Search and Rescue

The Royal Canadian Air Force is responsible for the Canadian Armed Force’s aeronautical search and rescue (SAR) response infrastructure. This includes maintaining a locator beacon registry and ensuring SAR aircrews and aircraft are mission ready when an emergency happens.

SAR aircrews are composed of diverse RCAF aircrew occupations, including Pilots, Air Combat System Officers, Flight Engineers, Loadmasters, Airborne Electronic Sensor Operators, and SAR Technicians (SAR Techs), all of whom contribute to mission success.



SAR Techs are highly trained specialists who provide advanced pre-hospital medical care and rescue for aviators, mariners and others in distress in remote or hard-to-reach areas. They are trained to a primary-care paramedic national standard with additional advanced skills. SAR Techs are land and sea survival experts who specialize in rescue techniques, including Arctic rescue, parachuting, diving, mountain climbing and helicopter rescue.