Coast Guard honors Silver Lifesaving Medal recipient at memorial service in Astoria, Ore.

Members of the Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment Honor

Guard present an American flag in preparation to present it to the family

during a memorial service for Gordon Huggins at Barbey Maritime Center

in Astoria, Ore., March 30, 2019.

The flag folding ceremony is a tradition at some military funerals and

memorial services in which 13 folds are made in an American flag, each

with a special meaning

ASTORIA, Ore. — The Coast Guard rendered military honors during a memorial service for Gordon Huggins held at the Barbey Maritime Center in Astoria, Oregon , Saturday.

The service was lead by members from various veterans organizations that Huggins was a member. An honor guard from Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment performed traditional ceremonial honors such as folding the American flag, had a bugler played taps and a 3-round volley was fired. Coast Guard members from other local units came to the service to pay respect as well.

“Gordon in fact died a rich man,” said Daniel Halverson who eulogized Huggins. “He was rich with the wealth of an honorable man, respected by many for his devotion to his fellow man, veterans, heroes alive or dead, children, puppies, and frankly anyone he interacted with.”

Gordon Huggins served in the Coast Guard for nearly 10 years and left as a petty officer 1st class engineman. He served overseas with Flotilla 1 on an 82-foot patrol boat during the Vietnam War and was awarded the Silver Lifesaving Medal as the sole survivor of the ill-fated Coast Guard vessel Triumph, a wooden 52-foot Motor Lifeboat.

On January 12, 1961, while stationed at Point Adams Life Boat Station in Hammond, Oregon, Huggins was a apart of the Triumph boat crew that got underway for the difficult multi-Coast Guard-vessel rescue effort for the crew of the fishing vessel Mermaid that was in distress on the Columbia River near Peacock Spit.​ The seas were high and the Coast Guard rescue vessels had difficulty securing the Mermaid as the heavy breakers snapped the tow lines multiple times. The rough conditions ultimately caused the Mermaid to sink which capsized the Triumph. Additional Coast Guard vessels and aircraft were deployed to the scene to search for survivors, as well as foot patrols along the beach where Huggins was found alive. The other five members of the Triumph boat crew and two fisherman from the Mermaid drowned.

After his Coast Guard service, Huggins retired after 22 years as a deputy sheriff with the Clark County Sheriff's Office and was a member of multiple veterans organizations. He married Patty and together had two daughters Debbie and Brenda, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. His service dog Hoss has now retired in Huggins’ home.

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Coast Guard rescues 4 after boat capsizes 35 miles west of Homosassa

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew rescues four people from the water 35 miles west of Homosassa, Florida, Saturday, March 30, 2019. The helicopter crew located the boaters on the hull of their capsized boat. (U.S. Coast Guard video)

A 26-foot boat sits capsized 26-miles west of Homosassa, Florida, Saturday, March 30, 2019. A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater Mh-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew rescued four people from the capsized boat. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Seaman Levi G. Mcfarland)

CLEARWATER, Fla.​ —​ The Coast Guard rescued four people Saturday after their 26-foot boat capsized 35 miles west of Homosassa.​

Rescued were​ Inverness natives Brittany Thompson, 34, and Brian Thompson, 35. Also rescued were Joanna Fraser, 42, and Lincoln Fraser, 44.

At 11:29 a.m. Coast Guard Seventh District watchstanders received a call from the International Emergency Rescue Coordination Center reporting a personal locator beaconhad been activated.​

An Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was launched and located​ four people in the water without life jackets clinging to their overturned boat. The helicopter crew hoisted the boaters and transported them to the air station where EMS awaited.​

A 27-foot Utility Boat-Medium boat crew from Coast Guard Station Yankeetown and the crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Pelican (WPB-87327) were also launched to assist.

For more breaking news follow us on​ Twitter.

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Coast Guard rescues 3 adults, 12-year-old boy after boat sinks​

A Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew rescues three men and a 12-year-old boy from the Gulf of Mexico 3 miles west of Bayport, Florida, Saturday, March 30, 2019. The helicopter crew located the boaters clinging to life jackets after their boat flipped over and sank. (U.S. Coast Guard video)

CLEARWATER, Fla.—The Coast Guard rescued three men and a 12-year old boy after their boat sank Sunday 3 miles west of Bayport.

Rescued were Virginia Beach, Virginia, native David Johnson, 25, and Weeki Wachee, Florida, natives Kenneth Oakleaf, 28, Matt Fried, 41, and Fried's 12-year-old son.

