First new coastguard plane arrived at Schiphol
10-09-2022 19:04
The first, new coastguard aircraft landed at Schiphol today.
The new aircraft has modern equipment on board to perform our tasks even better.
he coming period will be devoted to conducting test flights.
The crews also train with the new aircraft type and the systems on board.
Operationally deployable
During test flights, various scenarios are performed to check the aircraft and ensure that it meets all requirements.
Once everything is completed, the aircraft will replace the current Dornier-228 aircraft and the Dash-8 will be operational.
The second Dash-8 is expected to arrive in October.
Until then, we will be using a
Beechkraft King Air aircraft as a backup.
Once the new Dash-8 aircraft becomes operational (right), it will replace the current Dornier-228 (left).
Mission System
The Dash-8 aircraft have been specially adapted to the requirements of the Coast Guard.
The aerial officers, also known as air observers, will have two workplaces on board with a special mission system.
With this they operate the sensors and communication equipment to perform their tasks.
The aerial officers come from
Rijkswaterstaat, Customs, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee and the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). There are always 2 on board.
The aerial officers, also known as air observers, will have two workplaces on board with a special mission system.
Modern equipment
Compared to its predecessor, the Dash-8 can fly longer.
The device also has a surface radar, which gives us a quick overview of, for example, shipping traffic day and night.
The aircraft has a hatch on the underside of the fuselage (the so-called 'drop hatch')
that allows the crew to drop a life raft, smoke markers and date buoys.
The smoke markers can be used in search and rescue to make a location at sea visible to others.
A date buoy floats in the sea and reports position, water and air temperature.
On arrival, the aircraft was welcomed with a water salute by the fire brigade.
Schiphol-East home base
As of today, the new maritime patrol aircraft will regularly fly along the Dutch coast and by sea.
Just like their predecessors, the aircraft have Schiphol-East as their home base.
The aircraft are leased from and maintained by ISR Support Europe.
They are also responsible for supplying the pilots.
Procurement by DMO
The Defense Materiel Organization (DMO) supervises the procurement of services by means of a concluded performance-oriented contract.
DMO is responsible for ensuring the correct execution of the contract, including the condition of the aircraft.
Ultimately, DMO determines whether both aircraft are operationally ready to start performing tasks for the Coast Guard.
Delay
This first, new device arrived about six months later than expected.
This is partly due to the corona crisis.
Among other things, there was a shortage of personnel at suppliers and suppliers and a lack of material.
The aircraft are registered PH-CGD and PH-CGE.
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