Major Steven Thompson, deputy commanding officer of 440 "Vampire" Transport Squadron, pilots one of the famous Canadian-designed and produced Twin Otters, which carry out a wide range of tasks.
"440 Squadron is excited to take part in Exercise Trillium Response and support Joint Task Force Central. We look forward to operating in an area of this great country that we don't normally work in," he said.
Maj Thompson is on his second posting with the Twin Otter squadron; he flew Twin Otters from 1999 to 2004 and came back to the squadron last July. He says that this is the first time a Twin Otter has been used for operations in northern Ontario.
The highly-adaptable Twin Otter is capable of short take-off and landing and can land on snow, ice and land. During the exercise, Maj Thompson's crew are conducting cargo drops and providing transportation for exercise personnel.
More than 40 highly trained Royal Canadian Air Force personnel, including pilots, technicians, air combat system officers (formerly known as navigators) and load masters are participating in the exercise.
Exercise Trillium Response 13 is led by Joint Task Force Central. It involves approximately 1,500 Canadian Armed Forces members and aircraft from the Northwest Territories, Ontario and Nova Scotia.
