Counter-Drug and Search and Rescue Aviation in the Caribbean with PAL Aerospace

What is it like to fly counter-drug interdiction and Search and Rescue missions in the Caribbean? What does it take to qualify for this demanding aviation work, and how do crews prepare to execute missions as part of Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South)?

In this episode, retired RCAF Lieutenant-Colonel Trevor Juby, now Chief Pilot with Provincial Airlines / PAL Aerospace in Curaçao, and retired RCAF Master Warrant Officer Pat Lalande, now a tactical coordinator and mission commander with PAL Aerospace, discuss their transition from the Royal Canadian Air Force to international operations in the Caribbean.

They provide insight into the training, teamwork, and operational challenges of counter-drug and SAR missions, while highlighting the crucial role PAL Aerospace plays in supporting multinational efforts to disrupt trafficking and save lives.

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.

From RCAF Patrol Missions to Counter-Drug and SAR Operations in the Caribbean

What kinds of missions do a long-range patrol sensor operator and crew commander face in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)? What challenges and close calls have they experienced, and how did those skills carry over into high-stakes counter-narcotics and Search and Rescue (SAR) missions in the Caribbean?

In this episode, retired RCAF Lieutenant-Colonel Trevor Juby, now Chief Pilot with Provincial Airlines / PAL Aerospace in Curaçao, and retired RCAF Master Warrant Officer Pat Lalande, now a tactical coordinator and mission commander with PAL Aerospace, share their journey from Canadian military aviation to today’s critical counter-drug and SAR operations.

Listeners will hear about their careers in the RCAF, the transition to international aviation operations, and the realities of flying missions in one of the most complex and dynamic regions of the world.

In this episode, we continue our conversation with:

• Lieutenant-Colonel Luc Coates, Commanding Officer of 418 Search and Rescue Operational Training Squadron
• Lieutenant-Colonel Francois Fasquelle, Commanding Officer of 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron
• Major Dan Faux, subject matter expert on the CC-295 Kingfisher

We dive deeper into the Kingfisher, exploring how simulation and training are shaping new SAR pilots, and how the aircraft has been performing in real-world operations so far. And perhaps most intriguing for our listeners: we take on every rumour and criticism we could find about the Kingfisher — separating fact from fiction and busting the biggest myths.

In this episode, we continue our conversation with:

• Lieutenant-Colonel Luc Coates, Commanding Officer of 418 Search and Rescue Operational Training Squadron
• Lieutenant-Colonel Francois Fasquelle, Commanding Officer of 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron
• Major Dan Faux, subject matter expert on the CC-295 Kingfisher

We begin with Dan’s early days as a pilot and what led him to join the fixed-wing SAR project. From there, we explore why Canada needed a new fixed-wing Search and Rescue aircraft and what that journey looked like — from concept to selection. Finally, we dive deep into the Kingfisher itself: the modifications that set it apart, how it’s performing in operations so far, and the process of training a new generation of SAR crews to fly it.

What drives someone to choose the demanding — and often dangerous — career of Search and Rescue pilot? What early experiences shaped their paths, and what does it really take to fly missions where lives hang in the balance?

In this episode, we sit down with three remarkable guests:

• Lieutenant-Colonel Luc Coates, Commanding Officer of 418 Search and Rescue Operational Training Squadron
• Lieutenant-Colonel Francois Fasquelle, Commanding Officer of 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron
• Major Dan Faux, a subject matter expert on the CC-295 Kingfisher

Together, they share stories from their diverse beginnings, the lessons they’ve carried forward, and what ultimately led them to the unique world of SAR and Canada’s newest fixed-wing SAR aircraft, the Kingfisher.

What’s it like to go from flying helicopters in the Royal Canadian Air Force to becoming the voice in the headset for astronauts aboard the International Space Station? How do you transition from military aviation to serving as Deputy Branch Chief Operations Officer and CAPCOM at NASA?

In this episode, we sit down with Captain Erin Edwards — a Special Operations Aircraft Commander, Elsie MacGill Award recipient, and current CAPCOM working with NASA and the Canadian Space Agency.

She shares her journey from commanding aircraft in Canada’s elite 427 Squadron to her first unforgettable call to the ISS. If you've ever wondered what it takes to lead under pressure — whether in the cockpit or mission control — this episode is for you.

What does it take to pass selection for one of Canada’s most elite aviation units — 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron? How do you earn the coveted role of SOF Aircraft Commander? And what happens when you trade a military cockpit for a mission control console at NASA?

In this episode, we sit down with Captain Erin Edwards, a trailblazing Canadian Armed Forces pilot who transitioned from flying special operations missions to becoming a CAPCOM — the voice between astronauts and Earth — at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

We explore the grit, mindset, and milestones that defined her journey, from the demanding world of tactical aviation to collaborating with the Canadian Space Agency and NASA in Houston.