OPERATIONAL ROLES
Flying as an operator on an operational
crew the following tasks are undertaken:
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Fishery Patrol
Working with
close association with MFA (Marines and Fisheries Agency) aerial
surveillance services covering the waters within British Fishery Limits
adjacent to England and Wales. This is undertaken either on a stand-alone
basis or in association with the Royal Navy's Fishery Protection Squadron,
both during daylight hours and at night using specialist optical
equipment.Integrating
aerial surveillance operations with satellite monitoring for fishing vessels
over 24 metres allows MFA to maintain effective control over the policing of
UK territorial waters.
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Oil Pipeline and Cable
Monitoring
Oil pipeline and communication cable monitoring enables us to assess the levels of
fishing activity which may lead to nets snagging and cable damage.
Coastguard Support
Use of DF (Direction finding) equipment allows us to assist the coastguard
in locating transmissions on the Maritime radio frequency band.
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Search
and Rescue
The Systems Operators on board the aircraft have all had previous military
service in the Maritime Surveillance role operating on board the Nimrod
Maritime Patrol aircraft and are experienced in working within the maritime
SAR (Search and Rescue) environment. Whilst on patrol, aircraft can provide supplementary support to
the existing SAR network of HM Coastguard, the Royal Navy, and the SAR
communications co-ordination centre & RAF Nimrods (on 24hr
standby) both of which are based at RAF Kinloss. Recent SAR incidents that
crews have been involved with include the search for survivors
from a British trawler sunk off Guernsey and communications topcover for a
medivac Southwest of the Scilly Isles. |
Pollution Control
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) is the
U.K. authority responsible for responding to pollution from shipping
and offshore installations. The MCA has been assisted by crews in
maritime incidents which as operators of a maritime patrol aircraft have either been directly involved in the reporting of, or have been
asked to intervene with. The most notable incident to date being the prosecution
of the Merchant Vessel Crystal Rubino which was observed to be discharging oil
and causing pollution in the English Channel on 17th Aug 1999.The resulting
evidence provided by the crew resulted in a £18,500 + costs fine.
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