Destined For Service In The Coast Guard
The United States is one step closer
to introducing an important new tool for the protection of its
borders and the monitoring of international waters, with the
arrival of the first EADS CASA HC-144A maritime patrol and
surveillance aircraft at the US Coast Guard aviation facility in
North Carolina.
The first HC-144A was formally transferred to Coast Guard
ownership last month, and was flown by one of the services’
crews from the EADS CASA production center in Seville, Spain to the
Coast Guard’s Aircraft Repair and Supply Center (AR&SC)
at Elizabeth City, NC.
"The HC-144A’s delivery is further proof of EADS North
America’s continuing strong support for the US Coast Guard
and its mission to keep America safe and secure," said Ralph
Crosby, Chairman and CEO of EADS North America. "Our company has
worked with agencies of the Department of Homeland Security for
more than 20 years, and we now have met our promise of helping
provide it with another proven and capable multi-mission
platform."
The HC-144A is a derivative of EADS CASA’s CN-235/C-295
airlifter family, and is the first all-new aircraft developed for
the Coast Guard's Integrated Deepwater System modernization
program. EADS CASA is supplying the aircraft under contract to the
Integrated Coast Guard Systems (ICGS) a joint venture of Lockheed
Martin and Northrop Grumman, with three HC-144As currently under
contract.
The Deepwater implementation plan calls for production and
system integration of 36 aircraft through 2017.
When the HC-144A enters Coast Guard operational service later
this year, it will be utilized for search and rescue missions,
illegal drug and immigrant interdiction, for marine environmental
protection, military readiness operations and international ice
patrol missions – as well as for cargo and personnel
transport.
Mission equipment and
sensors permanently installed on the twin-engine aircraft include a
forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, a daylight charge-coupled
device (CCD) camera and daylight spotter scope, and a multi-mode
radar. A roll-on/roll-off palletized mission system composed of a
C4ISR pallet with two operator consoles will be integrated by
Lockheed Martin.
The HC-144’s large cargo cabin and a rear ramp allow the
palletized mission system to be easy loaded and unloaded, enabling
the aircraft to be tailored at short notice to the Coast
Guard’s specific operational requirements. When installed,
the pallet is linked to the HC-144A’s on-board mission
equipment/sensor package; when removed, the HC-144’s
32-ft.-long cabin is fully available for cargo, airlift and medevac
payloads. The rear ramp also can be opened in flight for the
deployment of search-and-rescue equipment.
EADS CASA North America has established a support center at
Alabama’s Mobile Regional Airport as part of its commitment
to the HC-144A’s introduction and operation with the Coast
Guard. This 13,000 square-foot facility will assist the Coast Guard
in transitioning the aircraft into active service, as well as
providing computer-based training for its aircrews and support
personnel. The Mobile site also is the primary spare parts depot
and service center for all EADS CASA aircraft operating in North
America.
The Alabama facility is
located adjacent to the US Coast Guard Aviation Training Center
(ATC), where pilots will be trained to fly the HC-144A. The first
ATC crew completed HC-144A training with EADS CASA in Spain during
December, and then flew the no. 1 aircraft to Elizabeth City.
In addition to the Coast Guard’s future operation of EADS
HC-144A aircraft, the service also has a fleet of 95 EADS
Eurocopter HH-65 Dolphin helicopters. These rotary-wing aircraft
currently are being upgraded to the improved-performance HH-65C
version by ICGS, Lockheed Martin and EADS North America’s
American Eurocopter business unit.