Aircraft Equipment

Search equipment

The aircraft is specifically equipped for SAR operations. The following is a comprehensive list of the equipment carried:-

Navigation Suite

Philips GPS with Differential

Panasonic Ruggedged Computer

Seapro Charting and Search Software

Inframetrics Quantum Mark III FLIR

Multi Channel Aeronautical VHF

Multi Channel Marine VHF

Radio homer (AM 121.5 MHz, FM Ch 16 and UHF 406 MHz)

Furuno 24 mile Search Radar

10 orange smoke floats (4 minutes per float)

6 droppable self-inflating life stoles

2 droppable floating strobe lights

Image intensifier

Hand-held spotlight (1,000,000 candlepower)

Binoculars

1 x RFD 7/11-man Air Droppable SAR Raft

Radar

The aircraft is fitted with a 24-mile search radar. This facility enables a radar sweep of a 4-mile corridor to be undertaken in conditions of darkness or low visibility, and the effectiveness is directly proportional to the amount of "clutter" from wave action. A search downwind is more likely to be effective than a search upwind or across the wind.

Homer

Search for the source of an ELT or EPIRB homer or a vessel transmitting is carried out by use of the aircraft's homing system, which operates on AM 121.5 MHz, FM Ch 16 and UHF 406 MHz.

Thermal Imaging equipment ("FLIR")

The aircraft is equipped with an Inframetrics Mark III Quantum thermal imaging camera (see photo below), which gives both a greatly increased night time search capability and allows the search for a heat source (when persons or objects have a temperature difference from their surroundings).

Crew survival

All crew members wear immersion suits and life-jackets with individual locator beacons operating on 121.5 and 243 MHz, both a life-jacket light and a JOTRON AQ4 high powered white strobe light. Each life-jacket includes a spray hood.

In the event of ditching, the crew will deploy the SAR RAFT (see below) together with a waterproof container holding one portable EPIRB locator beacon, flares, waterproof hand-held Marine VHF and torch. The aircraft is also fitted with a second EPIRB locator beacon.

Air droppable SAR raft

In addition to its capability for dropping smoke markers, night strobe light and life stoles, the aircraft is equipped with an RFD 7R SAR RAFT.

This raft is deployed from the aircraft via the rear hold door and will be dropped from a height of approximately 100 feet at a speed of between 70 and 90 knots.

The raft is designed for 7 occupants but can accept up to a maximum of 11. The construction is such that the raft is fully reversible and can be used whichever side is uppermost. Boarding is via a ramp to assist entry. The raft is fitted with a cover, sea anchor and limited emergency pack.

The aircraft will drop the raft after laying down a smoke marker. In the case of persons in the water or a displacement vessel, the raft will be laid upwind of the casualty. In the case of a light displacement craft, the aircraft may drop the raft downwind of the casualty.

The SAR RAFT consists of the life-raft itself, together with 150 metres of 6 mm floating orange line, a flotation bag and spring-loaded parachute.

After leaving the aircraft, the raft falls to the sea in the direction of flight whilst the spring-loaded parachute draws out the line and float behind the raft.

The raft inflates on entering the water as does the float at the far end of the line. The float has a water-activated light on top.