International Consortium offers Re-leased Do328 solution to the South African AF for maritime patrol

AeroRescue operates a fleet of five Dornier 328 turboprops with one aircraft each based at Perth, Darwin, Cairns, Brisbane and Melbourne. The aircraft are modified for SAR (Search And Rescue) and operate under a 10-year contract to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), using RESCUE callsigns – VH-PPF is ‘RESCUE 461’. When not used for SAR duties, the aircraft are also used for pollution detection and by Customs / Border Protection for maritime suveillance duties, using CUSTOMS callsigns.
Photo © David Eyre

Atlantis Aviation leads consortium at AAD | Atlantis Corporation

Atlantis demonstrates interim maritime surveillance solution to the SAAF | defenceWeb
Atlantis Aviation leads consortium at AAD | Atlantis Corporation
The aircraft offered by the Atlantis consortium is the Dornier 328-100 (Mod 20) operated by AeroRescue of Australia on behalf of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). The ten year contract with AMSA for search and rescue services is progressively tailing off as the new tenderer is utilising the longer ranged Challenger 604.

Apart from Atlantis, which act as Project Managers, the consortium includes South Africa’s Avex Air (providing maintenance), AeroData of Germany (sensors and equipment) and AeroRescue (the current aircraft owners, providing search and rescue services for Australia). The South African companies would own 51% of the new company which will take over ownership of the aircraft from AeroRescue.

IAI-Elta EL/M-2022A Radar

FLIR Systems
Star Safire III E/O Ball

The Dorniers are currently equipped with a second-generation STAR Safire III IR/digital TV FLIR electro-optical ball and the  IAI-Elta EL/M-2022(V)3 multi-mode search radar. This radar, which is rumoured to have been fitted to the SAAF’s Cheetah C fighter prior to being replaced by the Gripen, has been optimised for small contacts in high sea states. Besides various search, navigation, weather, air-to-air and moving target modes, it is capable of Spot-SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) and Strip map SAR mapping capability. The ISAR (Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar) and Circular Synthetic Aperture Radar (CSAR) capabilities allow crew members to view a 3D picture at long distances from the target.

Other systems include digital satellite communication, enhanced navigation and AIS transponders fully integrated into an AeroData Mission Management System that allows for data transfer and full digital recording of all mission data, voice, video and data for a comprehensive evidence trail.

The airframe itself has been modified to incorporate large observer windows, an operator console and an airdrop capability. The modified inflight opening door can dispatch life rafts, self-locating datum marker buoys (SLDMB) and a variety of other containers stocked with food, water, medical supplies and communications equipment.

Gordon Blackbeard, Chairman of Atlantis, said that they were originally “looking at a very cheap and cheerful interim solution” based on the King Air 350ER. Despite the SAAF already operating earlier versions of the King Air, Atlantis felt that the good range of the King Air was offset by the lack of crew comfort and limited stores carriage capability.