Search on for missing helicopter in North Baffin

Updated August 17, 4:26 p.m.

Crews narrowed the search for a missing helicopter to a 50-kilometre radius around the chopper’s last known position off northern Baffin Island August 17.

Maj. Holly Apostoliuk of the 1 Canadian Air Division in Winnipeg said searchers are scouring an area near Sam Ford Fiord, about 100 kilometres northwest of Clyde River, but are being slowed by heavy fog.

“The fog is continuing to affect the search,” she said. “It is causing limited visibility. It can also have an impact on whether or not aircraft can take off…to support the search.”

A C 130 Hercules aircraft arrived in Iqaluit around midday August 11, but was still grounded there by late afternoon because of the fog.

Apostoliuk said the search has grown to include five military aircraft, and Canadian Coast Guard ship and helicopter and Canadian Rangers from Clyde River, who are searching the area by boat.

The CCGS Des Groseilliers, a CP 140 Aurora aircraft and two Yellowknife-based Twin Otters were all in the region for Operation Nanook, the military’s annual sovereignty exercise, but are now looking for the Bell 206 helicopter.

A Cormorant search and rescue helicopter based in Greenwood, NS is also in the area Apostoliuk said, adding that the Hercules, which flew up from CFB Trenton, Ont., brought with it a second crew for the Cormorant.

The helicopter is owned by Universal Helicopters, a company based in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador.

Norm Noseworthy, Universal’s vice president, the company has a helicopter in the area ready to join the search, but it was grounded due to fog.

The small single-engine helicopter carrying only the pilot was reported overdue at around 4:30 p.m. local time when it failed to arrive at its destination in Resolute Bay, Nunavut, said Capt. Paul Spaleta, air co-ordinator at the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Trenton, Ont.

Spaleta described the pilot as “experienced.” Active weather during the day Monday may have affected flying conditions over the search area, he added.

With a report from Postmedia News