CG names new plane ‘Ocean Sentry’

[unhappycamper]

CG names new plane ‘Ocean Sentry’
By Patricia Kime - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Oct 23, 2007 16:37:22 EDT

The Coast Guard’s newest aircraft officially have been dubbed “Ocean Sentries.”

The EADS CASA-made CN-235s, purchased under the Coast Guard’s Deepwater modernization program, received their numeric designation, HC-144A, from the Air Force in 2006; the name “Ocean Sentry” was approved May 23, Coast Guard spokeswoman Natalie Granger said Monday.

“Ocean Sentry is an appropriate description of the mission,” Granger said.

The HC-144A is a medium-range transport and surveillance aircraft that will be used by the Coast Guard for search and rescue, safety and security patrols.

Three HC-144As currently are undergoing developmental and operational testing at Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala., according to the service. ATC Mobile personnel are tasked with flying and testing the aircraft and developing Coast Guard-wide standard operating procedures for their use, center spokesman Lt. Aaron Ortenzio said.

The Coast Guard is expected to purchase up to 36 HC-144 Ocean Sentries. The propeller planes, which have a cruising speed of 236 knots and a maximum range of 1,565 nautical miles, will replace the service’s HU-25 Guardian jets.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/10/coastguard_new_aircraft_071023w/



uhc comment: According to http://www.eadsnorthamerica.com/800/en/organisation/organisation.html



EADS North America is the U.S. holding company for the North American activities of EADS, the world’s second largest aerospace and defense company, and the largest in Europe.

As a leading supplier and industrial partner in defense and homeland security, commercial aviation, helicopters, telecommunications and services, EADS North America – together with its parent company, EADS – contribute more than $10 billion to the U.S. economy annually, supporting 190,000 American jobs.

As an international company, EADS is proud to be a valued corporate citizen of the United States. With 12 operating companies located in 30 cities and 17 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.

The company is a major contractor to the U.S. Army, having been chosen to supply the service’s new UH-72A Light Utility Helicopter. Under terms of a contract awarded in June 2006, EADS North America has begun delivering up to 322 aircraft with a potential total program life-cycle value of over $2 billion.

EADS North America Defense brings its defense business activities into a wholly-owned subsidiary. The business units of EADS North America Defense are: EADS Test and Services of Irvine, California, and EADS North America Defense Security and Systems Solutions of San Antonio, Texas.

The strategic importance of global business partnerships is growing as security threats increase on a worldwide scale. EADS North America is positioned as the international partner of choice for the U.S. defense industry, bringing a long history of experience in cooperative ventures, advanced technologies and a wide-ranging product portfolio for transatlantic industrial partnerships.

EADS North America is partnered with Northrop Grumman to offer the KC-30 Tanker for modernization of the U.S. Air Force’s aerial refueling fleet.

In other industry programs, EADS North America is working with Northrop Grumman to provide radars for the Global Hawk high altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle. EADS North America also has joined with Lockheed Martin on the Medium Range Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) to protect deployed U.S. and allied forces.

EADS North America also has a growing presence in the U.S. for defense and homeland security. The company is teamed with Lockheed Martin to support the Deepwater program, which is upgrading the U.S. Coast Guard’s operational assets. EADS has supplied more than 90 Eurocopter HH-65 helicopters to the Coast Guard for its vital homeland security mission, and its American Eurocopter business unit is supporting the performance upgrade of this entire fleet. EADS CASA is providing up to 35 HC-144A aircraft for Coast Guard maritime patrol and support missions, and EADS also is supplying shipboard multimode acquisition radars for the National Security Cutter.

EADS continues to believe that an open and competitive market in the U.S. will result in the best products at the best value. EADS is confident it can provide the right solutions in tanker/support aircraft, helicopters, missile defense, C4ISR, and other technology and systems needs. As the EADS involvement in U.S. defense programs grows, its industrial presence in the United States also will grow, strengthening the U.S. industrial base and offering high-quality jobs to American workers.

EADS North America’s civil business units are: American Eurocopter Corporation, Grand Prairie, Texas; EADS CASA North America, Mobile, Alabama; EADS Socata North America, Pembroke Pines, Florida; EADS Supply & Services, Rockville, Maryland; Fairchild Controls Corporation, Frederick, Maryland; and TYX, Reston, Virginia.

In commercial aviation, EADS is both a world leader and a leader in the U.S. – with Airbus as the leading manufacturer of commercial aircraft, and American Eurocopter as one of the top-level suppliers of civil helicopters. More than 2,400 Airbus aircraft have been ordered by North American airlines and leasing companies, while some 1,300 Eurocopter rotary-wing aircraft are used by customers that include the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.



But it sure is a purdy looking plane.




Read more about EADS -->http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EADS