At 5:41 a.m. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg watchstanders received a 911 transfer call from Hernando County dispatch reporting three people and a child were in the water clinging to life jackets. The boaters stated they were fishing when Oakleaf's 14-foot boat sank.​

An Air Station Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew was launched, arrived on scene at 7:11 a.m. and hoisted the boaters out of the water. The men and boy were transported to the air station and evaluated by Sunstar paramedics. There were no reported injuries.

Johnson, stated the boat sank because all the men moved to one side of the boat and the boat flipped. He said thankfully the life jackets were placed in an easily accessible area, so they quickly floated to the top. Recalling the rescue, Johnson was simple, "I just want to say thank you."

A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter returns to Air Station Clearwater, Florida, after rescuing three men and a 12-year-old boy, Saturday, March 30, 2019. The men and boy were fishing 3 miles west of Bayport when their 14-foot boat sank. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

For more breaking news follow us on​ Twitter.

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Boston-based Coast Guard Cutter Seneca returns home after 86-day patrol in Atlantic Ocean

U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Auxiliarist David Lau

BOSTON — Coast Guard Cutter Seneca returned to its homeport in Boston Saturday after an 86-day patrol in the northern Atlantic Ocean. 

During the patrol, Seneca's crew responded to four search and rescue cases. One notable case involved a disabled fishing boat taking on water 100 miles off shore during blizard conditions. The crew rescued four fishermen and put the fishing boat in tow. The tow was later transferred to a 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Rockland, Maine for escort to shore.

Seneca boarding teams completed 31 living marine resource boardings to ensure safety and environmental regulations are being followed. The Coast Guard is the primary agency for at-sea enforcement of federal laws concerning our Nation's valuable aquatic food resources. 

"I am incredibly proud of this crew's accomplishments during this patrol," said Cmdr. John J. Christensen, Seneca's commanding officer. "Their efforts ensured the continued preservation of our national fisheries, the safety of our offshore fishermen, and the security of sea lanes to some of our largest marine transportation hubs. They did this all while keeping our 34-year-old cutter fully operational, enabling us to meet every mission, every time."

Seneca is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter with a crew complement of 14 officers and 86 enlisted personnel.

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Coast Guard rescues 5 from water 5 miles south of Key West

The sailing vessel aground at Sand Key Reef, Florida, Mar. 28, 2019. Coast Guard Key West watchstanders diverted a Coast Guard Station Key West 33-foot Special Purpose Craft—Law Enforcement boatcrew who arrived on scene, safely embarked all five people aboard and transferred them to shore with no reported injuries. (Coast Guard Photos)

KEY WEST, Fla. — The Coast Guard rescued five people from the aground 65-foot sailing vessel, Serenity, Thursday approximately 5 miles south of Key West.

At approximately 6 p.m., Coast Guard Sector Key West watchstanders received a report from the crew via VHF radio channel 16 of five people who ran aground on Sand Key Reef. 

Watchstanders diverted a Coast Guard Station Key West 33-foot Special Purpose Craft—Law Enforcement boatcrew who arrived on scene, safely embarked the people and transferred them to shore with no reported injuries.

Salvage operations will be discussed after the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission conducts an on scene assessment.

"The boatcrew was able to rescue all five people aboard the aground vessel thanks to the proper use of their VHF radio," said Lt. j.g. Madeline Compagnoni, waterways management chief at Sector Key West. "Owning and knowing how to use the proper communications equipment makes a big difference in any search and rescue case."

For more breaking news follow us on​ Twitter.

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JBER F-22s Demonstrate Combat Capabilities

Twenty-four F-22 Raptors from 3rd Wing and 477th Fighter Group, a C-17 Globemaster III and an E-3 Sentry participate in a close formation taxi, known as an Elephant Walk, March 26, 2019, during a Polar Force exercise at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. This two-week exercise gives squadrons an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to forward deploy and deliver overwhelming combat power. (Photo by Justin Connaher)

(Photo by Erin Eaton)

(Photo by Dana Rosso)

(Photo by Sheila deVera)

(Photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Valdes)

(Photo by Sheila deVera)

(Photo by Master Sgt. Joshua Jasper)

(Photo by Justin Connaher)

(Photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Valdes)

Second Lockheed Martin-Built GPS III Satellite For The U.S. Air Force Arrives In Cape Canaveral For July Launch

Satellite Will Bring New Technology and Capabilities To Modernize the GPS Constellation

Lockheed Martin shipped the U.S. Air Force’s second GPS III to Cape Canaveral, Florida ahead of its expected July launch.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida, March 26, 2019 – The U.S. Air Force’s second new GPS III satellite, bringing higher-power, more accurate and harder-to-jam signals to the GPS constellation, has arrived in Florida for launch.

