Planes are a common sight for the people of Rankin Inlet, but the touchdown of a Royal Canadian Air Force CC-177 Globemaster got the hamlet talking.

The plane, which landed Aug. 14, carried troops from the south to begin Operation Nanook.

Currently in its 10th year, the annual, two-week operation runs until Aug. 25 and will see a peak of 260 participants, according to Joint Task Force Nunavut senior public affairs officer Maj. Jos茅e Bilodeau. The 260 estimate includes members of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force and Joint Task Force Support Component. Participants included members of government departments and members of 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (1CRPG).

The first week of the operation involved training for military personnel, who set up camp out on the tundra with the assistance of rangers from across the Kivalliq region, including Chesterfield Inlet, Whale Cove, Arviat and Rankin Inlet.

The Rangers were essential to the operation, according to Maj. Samantha Burch.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey're our guides to the North,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey provide an intimate working knowledge (of the land) that we don't have.SA国际影视传媒�

Rangers served as guides for troops who headed out on the land on Aug. 16 and 17, choosing the best route for all-terrain vehicles across rocky -- and sometimes swampy -- tundra.

They also walked participants through survival training, teaching them how to make tools, track and build fires, as well as educating them about ground search-and-rescue, fishing and how to process a caribou.

The company that was on the land Aug. 17 was comprised of an eight-person command headquarters and three platoons.

Burch said the operation helps to train participating units to work together.

SA国际影视传媒淐ombined arms exercises are very important,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淚t increases our inter-operability.SA国际影视传媒�

Bilodeau said many of the participants came from the Arctic Response Company Group with 38 Canadian Brigade Group headquartered in Winnipeg.