Canadian military aircraft are now being outfitted with technology capable of tracking cellphones for search and rescue operations.
The new system has already been used on two search and rescue missions this summer.
It was used to locate boaters who were reported missing on June 8 and was used again on June 15, DND said. Crews of a CC-130H Hercules from 413 Squadron in Nova Scotia were able to communicate with the missing boaters and locate both vessels despite thick fog.
The tracking system can only be used “to locate and communicate with persons reported missing and believed to be in distress,” the release said.
DND said CASSAR doesn’t intercept personal data or retain information beyond the requirements of a search and rescue mission and is also unable to intercept cellphone contact lists, text messages, emails, or voice calls.
CASSAR systems leverage mobile phone detection technology to identify the location of people in need of rescue, DND said.
When a cellphone is turned on, it can be used to pinpoint an individual’s exact whereabouts, even in locations with no network coverage. The system uses phones as “emergency beacons” to guide search and rescue teams to the precise location of the missing person, the defence department said.
CASSAR systems also have the capability to decrease sweep times in search and rescue missions, minimizing the need for personnel. This, in turn, leads to a substantial reduction in search and rescue expenses, the government said.
