Officials call off the search for missing helicopter pilot By SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN _ THE SEARCH off the coast of Prince Rupert for Terrace helicopter pilot Duane Tanski, 34, was called off shorily before 5 p.m. Oct. 17, Tanski’s helicopter is believed to have crashed into the waters of Porcher Inlet on Oct. Flying a Hughes 500 for Prism Helicopters Ltd., Tanski left Terrace at 7:35 a.m. that day and was expected to arrive on Sandspit Island at 10:35 a.m. He was en route to Sandspit to do some cedar salvage drops, says Prism operations manager Dan Wiebe, When he didn’t arrive on time the search was launched. After three days of intensive air, water and ground searching, officials concede there are no signs that Tanski made it to shore. Objects from the helicopter were found Search featured new helicopter LAST WEEK’S search for Terrace helicopter pilot Duane Tanski featured a first when it comes to north- western search and rescue operations. Involved was one of five brand new Cormorant Cana- dian Armed Forces helicopters based at the air force base at Comox on Vancouver Island. The hi-tech craft were put on duty this summer, repla- cing the aging and maintenance-intensive twin-rotor La- brador helicopters. All told, 15 of the Cormorants were purchased for $780 million by the Canadian Armed Forces across Canada. They are based in Gander, Newfoundland and washing up on the shore of Porcher Inlet Oct. 16, said Victoria rescue centre spokesman Captain Alex Schenk. Those items include Tanski’s helmet, a par- tially deflated life raft, a first aid kit and a special overall-type inflation suit called a cruiser suit. “Now, we are almost cerlain.the helicopter went into the water,” said Captain Schenk. Weather is believed to be a factor in the accident, he added. An oil slick was found bubbling up to the surface of the water in the inlet, which furthers the suspicion that the helicopter is in the water, says RCMP ‘E’ division spokesman Set. Grant Learned. If it is in the water it may prove difficult to ‘ recover because of its location. “That is at a depth of approximately 500 feet and that depth is too deep for RCMP di- for use Green- wood, Nova Scotia. Trenton, Ontario will also have Cor- morants based there when their construction is complete. They were built in aly by an Italian-British company and were purchased only after a long process of deciding what features it would use and selecting contractors. At Comox, they are part of the search and rescue 442 Squadron, the same one which used the Labradors. The squadron is part of 19 Wing at Comox. “Canada is the first country in the world to helicopter in a search and rescue role,” said base official Capt. Jeff Manney. The Cormorant arrived in Terrace Oct. 16 and was used for much that day’s air search for the missing pilot. The Cormorant has several advantages over the La- brador helicopters. It has three motors which means it can continue fly- ing even if an engine is lost. It has the ability to fly itself which enables pilots to participate more actively in a search and it can carry more weight and more than the Labrador. mo, ot “Another big advantage to the Cormorant is it in light icing conditions,” Capt. Manney says. “The aircraft itself can fly faster,” Captain Manney adds. “Which is a plus for getting out to a rescue scene faster.” | fly this Comox people can fly vers to go to,” Learned said. Work is in progress to obtain a submersible device to locate the wreckage and determine if it is salvageable, he added. The B.C. Coroner’s Service is now coordi- ‘nating the investigation into the man’s death and will be working. with various agencies looking into the crash. . Tanski had been working for Prism for four years, more than two of which he was based cut of Terrace, said Wiebe, adding the man also had a good flying record. The extensive air and marine search was conducted by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre comprised of Canadian Forces air search and rescue members and the Canadian Coast Guard. A B.C. Provincial Emergency Program ground search team and an RCMP patrol boat were also involved in the search effort. