More than a half century had passed since a foreign military aircraft landed at Khabarovsk Airfield, Russia. Canadian and U.S. HC-130s brought this 62-year era to an end as they arrived for ARCTIC SAREX 96 on 16 September 1996. Twenty-two Canadian military personnel and 27 U.S. personnel of the Alaskan Command and Alaska Air National Guard joined nearly 300 of their Russian counterparts for a search and rescue exercise (SAREX).

This was the fourth time military units from these three nations had gathered to coordinate their capabilities to conduct search and rescue operations in the Arctic region, an area common to all three countries. The exercise scenario involved the simulated crash of a Russian commercial passenger aircraft in a remote Arctic location. The exercise site was near Petropavlovskoye Lake, approximately 25 kilometers northeast of Khabarovsk. The front half of a real aircraft fuselage lay in a field one-half mile from the lake. Exercise victims were in the water and inside the aircraft wreckage awaiting rescue. Black smoke rising from the scene set the exercise in motion.

Search and rescue efforts began after a satellite detected an emergency locating transmitter signal from the downed aircraft. Once the position was fixed, the information was relayed to Russian authorities, who then requested Canadian and U.S. assistance.

A Russian An-12 flew low past the crash site to get wind bearings in preparation for a parachute insertion. From the moment the pararescuers made contact with the water the recovery operation began to take shape. The An-12 continued to drop life-saving cargo and personnel to assist the victims on land.

Next came the insertion, by parachute, of a field hospital. With nearly a dozen parachutes attached, an inflatable Russian field hospital landed a short distance from the crash site. Russian military medical personnel quickly followed it. In less than 20 minutes, the huge package was transformed into a three-wing hospital with a 14-bed ward, operating rooms, and an intensive care suite.

With the same precision as the Russian rescuers, the U.S. group arrived. The U.S. HC-130 dropped an Arctic survival hut, rescue equipment, and personnel. As the airmen hit the ground their race to save survivors began. They unpacked their tools and went to work cutting, prying, and chopping their way into the crumpled airliner to reach survivors. Once inside, the injured were stabilized, extracted, and transported approximately 100 meters to the waiting field hospital medics and surgeons. The Canadians quickly followed and continued the extractions. Within two hours, all victims were located and treated in the field hospital.

Commanders from all three nations watched the recovery from a viewing stand centered between the water and land rescue sites. A public address system explained procedures to the nearly 200 observers.

"We wanted to demonstrate our ability to do parallel integrated rescue operations," said Lt. Col. Phil Bray, Alaska Air National Guard (ANG), operations commander. "Watching each other in action was a valuable learning experience." By combining effective use of equipment and techniques, the three countries were able to rescue the mock victims quickly. In an actual air disaster, response time could mean the difference between life and death for crash victims. "Despite the language barrier, we can all work together because we're using similar techniques and equipment," said Staff Sgt. Eric Taylor, an Alaska ANG pararescueman.

One observer was impressed by a particular Russian capability. "Watching the hospital setup was very impressive," said U.S. Army Maj. Jeff Haun, Alaskan Command medical plans officer. "In such a short amount of time they [Russians] had a very capable facility staffed, up, and running."

Key exercise objectives included evaluating and improving participants' search and rescue procedures, and promoting interoperability between peacetime search and rescue forces of Canada, Russia, and the U.S. The exercise emphasized increased cooperation and joint training in command and control of rescue forces, pararescue drops, medical treatment, recovery of survivors, and deployment of pararescue teams. Particular emphasis was placed on integrating the unique capabilities of each country and developing common operational procedures.

"We set some very demanding exercise goals and our teams met them all," said Lt. Gen. Patrick K. Gamble, Alaskan Command commander and leader of the 27-member U.S. team. "Drops were on time, on target, and the injured were rescued and treated safely and efficiently. In addition to building rescue capabilities for Arctic accident victims, exercises like this build confidence, understanding, and trust among nations. In future missions, we'll work on even better interoperability."

Continued contact between the military personnel of these nations brings more than rescue efficiency. Colonel Michael Myguy, chief engineer representative for the Russian delegation explained. "Working together helps us better understand each other -- it takes the mystery out," he said. For many of the Canadian and American participants these exercises are a chance to further friendships kindled in past years. "We not only get to demonstrate our new lifesaving equipment and techniques, we keep the communication going between our countries," said Canadian Pararescueman Master Corporal Gerry Wile. "We talk about everything from current world events to our weather."

ARCTIC SAREX 96 was deemed a huge success by each commander. Lt.Gen. Victor Kozlov, Russian Federation Air Force, Commander, First Air Army, told participants, "What we've accomplished here today is to the benefit of anyone flying in northern regions. It was a great exercise and everyone performed magnificently." Russian participants included: Ministry for Extraordinary Situations (EMERCOM) or MCHS in Russian; EMERCOM Far East; EMERCOM Khabarovsk Kray; Federal Directorate for Search and Rescue (FPSU in Russian); First Air Army; Search and Rescue and Parachute Rescue Service of the Air Force of the Pacific Fleet; Russian Air Force Para Team.