File A Flight Plan, Carry A Beacon

The Canadian Coast Guard has joined in a search for a missing pilot, Ness Amano, last seen July 24th departing Sault Ste. Marie airport in his small Cessna. The search did not begin until he failed to return to his Marathon dental practice on Tuesday morning.

Three C-130 Hercules aircraft are conducting a "naked eye" search, along with three Griffon helicopters, and a 45-meter research vessel on Lake Superior. The former ice-breaker was already on the big lake on a science mission when it got the call, said Coast Guard spokeswoman Theresa Nichols.

Amano is single and lives just east of Marathon.

The intensive search is to continue through Sunday, with a command centre set up at the Sault airport continuing to follow up leads.

"We're getting all kinds of useful leads from the public," said 2nd Lieut. Dave Tucker of the 1st Cdn Air Division. He added that "false sightings are not uncommon."

No ELT or other distress signals have been received. Searchers are still hopeful that he may be found alive.

FMI: www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca