Maritime Q300 Surveillance Aircraft Operates For The Icelandic
Coast Guard
The Icelandic Coast Guard (ICG) has employed a highly-modified
Dash 8 Q300 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) in capturing
valuable data and images of the Icelandic volcano that recently
erupted, disrupting flights across much of Europe. The airplane was
delivered by Field Aviation in 2009. Although performing outside
its regular Maritime Surveillance flight duties, the aircraft was
successfully pressed into emergency service as a 'volcano watch'
platform.
The Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted at 0830 local time on
April 14, 2010, and the first images of the sub-glacial crater were
captured by special radar equipment on the MSA. It is the
only Icelandic aircraft with the necessary equipment needed to
position accurately the eruption site in zero-visibility
conditions.
Since the eruption, geophysicists, volcanologists and other
scientists have used the aircraft to gather new information about
volcanic activity.
Icelandic Department of Civil Protection and Emergency
Management geophysicist Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson said, "Using the
MSA and its technology has provided a totally new perspective on
volcanic eruptions in Iceland. The radar instruments aboard
the aircraft are quite miraculous, they can actually see through
the volcanic plumes making it possible to photograph the
development and exact location of the crater.
"The use of the MSA has been vitally important in gathering
information about this volcano, information which will be used to
understand the activity of other volcanoes that erupt frequently in
Iceland."
The original Dash 8 Q300 was also equipped with long-range fuel
capabilities and an auxiliary power unit, enabling it to perform
missions lasting more than eight hours. Modifications
included a Maritime Search Radar, Side-Looking Airborne Radar
(SLAR) and an Electro-Optical/ Infra-Red pod (FLIR); all of which
are connected and controlled with an L-3 Communications integrated
data handling system.
Field Aviation also undertook a series of structural
modifications to the Dash 8, which included designing, engineering
and integrating a new interior, and installing the Q300's
proprietary Active Noise and Vibration System. The company has also
designed and approved a flight operable rear cargo door used to
deploy location flares, paradrop personnel, oil sampling buoys, and
inflatable rafts.
Field Aviation's Joar Gronlund said, "It is satisfying to know
the aircraft we delivered to Icelandic Coast Guard has proven so
successful in its chosen missions. Each MSA/ MPA Field
Aviation delivers requires unique, customized modifications and I
am pleased that our work on the Icelandic MSA has continued our
tradition of success." Field Aviation has modified more than
30 aircraft for maritime and surveillance roles, and its work has
become renowned the world over for technical superiority.