On 1 August 2013, the Royal Canadian Air Force crew of search and rescue helicopter 903 was called to hoist an injured hiker from a small ledge 9,300 feet above sea level on the extreme slope of Fascination Mountain in the Mount Waddington range of British Columbia.
The daring night time rescue at high altitude and in a treacherous location earned the crew the coveted 2014 Cormorant Trophy, an annual award presented by AgustaWestland.
The crew – commander Major Troy Maa, first officer Capt Francois Fasquelle, flight engineer MCpl Kent Campbell, SAR tech team leader MCpl Christian Morrissette and SAR tech team member Sgt Guy St-Denis – were based at 442 Squadron at 19 Wing Comox on the night of the call, and was able to complete highest altitude hoist ever conducted by a CH-149 Cormorant despite the conditions and the difficulties of managing fuel burn as the operation unfolded.