On March 18, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) shipped the Air Force’s second GPS III space vehicle (GPS III SV02) to Cape Canaveral for an expected July launch. Designed and built at Lockheed Martin’s GPS III Processing Facility near Denver, the satellite traveled from Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, to the Cape on a massive Air Force C-17 aircraft. The Air Force nicknamed the GPS III SV02 “Magellan” after Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan.

GPS III is the most powerful and resilient GPS satellite ever put on orbit. Developed with an entirely new design, for U.S. and allied forces, it will have three times greater accuracy and up to eight times improved anti-jamming capabilities over the previous GPS II satellite design block, which makes up today’s GPS constellation.

GPS III also will be the first GPS satellite to broadcast the new L1C civil signal. Shared by other international global navigation satellite systems, like Galileo, the L1C signal will improve future connectivity worldwide for commercial and civilian users.

The Air Force began modernizing the GPS constellation with new technology and capabilities with the December 23, 2018 launch of its first GPS III satellite. GPS III SV01 is now receiving and responding to commands from Lockheed Martin’s Launch and Checkout Center at the company’s Denver facility.

“After orbit raising and antenna deployments, we switched on GPS III SV01’s powerful signal-generating navigation payload and on Jan. 8 began broadcasting signals,” Johnathon Caldwell, Lockheed Martin’s Vice President for Navigation Systems. “Our on orbit testing continues, but the navigation payload’s capabilities have exceeded expectations and the satellite is operating completely healthy.”

GPS III SV02 is the second of ten new GPS III satellites under contract and in full production at Lockheed Martin. GPS III SV03-08 are now in various stages of assembly and test. The Air Force declared the second GPS III “Available for Launch” in August and, in November, called GPS III SV02 up for its 2019 launch.

In September 2018, the Air Force selected Lockheed Martin for the GPS III Follow On (GPS IIIF) program, an estimated $7.2 billion opportunity to build up to 22 additional GPS IIIF satellites with additional capabilities. GPS IIIF builds off Lockheed Martin’s existing modular GPS III, which was designed to evolve with new technology and changing mission needs. On September 26, the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.4 billion contract for support to start up the program and to contract the 11th and 12thGPS III satellite.

Once declared operational, GPS III SV01 and SV02 are expected to take their place in today’s 31 satellite strong GPS constellation, which provides positioning, navigation and timing services to more than four billion civil, commercial and military users.

Coast Guard conducts search for missing person near Rockaway Beach

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jordan Akiyama.

SAN FRANCISCO —​ The Coast Guard, along with partner agencies, are searching for a 28-year-old man reported missing near Rockaway Beach in Pacifica, Tuesday.

Pacifica Police Department personnel notified Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders at approximately 4:30 a.m., of a man who was reportedly swept out by a rip current while swimming near the Lighthouse Hotel in Pacifica.

Sector San Francisco watchstanders deployed a Coast Guard Station Golden Gate 47-foot Motor Lifeboat crew and a Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew to assist in the search.

The air station crew arrived on scene at approximately 5:10 a.m. and the Station Golden Gate crew arrived on scene at approximately 5:45 a.m. to search the area. The Coast Guard Cutter Sockeye, an 87-foot patrol boat, also joined the search at approximately 11:00 a.m.

Pacifica and San Mateo Police Department crews are also assisting in the search.

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WESTSTAR AVIATION SERVICES SIGNS ANOTHER CONTRACT WITH LEONARDO FOR THE PURCHASE OF THREE AW169 AND TWO AW139 HELICOPTERS

LANGKAWI,  27th  March  –  Weststar  Aviation  Services,  a  leading  regional  offshore  helicopter transportation  services  provider,  and  Leonardo  signed  a  contract  –  valued  at  around  50  million euros  -  for  three  new-generation  AW169  and  two  AW139  helicopters  for  offshore  operations  in West Africa  and  the  Middle  East.   

