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Airbus Military’s HC-144A distinguishes itself during humanitarian operations in Haiti

March 4, 2010

The operational advantages of Airbus Military's HC-144A Ocean Sentries were demonstrated during relief efforts that followed January’s earthquake in Haitian capital city of Port-au-Prince.

HC-144 Ocean Sentry pilots en route to Haiti (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nick Ameen).

The U.S. Coast Guard dispatched three of these medium-range maritime patrol aircraft to the island nation from the service's Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama. During their operations, the Ocean Sentries acted as mobile communications command centers while also using their modern sensor systems to collect intelligence on ground operations, as well as conduct critical infrastructure surveys.

Coast Guard officials praised the Ocean Sentry’s performance in the Haiti operations, particularly with their ability to carry Mission Systems Pallets (MSPs) – which enables the aircraft to perform several different operations at one time. These pallets also enhance the HC-144A’s capabilities in search and rescue, law enforcement, migrant interdiction and debris identification.

One Ocean Sentry was utilised to transport CBS news anchor Katie Couric, who flew with an HC-144A crew as they gathered real-time video data – complete with GPS coordinates – used by relief efforts to organise recovery efforts.

The HC-144A is the first all-new aircraft delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard as part of major recapitalisation of ageing assets.  These platforms are based on Airbus Military’s CN-235 transport, which is part of a twin-engine multi-role airlifter family that also includes the C-295 – which is proposed for Canada’s Fixed Wing Search and Rescue (FWSAR) replacement program.  

The Coast Guard has called the HC-144A a model acquisition program – with the state-of-the-art aircraft progressing from developmental testing to key assistance for search and rescue, natural disaster relief and other missions in less than two years.  High marks also are being given by the Coast Guard for the Ocean Sentry's advantages over the HU-25 Falcon twin-engine jet aircraft that it is replacing – noting the HC-144A's flexibility to support different missions, along with considerable fuel savings and easier maintenance.

To date, the Coast Guard has received eight Ocean Sentries. New deliveries will bring the fleet size to 11 aircraft by the end of 2010, with plans by the service to acquire more in future buys. It also is nearing completion of building to house a full-motion flight simulator for HC-144A pilot training at the Aviation Training Center in Alabama.