After just discovering the existence of CADORS I thought it might be fun to scan through them and see if I was involved in any of them. Here is one that caught my eye.
What is not mentioned is that DRGN 62 is one of the two helicopters that was transporting the Prime Minister and his entourage for an aerial survey of the flood damage in the Yorkton area. I was doing my cross country solo on that day and followed the helicopters from Regina to Yorkton. I was then prohibited access to the small terminal building because the PM was inside. Wasn't so bad for me, but a female student pilot who had followed me was somewhat chagrined to have to pee behind the hangar because the only bathroom at the airport was inside.
Cadors Number: 2010C2233
Occurrence Date: 2010-07-08
Occurrence Time: 2002 Z
Canadian Aerodrome ID: CYQV
Detail Information
User Name: Ridley, Rod
Date: 2010-07-09
Further Action Required: No
O.P.I.: System Safety
Narrative: DRGN 62, a Canadian Forces CT-155 Hawk, was conducting an IFR approach with a circling procedure for Runway 21 at Yorkton when the crew advised Regina FSS that evasive action was required to avoid a known VFR aircraft. C-FSPD, an Air Tractor AT-401 operated by Miccar Aerial, was on the downwind leg for Runway 30. DRGN 62 was able to complete the approach and landed without incident on Runway 21. C-FSPD landed on Runway 30 without incident. An ANS Operating Irregularity occurred when the VFR aircraft was not passed as traffic to the crew of DRGN 62 prior to or during the approach.
My mistake. I thought the callsigns I was listening to were the two Helicopters because I did not see the Hawk. Possibly the Hawk was escorting the PM? The date and time are appropriate to the incident and his visit.
ArcticKat wrote:My mistake. I thought the callsigns I was listening to were the two Helicopters because I did not see the Hawk. Possibly the Hawk was escorting the PM? The date and time are appropriate to the incident and his visit.
The military wouldn't bother sending a Hawk to escort the PM, they're not armed so they're useless in that regard anyway. This was obviously just a training flight out of YMJ. To the best of my knowledge, based on my time in 412 Sqn, VIP flights aren't escorted at any time; although I'm sure that would change in wartime. Besides, the procedures were enough of a pain in the ass as it was whenever the PM was flying. I used to shake my head at some of it. The MP's would show up and put a cordon around the aircraft and the backup a certain amount of time before the schedualled launch, let's say an hour because I've forgotten what the actual time was. After that cordon was set up no one was allowed on the aircraft without showing Id; but if you were already on the aircraft when they showed up, you were ignored. Personally I think it would have made more sense to have someone from the squadron doing the checks, at least we knew who belonged and who didn't.
Ahh well, it sounded like a neat story. All I know is that I was following the helicopters to Yorkton that day and that the PM was on them. I could hear them on 126.7 using the "Dragon" call signs. When I tuned to Regina Radio - Yorkton for my approach I could still hear them...and they were on the ground when I landed. Heck, the time of this incident is so darn close to my arrival there that I could have been involved. I simply assumed that they were the aircraft involved in this incident. Even though I have a passing familiarity with the Hawk, I didn't put 2 and 2 together there.
Maybe the PM wanted a joy ride to Yorkton in a 2 seater and the Helicopters were there for his tour once he arrived.
ArcticKat wrote:Ahh well, it sounded like a neat story. All I know is that I was following the helicopters to Yorkton that day and that the PM was on them. I could hear them on 126.7 using the "Dragon" call signs. When I tuned to Regina Radio - Yorkton for my approach I could still hear them...and they were on the ground when I landed. Heck, the time of this incident is so darn close to my arrival there that I could have been involved. I simply assumed that they were the aircraft involved in this incident. Even though I have a passing familiarity with the Hawk, I didn't put 2 and 2 together there.
Maybe the PM wanted a joy ride to Yorkton in a 2 seater and the Helicopters were there for his tour once he arrived.
That's entirely possible but for a different reason than you think. Having flown in and out of Yorkton more than once I'm not sure they'd bring a Challenger in there given the condition of the runway and the ramp. Especially with the long runway being only 4800 ft.
Challenger jet you mean? I never saw one there. Like I said, Harper was in the terminal building and the only aircraft I saw there were the Griffons. That's why I assumed they were the aircraft involved. I never noticed the Hawk at all. Sorry, I'm just a little confused now...not sure where the Challenger came from.
ArcticKat wrote:Challenger jet you mean? I never saw one there. Like I said, Harper was in the terminal building and the only aircraft I saw there were the Griffons. That's why I assumed they were the aircraft involved. I never noticed the Hawk at all. Sorry, I'm just a little confused now...not sure where the Challenger came from.
The Challenger is the normal method for hauling Stevie Wonder or his predecessors around; my guess would be that it was sitting on the ground in Regina or Brandon. I didn't realize the choppers you mentioned were Griffons; if you said it, I missed it. In thinking it over, I'm guessing the Hawks were just on a normal training flight since Dragon is one of their call signs. It does seem a bit odd that he went all that way in a Griffon though; while I've never been on one I don't remember their predecessor with any particular fondness for comfort levels. Of course, the last time I was on a Huey was on my way out to the bush for a winter survival course so that could explain my prejudice.
Ahh, I see. Yes, I think, but can not testify that the Challenger was likely in Regina. What I do know is that the Griffons left Regina ahead of me and went to Yorkton, and that Harper was taking an aerial tour of the flooded area with them. Sorry, I hadn't mentioned they were Griffons previously, I just remembered that little detail. I guess the Hawk was just there at the same time as coincidence and I thought it was the Helicopters when I heard it on the radio.
ArcticKat wrote:Ahh, I see. Yes, I think, but can not testify that the Challenger was likely in Regina. What I do know is that the Griffons left Regina ahead of me and went to Yorkton, and that Harper was taking an aerial tour of the flooded area with them. Sorry, I hadn't mentioned they were Griffons previously, I just remembered that little detail. I guess the Hawk was just there at the same time as coincidence and I thought it was the Helicopters when I heard it on the radio.
In thinking it over, I'm guessing the Hawks were just on a normal training flight since Dragon is one of their call signs. It does seem a bit odd that he went all that way in a Griffon though; while I've never been on one I don't remember their predecessor with any particular fondness for comfort levels. 
Of course, the last time I was on a Huey was on my way out to the bush for a winter survival course so that could explain my prejudice. 
