Thursday, April 4, 2002

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Heyden, Ont.,

Sault Ste Marie OPP received several calls yesterday about a military aircraft circling at very low altitudes in the Heyden area.

The large aircraft was a Canadian Forces Hercules that is stationed out of CFB Trenton. Some people in the area reported that the aircraft was dropping some items with parachutes attached to them. The plane could be seen from most areas in the north end of Sault Ste Marie.

This was a search and rescue training exercise and the police and the military were not searching for anyone or anything.

Sault Ste Marie and surrounding area is often used for both land and marine search exercises because this area offers a wide variety of geographic challenges that searchers may encounter throughout the province.