The  contract  signing  ceremony  was  held  today  at  the  Langkawi  International  Maritime  and Aerospace  Exhibition  (LIMA)  in  the  presence  of  the  Prime  Minister  of  Malaysia,  YAB  Tun  Dr. Mahathir  Mohamad.    The  three  AW169s  helicopters  will  be  for  Weststar's  ExxonMobil  &  Noble contract  in  Equatorial  Guinea  while  the  two  AW139s  are  for  the  Al-Khafji  Joint  Operations contract  in  Saudi  Arabia,  which  is  a  joint  venture  between  Kuwait  Gulf  Oil  Company  (KGOC)  and Aramco  Gulf  Operations. 

"This  procurement  further  strengthens  the  partnership  between  Weststar  Aviation  Services  and Leonardo  and  is  a  key  factor  in  Weststar’s  overseas  business  expansion.  The  AW169  and  the AW139  twin-engine  helicopters  are  the  most  successful  new  generation  models  in  their  class worldwide,  and  the  most  demanded  helicopter  types  in  the  Oil  and  Gas  industry.  We  are  pleased to  purchase  yet  more  helicopters  from  Leonardo  to  support  our  offshore  helicopter  operations and  we will  use  the  newly  purchased  helicopters  for  our  operations  in  West  Africa  and  the  Middle East.“  said  Tan  Sri  Dr.  Syed  Azman  Syed  Ibrahim,  Group  Managing  Director  of  The  Weststar Group. 

Gian  Piero  Cutillo,  Managing  Director  of  Leonardo  Helicopters,  said:  “Weststar  is  one  of  our  most important  helicopter  customers  worldwide  and  we  are  happy  to  confirm  our  leading  position  in the  offshore  market  in  the  region.  There  are  now  over  60  Leonardo  helicopters  in  Malaysia, where  we  have  our  regional  Customer  Support  and  Training  hub,  and  we  plan  to  increase  our presence  even  further  in  the  future by  expanding  the  services  we  offer.” 

Since  commencing  its  operations  in  2003,  Weststar  Aviation  Services  has  grown  to  become  one of  the  global  key  players  in  the  offshore  helicopter  industry.  To  date,  Weststar  Aviation  Services operates  a  total  of  33  AW139,  AW169  and  AW189  helicopters  out  of  its  bases  in  Malaysia, Thailand,  and  Indonesia. 

The  AW139  and  AW169  are  part  of  Leonardo’s  Family  of  new  generation  helicopters  that  also includes  the  AW189.  These  models  are  ideal  for  passenger  transport,  EMS  and  SAR  missions. Leonardo  has  a  long-standing  presence  in  Malaysia  with  a  large  fleet  of  helicopters  –  both commercial  and  military  –  defence,  security  and  airport systems. 

NHV’s H175 fleet exceeds 30.000 FHRS

Ostend  –  March  26th,  2019 

NHV  Group  is  pleased  to  announce  that  its  H175 fleet  surpassed  its  first  30,000 flight  hours.  This  significant  milestone  proves this super-medium-sized  rotorcraft’s  capabilities  and  reliability  in  highly  demanding  operations,  especially  the  transportation of  personnel  and  supplies  to  offshore  oil  and  gas  platforms. 

The  30,000  hours  have  been  accumulated  by  NHV’s  fleet of  eleven  H175s.  NHV  was  the  global  launching  customer  of  this platform,  whose  first  two  aircraft  entered  into  service  in  December  2014.  Initially  operated  from  Den  Helder,  NHV  gradually expanded  H175  operations  to  other  bases  in  the  North  Sea  and  West  Africa,  where  the  aircraft  has  accumulated  experience and  gained  maturity.  The  aircraft  is  currently  in  operation  in  the  NHV North  Sea  bases  of  Den  Helder  (The  Netherlands), Aberdeen  (Scotland)  and  Esbjerg  (Denmark). 

“This  milestone  represents  the  culmination  of  4  years  of  dedication  and  hard  work,  in  which  we  successfully  positioned  the H175  as  the  new  standard  for  oil  and  gas  missions.  Our  H175s  have  become  synonymous  for  safe,  reliable  &  quality  operations –even  in  the  most  challenging  environments.  We  explicitly  thank  our  valued  customers,  staff  and  suppliers  for  being  our partners  in  reaching  this  new  milestone,”  says  Steffen  Bay,  the  CEO  of  NHV  Group. 

