Episode 67: The Counter-Drug Ops: Flying SAR and counter-narcotics missions in the Caribbean and flying the De Havilland Dash 8 for PAL Part 2 - Pat Lalande, Trevor Juby

RCAF to Counter-Drug and Search & Rescue Missions in the Caribbean

What is it like to fly long-range patrol missions in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), face close calls in high-stakes operations, and then transition to counter-drug and Search and Rescue (SAR) missions in the Caribbean? How do Canadian military pilots prepare for this demanding work, and what challenges do they face operating in one of the busiest regions for international aviation operations?

In this episode, retired RCAF Lieutenant-Colonel Trevor Juby, now Chief Pilot with PAL Aerospace / Provincial Airlines in Curaçao, and retired RCAF Master Warrant Officer Pat Lalande, now a tactical coordinator and mission commander with PAL Aerospace, share their experiences. They discuss RCAF patrol missions, the skills and training needed for counter-narcotics aviation, and the realities of flying SAR operations in the Caribbean.