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Canadian Arctic Search and Rescue Responsibilities  –  June 2011 Aerial SAR and the Arctic Council Agreement on Cooperation on Aeronautical & Maritime  Search and Rescue in the Arctic On 12 May 2011,  Canada signed on to a binding treaty on Arctic search and rescue along with the other seven members of  the Arctic Council. Prior to this new Arctic Council  SAR treaty, Canadians' obligations to perform search and rescue were largely dictated by agreements through the UN (eg: ICAO). That has now changed. It is time to review Arctic SAR. As regular CASR readers will be aware, the sole, full-time Canadian Air Force presence in the Arctic consists of  four  Twin Otters based at Yellowknife with 440(T) Squadron. Although capable, the old CC-138s are not dedicated SAR 'assets'. Aside from ground searches by the Canadian Rangers, military SAR contibutions will either be fortuitously in the Arctic on exercise or flown up North. •  Aerial SAR:  The Arctic Council and The Agreement on Cooperation on Aero- nautical and  Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic – Part 1 covers the terms of the treaty that specifically effect Canada and the current state of  CF aerial SAR. •  Aerial SAR:  The Arctic Council and The Agreement on Cooperation on Aero- nautical and  Maritime Search and Rescue in the Arctic – Part 2 covers the links between signing this treaty and  the  FWSAR Project  as well as SAR alternatives. •  Reality Check: Can Canada Really use a C-17 to Airlift SAR Helicopters to the Arctic to Perform Aerial Search and Rescue Missions? debunks a myth popping up in the media suggesting that the CF's large airlifter could be used to circumvent the need to base our SAR aircraft – rotary- and fixed-wing – in the Canadian Arctic. Also see Modest Proposal: Arctic Helicopter SAR Forward Operating Locations •  Brisk Movement on SAR Duty: Air Greenland & SAR Helicopter Replacement Greenland is moving quickly to fulfil its SAR Treaty obligations and its contractor- operated Rotary-Wing SAR provides a model for alternative service delivery  SAR. •  First Air Flight 6560 Crash at Resolute Bay within Sight of CF SAR Personnel CF personnel preparing for a 'Major Air Disaster' Exercise in position to respond to First Air B737 crash. Lives were saved but a tragic situation would've been worse if SAR helicopters and crews were required to fly to Resolute from Southern airbases. Coming Soon •  Associate Minister of National Defence Julian Fantino and the C-27J Spartan •  Emphasizing the Economy: on Buying Alenia and Canada's Italian Trade Deficit •  Alternative Service Delivery: the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Example