NEW AIRCRAFT AND HELICOPTERS OFFICIALLY HANDED OVER TO COAST GUARD

[YS11]

As of today,(3/11/22) the Dutch Coast Guard has two new aircraft and two new helicopters. The Dash-8 patrol aircraft and the AW189 Search & Rescue helicopters were handed over at Schiphol on Thursday. The old aircraft have been officially taken out of service. This also ends the contribution of the Royal Netherlands Air Force to the Coast Guard. This included the supply of pilots for the patrol aircraft.



The Ministry of Defence still organises and manages the Coast Guard, but has the aircraft controlled by pilots from the companies from which the aircraft are leased. Bristow maintains the helicopters and supplies the entire crews. ISR Support Europe does this for the aircraft, one of the two of which counts as a spare aircraft.

Defense remains one of the organizations involved in the team of air observers who are on board the Dash-8. The Marechaussee, Rijkswaterstaat, customs and the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority are part of that team. The Coast Guard also works closely with the Navy.

The first Dash-8 aircraft was already received at the end of September and the Coast Guard has completed all test flights. The aircraft succeeds the outdated Dornier-228, which is now definitively said goodbye.

The aircraft is significantly more spacious than the Dornier. In the Dash-8 the crew can stand, there is room for an oven and coffee maker, and there is a toilet on board. Furthermore, the aircraft can fly longer and has several new systems, including the surface radar. This allows a quick overview to be made of, for example, shipping day and night.

AW189 helicopter
The Search & Rescue helicopters also represent a major upgrade for the Coast Guard. For example, there is more capacity on board the Leonardo AW189. 19 people can be rescued at the same time per aircraft. From now on, there will also be a standard ambulance nurse on board both helicopters and there is more space for treating patients.

Furthermore, the helicopter has a full-fledged infrared system. One aircraft flies from Den Helder Airport, the other arrives at Midden-Zeeland Airport.

The aircraft are stationed at Schiphol-Oost.

https://luchtvaartnieuws.nl/nieuws/cate ... -kustwacht