Search crews returned to the air Friday looking for a missing plane north of Sault Ste. Marie after being grounded Thursday due to poor weather.
Heavy rain and low visibility made conditions unsafe and “not conducive” for a visual search, said the public affairs officer attached to air taskforce headquarters at Sault Ste. Marie Airport.
“(Friday’s) been a good flying day,” said Capt. Chris Dube.
Friends John Fehr and Brian Slingerland left Delhi, Ont., in a Piper Comanche on April 14. Their destination was Marathon, Ont. They were expected to land at about 6:30 pm They were reported overdue at 6:45 pm A search began that evening, but after a week searchers have found no trace of the aircraft or a signal from its emergency locator transmitter.
Searchers have also been using satellite imagery, data collected by a CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol plane on Wednesday and images taken from a Cessna Skymaster with a GoPro mounted camera that can take a photograph every two seconds. Software can be used to search for specific colors in the pictures, such as the missing plane’s tail marking.
“It gives us an indication of further areas to search,” said Dube. Helicopters can then do a search of those locations.
The Skymaster, flown by a Civilian Air Search and Rescue Association, has been in the air 21 hours seeking the missing plane.
Participating aircraft, including a Canadian Coast Guard helicopter and CC-130H Hercules, continue to check the last known location of the Comanche 60 kilometers north of the Sault and along its flight path to Marathon.
“Upwards of 100 people” have participated in the search and in support roles since April 14, said Dube.
Anyone who saw the aircraft between the Sault and Wawa on April 14 can call 613-966-1178.
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