Roles & Qualifications

CASARA is always looking for committed people to fill our volunteer roles.

Each role carries a special set of duties, training, and physical requirements. We provide regular training exercises and academic training to ensure that you’re fully qualified to go out into the field for us.

Find the role that’s a perfect fit for you:

Pilot

Fly the planes that help save lives in CASARA’s search and rescue operations. A private pilot's license with not less than 150 hours pilot-in-command time (or be accompanied by a navigator who is also a CASARA pilot with not less than 150 hours PIC), with not less than 50 hours on single-pilot non-high performance single-engine land airplanes. Pilots new to CASARA will first be assigned to a training navigator role to learn how to plan search missions and how to properly and safely manage the conduct of search flights.

Key Duties

  1. Responsible for safety of aircraft.
  2. Calculating weight and balance of aircraft.
  3. Acquiring weather information.
  4. Acquiring active NOTAMs.

Minimum Requirements:

  1. Minimum 18 years old.
  2. Private pilot licence.
  3. Minimum of 150 hours pilot-in-command time with not less than 50 hours on a single-pilot non-high performance single-engine land airplane.
  4. Current licence validation certificate.
  5. Valid restricted radio operator certificate.

Navigator

Navigators must be aware of the aircraft’s position at all times. You’ll help with the flight plan, advise the pilot on destination and ensure that all flight hazards are avoided. Navigators may be pilots (current or not) or non-pilots with training and/or aptitude for airborne navigation. Non-pilot members with an aptitude and interest in becoming search navigators will be provided the training required to start the search navigation training. All navigators are provided with search navigation training to meet operational requirements.

Key Duties:

  1. Accurately navigating aircraft along assigned search patterns.
  2. Determining search patterns.
  3. Map preparation.
  4. ELT homing procedures.
  5. Time calculation.

Minimum Requirements:

  1. Minimum 18 years old.
  2. Private pilot licence (preferred), or considerable air crew experience and/or training.
  3. Current licence validation certificate or medical self-declaration.
  4. 20/30 vision (natural or corrected).
  5. Good concentration.
  6. Good VFR chart skills.

Spotter

Spotters are the search team’s “eyes in the sky,” responsible for visually finding the targets of a search operation. Your training will include how to conduct yourself safely around small planes and how to search for visual clues from a moving airplane. Advanced training is available from CASARA to fly on military SAR aircraft, including the CC-130 Hercules, the CCH-149 Cormorant and more.

Key Duties:

  1. Learning emergency signs/signals and sighting reporting.
  2. Acquiring target information.
  3. Acquiring target survival gear information.

Minimum Requirements:

  1. Minimum 18 years old.
  2. Current licence validation certificate or medical self-declaration.
  3. 20/30 vision (natural or corrected).
  4. Good concentration.
  5. Ability to guide pilot onto sighting.
  6. Some body weight restrictions.

Remote Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) Pilot

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Key Duties:

  1. Responsible for the safe operation of RPAS unit.
  2. Acquiring weather information.
  3. Provide visual line of sight searching.

Minimum Requirements:

  1. Minimum 18 years old.
  2. Must hold Advanced Pilot Certification.
  3. Current Licence Validation Certificate or Medical Self-Declaration.
  4. 20/30 vision (natural or corrected).
  5. Good concentration.

Pilot must complete 6 flights, 4 different search patterns, and certification flight with us to hold position title.

Support Team

If you aren’t cut out for flying or hacking your way through the brush, we have other places for you on the CASARA team. Volunteers are always needed to assist with administration and other office duties – a major component of our operations.

Web Editor

Have a thing for the web? We need a webmaster to make content updates to the CASARA website, maintain databases, ensure functionality and track analytics to improve performance. You’ll get to work on our dynamic new website.

Key Duties:

  1. Post new content, photos, videos and other links to Member Organization website.
  2. Maintain database of registered members.
  3. Simple page format fixes.

Minimum Requirements:

  1. Experience with CMS website structures (i.e. WordPress)
  2. Good communication skills.

Social Media Producer

Do you like posting on social media? We need individuals to post content on Member Organization's social media accounts! You'll get to interact with people interested in search and resuce and promote CASARA online!

Key Duties:

  1. Create custom content to post on various social media pages.
  2. Answer messages and comments from people or organizations.
  3. Provide engagement with members and other organizations we associate with on social media.

Minimum Requirements:

  1. Minimum 18 years old.
  2. Good communication skills.
  3. Creative mind.
  4. Experience using Instagram, Facebook, and X

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