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 23, 2002 - A3 4 Candidates blossom FIVE PEOPLE are running for the position of Chairperson for the Council of Elders of the Nisga’a Lisims government in a by-election next month. It’s been made necessary because of the retire- ment of Rod Robinson. He was elected in 2000, along with other Lisims officials, for four years. This means the winner of this by-election will hold office for two years until the next national general Lisims election in 2004. The five are Shirley Morven from New Aiyansh (who ran against Joe Gosnell for the Lisims presi- dency in 2000), Oscar Mercer from New Aiyansh, Jacob Nyce from Gitwinksihlkw, Alan Moore from Lakalzap (Greenville) and James Stewart from Prince Rupert/Port Edward. Chief electoral officer Rhonda Bright is happy at the number of candidates, saying it will add inter- est to the Nov. 27 by-election. She has 3,386 registered voters but notes there are more people out there who could vote but who have not yet registered. Bright and her staff are also running another by- election, this one to fill a vacancy on the Gitwink- sihlkw village council. Clifford Azak, Steve Azak, Julia Adams, Clifford Gilis, Deanna Nyce and Peter Squires are running there. Priority list for the north THE NORTHERN Liberal MLA caucus and muni- cipal officials are working on a priority project fist for the region. MLAs and representatives of the North Central Municipal Association have already met once, saying that while there are local issues, there are athers that apply across the north. “We also want to be focused and drawing up a list of the tap projects will allow us the opportunity to direct resources to where they are mast needed,” said Skeena MLA Roger Harris who is the caucus chair. That first meeting resulted in a decision to re- view the need for a northern transportation agency. “As a caucus we want to promote economic de- velopment and the need to build capacity in the north,” said Harris. Porn protested PEOPLE OPPOSED to pornography will be wearing white ribbons this weekend and into next week as part of an annual campaign here spon- sored by the Sacred Heart Parish Catholic Women’s League. League member Ruth Caouette says the ribbons will be made available at the parish church over the weekend. The league and others say White Ribbon Against Pornography Week (Oct. 20 to Oct. 27) is a way of drawing attention to the effects of pornography on people and society. ; They say pornography plans a role in sexual ad- diction, violence against women, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment and family breakdowns. 2002 MAZDA PROTEGE ‘2002 BEST KEW ECOHOMY CAR AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE'S ONLY “42 TIME ALLSTAR™ ‘WINHER®* THE ATITTUDE {5 UNDER THE HOOD.” =CALGARY SUH 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE 2002 CARGUIDE BEST at FOR COMPACT UTILITY RORDSIOE ASSISTANCE PROGRAK Ask abnut the Horde peace of talnd promise standard on avery Naw Marda. OR CASH PURCHASE NICEN TIMED DLL ma or 2002 MAZDA PROTEG| wisi MOTORING y 2002 “ANTERTATNING TO ORIVE.” AUTOMOBILE MAGAZINE BUYING RHO LEASING HIGHEST IMPACT PROTECTION RATING POSSTELE » BEST SELLING IMPORTCOMPRET PICK: UP TRUCK TN CANAGA FOR 15 YEARS RUMHIMG.* een Quine MAZOA LEADERSHIP WARRAWTY Ask chout our ouls "THORNHILL MAZDAe 3040 Hwy 16£ © Phone 250-635-7266 . O7044 GRADUATES GET AN ADDITIONAL $750 OFF PURCHASE OR LEASE. Offers avedable on retoil/purchosesslenses on porticipoting vehlelas from ded. 1, 2002 for a united dime anty. rose and finence $.8.C. for quetfied custamers ani $0% flncnes offer evailzble en oll 1002 Horda MPY, 620 end B-Series trucks, 0.9% finonce offer evaileble on 2007 Protege, ProtegéS, HK-S Miato ond Piilenia. 3.9% finance offer on Iribute. pmo payments for #6 days anty appties to surchese finence offers, Na wnterest cherges will apply during the first 49 days after purchaser tekes delrvery of e paces vehicle, Aflac the first &0 days, Inarest slarts fa accrue and the gurchoset will repay principo! ond interest monthly over the term of the contract, Finance example for $10,000 014% APA, $4 montha at $277.94 per month, 6.6. 160 fore total of 410,008.08, Gifert cannot be combined, See yrur dealer for details, Illustrated models are Cor reference snly end actual models mey net be exec lly os shown, # Nighedt cating possible fer (rent driver, porsengty, tide end reer impect protection by the U.S. NHTSA, MALAMLE. 1982-2008, The 2002 Merde B2100 Spend manual trensmision, phatural Sesources Cangda Enerquide Gword foe the most fuel-affictent pick-mp truck in Conade for 2002. ding comprahansive and powertrain worranty coverage f urin cir : NAPA | FR «Your Recreation sneclalist” — NEID ENTERPRISES Lid 4921 Keith Ave., Terrace, B.6. , : re iene . i Phone 635-3478 Fax 635-5050