The  H175  is  designed  to  meet  evolving  mission  needs  in  the  oil  and  gas  industry,  offering  outstanding  performance  and unmatched  cost  efficiency  –  with  the  capability  of  carrying  a  full  payload  to  90  percent  of  the  North  Sea’s  offshore  installations. It  also  is  well  tailored  for  search  and  rescue  in  support  of  such  off-shore  operations,  emergency  medical  services,  public services,  VIP  and  executive  transport.   

NHV  and  Airbus  Helicopters  will  celebrate  the  30,000  flight hours  achievement  at  this  week’s  Lima Airshow  in  Malaysia. 

The  NHV  group,  based  in  Ostend  Belgium,  is  specialized  in  B-to-B  helicopter  services  and  has  a  strong  geographic  presence in  Europe  and  Western  Africa.  The  group  conducts  operations  out  of  several  bases  on  2  continents  with  a  team  of  over  550 employees. NHV’s  main  focus is on  the  energy  producing  industry.  The  group  has  a  leading  position  in  Europe  as the  only helicopter  operator  that  conducts  operations  in every  oil  producing  country  in  the  region.  The  scope  of  work  also  includes: Helicopter  Emergency  Medical  Services  (HEMS),  Maritime  Services,  which  include  Search  and  Rescue  (SAR),  offshore  Wind Farms and  Harbor  Pilot  Services.  Vertech  Offshore  and  Airlift are  two  specialized  companies within  the  NHV  group  who  are leaders  in  their  niche  of  flare  tip  replacement  and  power  grid  construction  and  maintenance.  Aside  from  the  helicopter operations,  NHV  is  an  approved  training  organization  (ATO)  and  an  official  service  center  for  our  partner  Airbus  Helicopters. The  group  has  a  multipurpose  high  value  fleet  of  +60  helicopters.  NHV’s  majority  shareholder  is  Ardian,  the  world-leading private  investment  house  with  assets  of  US$90bn  managed  or  advised  in  Europe,  the  Americas  and  Asia. 

www.nhv.be 

Leonardo: Korea and Malaysia add AW189s to their fire-fighting helicopter fleets

- AW189s recently  delivered  to  Malaysian  and Seoul  Fire  Departments  with  Japan  to  follow 

- Leonardo  AW139,  AW169  and  AW189  rapidly  becoming  a  standard  for  emergency management  in  Asia 

- Asia Pacific  is  the  fastest  growing  market  for  helicopters  globally  and  Leonardo  is  well positioned  thanks  to  its range  of  new  generation  helicopters 

Rome,  25  March  2019  –  With  deliveries  across  Asia  Pacific  the  Leonardo  AW189  super  medium helicopter  is  becoming  the  leader  in  the  firefighting  market.  The  Malaysia  Fire  and  Rescue Department  (Jabatan  Bomba  dan  Penyelamat  Malaysia)  and  Korea’s  Seoul  Fire  Department  are beginning  operations  with their  AW189s  and will  soon  be  followed  by  the  Tokyo Fire  Department. 

Asia  Pacific  is  the  region  with  the  strongest  growth  prospects  for  all  of  Leonardo’s  aerospace  and defence  capabilities.  In  the  helicopter  sector,  public  utility  operations  such  as  firefighting,  search and  rescue  and  disaster  relief  capabilities  are  quickly  growing  and  Leonardo  is  successfully targeting  the  requirements  with  the  AW139,  AW169  and  AW189  helicopters.  These  models  join  an already  impressive  fleet  of  Leonardo  helicopters  across  countries  in  the  region  with  Malaysia, South Korea,  Japan  and  Australia  being  markets  where  Leonardo  is  leading  in many  sectors. 

Leonardo  was  the  world’s  number  one  civil  helicopter  manufacturer  in  terms  of  value  in 2018  with a 40%  market  share,  a  7%  increase  on  2017. 

Leonardo  continues to  play  a  major  role  in  the  Malaysian  helicopter  market  expanding  its  presence and  increasing  its  capabilities  through  a  continued  plan  of  investment.  With  a  regional  hub  for Customer  Support  and  Training  near  Kuala  Lumpur,  Leonardo  has  been  present  in  the  region  for many  years  with  hundreds  of  helicopters  performing  missions  such  as  offshore  and  passenger transport,  utility,  homeland  security,  law  enforcement,  search  and  rescue,  emergency  medical services,  maritime  patrol,  military  naval  roles  and  armed  reconnaissance.  Additionally,  Leonardo  is providing  a  range  of  security  and  defence  capabilities  to  the  Malaysian  government  and  products, such  as  air  traffic  control  systems  to  commercial  customers. 

