerial Search and Rescue in Northwestern Ontario. The purchase of our own aircraft will allow NOASARA to increase training, standards, currency and membership. It will allow NOASARA to be able to control our own SAR aircraft. Thus, being able to respond to emergency and distress calls from the Department of National Defence and the OPP faster and more effectively.
A special thanks to Ken Lagg & MIke Oliveira for helping with the hangar renovations. There is still a lot of work to do and I hope to see everyone pitch in to help make this project successful.
In addition, this aircraft provides NOASARA with the opportunity to lease the aircraft, through the Nor' Western Flying Club, to members of the community. Revenues from aircraft rentals will support Air SAR, NOASARA's Paterson Hangar and the maintenance & operational costs of the aircraft.
NOASARA will be setting up a reception in April 2008 to recognize The Ontario Trillium Foundation, The Paterson Foundation and The John Andrews Foundation for their outstanding commitment to our organization.
For more information on this project please contact Jason Hughes at jdhughes@lakeheadu.ca
