WILLEMSTAD - The Caribbean Coast Guard has signed contracts for new SAR helicopters and Dash-8 patrol aircraft. In recent years, a lot of work has been done on new equipment for aerial reconnaissance, search, and rescue.
The contract for the Dash-8 patrol aircraft is signed with the Canadian company PAL Aerospace Ltd and the Dutch Jet Support B.V. The two new SAR helicopters will be supplied by British company Bristow Helicopters Limited.
“With both contracts, we will be able to assure ourselves of aircraft with high-quality sensors and means of communication for the next ten years,” according to the Coast Guard.
The new helicopters are expected to be delivered in the course of next year. They are already in use, but will be modernized before the start of the new contract. “The new equipment is very suitable for sea rescue and search and surveillance tasks,” said the Coast Guard.