Coast Guard demobilizes St. Paul, Cold Bay, Alaska, forward operating locations

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Charly Hengen (archive).

KODIAK, Alaska​ — Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak aircrews demobilized forward operating locations in St. Paul and Cold Bay, March 15, concluding the supplemental coverage of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Chain.

The aircrews deployed on two-week rotations to increase readiness and decrease response times to the Bering Sea fishing fleet during periods of increased maritime activity.

​

Air Station Kodiak MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter aircrews deployed to Cold Bay from Oct. 20 to Nov. 20, 2018, and then again from Jan. 15 to Feb. 19, 2019. Aircrews​ later deployed to St. Paul from Feb. 17 to March 15, 2019, in support of Coast Guard operations in the Bering Sea to provide search and rescue and maritime law enforcement coverage.

​

In addition to​ the deployed Jayhawk aircrew,​ the Coast Guard Cutter Alex Haley, the Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro, and the Coast Guard Cutter John Midgett, with an an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew embarked, provided supplemental SAR support and maritime law enforcement coverage in the Bering Sea.

​

Throughout the three-month season,​ Coast Guard assets and crews​ conducted​ 24 SAR cases providing over​ 114 total SAR hours, resulting in 19 lives saved and​ 29 assisted.

​

Due to the fishing fleet moving further north in the Bering Sea, and to augment the Coast Guard cutter presence, Air Station Kodiak increased its readiness by deploying crews to St. Paul. Before re-opening the St. Paul FOL, it had been without a deployed crew since 2014.​

​

To meet mission requirements, aircrews performed 15 HC-130 Hercules airplane logistics flights, totaling​ more than​ 90 flight hours from Kodiak to St. Paul. While forward-deployed, St. Paul MH-60 aircrews responded to two cases, resulting in one life saved and five assisted.

​

“This has been a great Bering Sea deployment season, and as the fleet shifted further north, it was an all-hands-on-deck evolution to mobilize our crews and reopen our facility in St. Paul mid-season,” said Lt. Cmdr. Tom Huntley, Air Station Kodiak Jayhawk assistant operations officer. “This shift allowed us to maintain our search and rescue posture and protect our critical fishing industry, and it allowed us to be ready and responsive when called upon.”

​

Both FOLs are part of the Coast Guard's mobile presence, and as such, are focused on performing the services’ statutory missions to ensure maritime safety, security and stewardship throughout Alaska.

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To follow the fishing fleet and to prepare for the projected increased summer maritime activity, Jayhawk​ aircrews are scheduled to deploy to FOLs in both Cordova and Kotzebue.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Lauren Dean (archive).

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Airbus confirms H145M bid in key Australian military rotary wing campaign

Brisbane, Airbus Australia Pacific Managing Director Andrew Mathewson confirmed that Airbus has recently responded to the Commonwealth of Australia’s request for information for a four-tonne class, rapidly deployable, multi-role helicopter for Australian Special Forces.

“The Airbus H145M helicopter is the military version of the H145 – the most advanced member of Airbus’ multi-purpose twin-engine category. It is based on a commercial off-theshelf platform with military-specific modifications and is an operationally proven, affordable and low-risk option for Australia,” said Andrew Mathewson.

“The H145M programme and systems are based on around five million hours of flying experience with the H145 family of aircraft which has over 1,300 units in service today.

The Airbus Australia Pacific response included selected industry partners and the provision of training, maintenance, logistics and engineering activities. A comprehensive transfer of technology and skills will make Airbus Australia Pacific a regional centre able to proactively support Australian operational needs, and export this knowledge back into the wider H145M community,” he added.

Mathewson said that other strengths of the Airbus H145M included:

• - Excellent access and cabin space
• Compact footprint for maximum agility
• - Excellent hot and high flight performance
• - Airbus Helionix cockpit which reduces pilot workload and allows greater situational awareness
• - Full multi-role capability allowing support to missions including aerial assault, aerial fire support, attack, ISTAR, CASEVAC and general utility tasks
• - High availability; reliable and robust systems; a small logistic footprint; proven by operations in similar configuration, roles and environment
• - High rotor clearance and shrouded Fenestron for operations close to obstacles
  

“Airbus stands ready to respond to the next stage in the tender process,” Mathewson added.