AFM gets maritime patrol aircraft
The government of Luxembourg is providing the Armed Forces of Malta's Air Wing operations with a leased CASA 212.CC maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) for use during the ongoing Frontex joint Operation ''Nautilus''. The aircraft, arriving in Malta today, belongs to CAE Aviation of Luxemburg and will be operated from Luqa by an AFM crew under the supervision of an instructor from the firm. Frontex is currently operating ''Nautilus'' in the central Mediterranean. In the past weeks, AFM senior pilots and technicians have been undergoing type-conversion training locally on this aircraft and its sensors. The CASA 212 first flew in 1973, and is a highly successful and capable short take-off and landing aircraft which is operated worldwide by several air arms and civilian companies, mainly in the transport role. It is still in production in Spain and Indonesia, and has been in operation from Malta since 1979 in the Libyan desert regions, mostly servicing oil firms' outposts and installations. This Luxembourg aircraft will be the largest and first turbine powered fixed wing aircraft to be operated by the AFM's Air Wing. It can be flown anytime in almost any weather and is equipped with a powerful nose-mounted search radar, thermal imaging and homing equipment. A ramp at the rear makes it possible to drop survival equipment from the air. Pic & article: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090727/local/afm-gets-maritime-patrol-aircraft
The government of Luxembourg is providing the Armed Forces of Malta's Air Wing operations with a leased CASA 212.CC maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) for use during the ongoing Frontex joint Operation ''Nautilus''. The aircraft, arriving in Malta today, belongs to CAE Aviation of Luxemburg and will be operated from Luqa by an AFM crew under the supervision of an instructor from the firm. Frontex is currently operating ''Nautilus'' in the central Mediterranean. In the past weeks, AFM senior pilots and technicians have been undergoing type-conversion training locally on this aircraft and its sensors. The CASA 212 first flew in 1973, and is a highly successful and capable short take-off and landing aircraft which is operated worldwide by several air arms and civilian companies, mainly in the transport role. It is still in production in Spain and Indonesia, and has been in operation from Malta since 1979 in the Libyan desert regions, mostly servicing oil firms' outposts and installations. This Luxembourg aircraft will be the largest and first turbine powered fixed wing aircraft to be operated by the AFM's Air Wing. It can be flown anytime in almost any weather and is equipped with a powerful nose-mounted search radar, thermal imaging and homing equipment. A ramp at the rear makes it possible to drop survival equipment from the air. Pic & article: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090727/local/afm-gets-maritime-patrol-aircraft