SAR OPS Leadership Academy: Operation Hope

SAR OPS Leadership Academy: Operation Hope

Date: 12 April 2025

Time: 5:00 - 8:00 pm ET

Cost: $25.00

Class Overview: 

On May 1st, 2023, the Cessna 206 HK2803 disappeared in the Colombian rain-forest. Sixteen days later, the aircraft was found. Out of the 7 occupants, 3 died in the accident. The remaining 4 passengers (all aged between 13 and 1), were missing from the crash-site, triggering a massive ground search effort. The search operation, known as Operation Hope, took place in one of the most inhospitable areas of the Colombian Amazon. Against all odds, the children were found alive. The presentation explains in more detail the search operation itself and our analytic contributions to the find. Specifically, it will be structured into 4 parts: The search for the aircraft, the search for the children, the use of search dogs, and the lessons learned. Throughout these sections, we will briefly cover the technical aspects of the SAR operation, including analysis, planning, operations, search tactics, air facilities, lost person behavior, and the lessons learned. This class is designed to provide incite into the event and to provided a pointed SAR analysis. The training module will go through the case, the decisions, and the people so the participant can learn and understand the approach and techniques that were used for that case.

Your Instructor: Humberto Hinestrosa, Director Rescue International

Involved in Mountain Rescue in Venezuela since1992, Humberto continues volunteering today with SAR organizations in The Netherlands and in Germany. He studied Law and is an Intelligence Analyst graduated from Brunel University in London, UK. He gained experience in government, private sector, and in international organizations like the International Criminal Court in The Hague, the Netherlands. With an unconventional combination of academic, analytic and operational experiences in different countries, Humberto currently combines Intelligence Analysis and SAR delivering a variety of professional and volunteer services related to international security and the Search and Rescue field. In 2018 he founded the Dutch organization Rescue International with the mission of facilitating analysis and technological resources to Governments, SAR Organizations and families.

SRTC SAR Operations Leadership Academy Policies

Registration Policy: 

Payment in full is required to reserve your spot in the course / exam. Tuition is non-transferable and is payable by check, credit card, PayPal, or Money Order. Tuition covers instructor time & travel, site rental fees (as applicable), exam / course equipment, and NASAR certification fees. SRTC is not obligated to allow any student to attend a course until SRTC paperwork has been received, reviewed and approved by SRTC. A full refund will be given if we need to cancel the course for any reason.

Cancellation & Refund Policy:

If a student cancels out of a course or withdrawals from a course or exam:

• If greater than or equal to 30 days prior to the starting date of the course, SRTC will retain a $15.00 administrative fee.
• At 30 days or less from the starting date of the course all tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable to another course or student.
• Participants that withdrawal at or within 30 days of the course are still responsible for cancelation fees and full course tuition payment submission.

A full refund will be given to each student if SRTC Cancels the course for any reason.

Late Payment Policy: 

Participants that register and choose pay via company check, personal check, or money order must submit payment in a timely manner. Payment is due no later than 10 days after your registrations is submitted. If payment is not post marked prior to this date a late fee will be assessed. Late fees will either be invoiced separately or added to any outstanding balance.

• Initial late payment assessment fee is $25.00 for this course. 
• An additional fee of $10.00 per day will also be assessed if payment is delayed past 14 days from registration and this late fee is retroactive to the date of registration.
  

SRTC / NASAR Student Agreements: (Including Assumption of Risks and Agreement of Release of Indemnity)

A Sergeant Rescue & NASAR course student agreement will be included as part of your registration and is required for completion of registration. Please sign it and read it carefully as it affects your legal rights. If you are a minor, a parent or guardian must sign the document as well. Without a signed document, you cannot participate in the course. SRTC course participants, including minors, will have unsupervised free time throughout the above mentioned course / exam. Any activities during the free time are not part of the SRTC program or proctored exam, and are at the sole risk of the participant.