The de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo is a short takeoff and landing (STOL) utility transport, a turboprop aircraft. The aircraft has extraordinary STOL performance and is able to take off in distances much shorter than even light aircraft can manage.

All six Canadian Forces CC-115s are employed by 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron out of Comox, BC. The squadron is responsible for an SAR zone stretching from the BC–Washington border to the Arctic, and from the Rocky Mountains to 1200 km out over the Pacific Ocean. With a maximum load of 2727 kg—or 41 fully equipped soldiers—the Buffalo has an operational range of 2240 km.