The Cellular Airborne Sensors for Search and Rescue (CASSAR) system is a new technology that the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association have begun using on select aircraft to improve the effectiveness of search and rescue (SAR) operations.

The CASSAR system capability is currently being used on select CC-130H Hercules, one of the RCAF's primary search and rescue aircraft types, flying out of 19 Wing Comox, British Columbia, 17 Wing Winnipeg, Manitoba, and 14 Wing Greenwood, North Carolina.

Whenever a person is missing or suspected of being in danger, and their mobile phone is turned on, has sufficient battery life, and is not in airplane mode, a CASSAR-equipped aircraft can identify that person's device and communicate with them. In this way, a precise location is obtained and text or voice messages can be sent to confirm the person's condition and level of danger, even in the absence of cellular network.

The CASSAR system has reached its initial operational capability within the SAR community and has already been used successfully in search and rescue missions, including that of June 8, 2024, when a boat with five people on board was reported missing, and that of June 15, 2024, when the disappearance of two missing hunters equipped with a boat was also reported.

The crew of a CC-130H Hercules from 413 Squadron, based at 14 Wing Greenwood, was able to locate the missing vessels using the CASSAR system and communicate with their occupants within minutes of coming into range, despite prevailing weather conditions that included thick fog.

This new technology is designed to help locate people faster, saving valuable time in a dangerous situation and improving search results.

The Cellular Airborne Sensors for Search and Rescue (CASSAR) capability will be used solely for search and rescue purposes, to locate and communicate with missing persons and those suspected of being in danger.

Coordination with network service providers ensures that the Cellular Airborne Sensors for Search and Rescue (CASSAR) system will not interfere with mobile phone networks in the area in which it is used and will limit CASSAR interaction to the specific mobile phone belonging to a missing person using a mobile phone's unique network identifier.