Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City will be going through rigorous testing – which at times will mean flying lower than usual and performing specialty maneuvers – as part of its annual standardardization and certification process now underway.

In order to maintain readiness to conduct search-and-rescue operations on the lakes during dangerous weather conditions and perform other critical public services, Coast Guard air crews must constantly train to maintain an expert level of aviation and hoisting proficiency. Each year, every Coast Guard air station hosts instructors from the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Ala., who check the unit's procedural knowledge and flight standardization. This training will require Coast Guard helicopter crews to fly at least four flights every day over East and West bays, Bellaire's Antrim County Airport, Kalkaska Airport and at Traverse City's Cherry Capital Airport.

Air Station Traverse City will continue its regular search-and-rescue response during this evaluation period, expected to culminate Oct. 2.