Airbus Military aircraft support disaster relief in Haiti

January 22, 2010

Various nations have deployed Airbus Military aircraft to aid relief efforts following the January 12 earthquake in Haiti, demonstrating the rapid response capabilities of the company’s aircraft.

Supporting the relief effort is a U.S. Coast Guard HC-144A Ocean Sentry, which was deployed from the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama, USA.  As part of its on-site mission activity, this aircraft performed a damage-assessment overflight of ravaged areas in Haiti on January 15.

Three CN-235s from the overseas transport squadron of the French Armed Forces in the West Indies left their base in Fort-de-France, Martinique, the day after the quake, bound for Port-au-Prince. These aircraft carried 25 rescue workers as well as search and rescue and medical equipment, among other personnel and materials.

In addition, the Brazilian Air Force dispatched four C-295s to Haiti, and the Mexican Navy deployed one C-295 military transport aircraft. A Dominican Republic C-212 also has been sent to the country in support of the relief effort.

The CN-235 and the larger C-295 have earned a reputation as rugged and highly reliable multi-mission aircraft in the most demanding conditions. Both are optionally equipped with bubble spotter windows, an under-fuselage radar and a chin-mounted turret with sensors.

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