Australian aerial patrol
Encyclopedia
The Australian Aerial Patrol (inc Wollongong Aerial Patrol) conducts fixed wing shark
patrols on the south coast of New South Wales
, Australia. The patrol was created in 1957 and is based at the Illawarra Regional Airport
.
In the 1990s the Australian Aerial Patrol (AAP) became an accredited civil Search and Rescue
(SAR) unit. The unit was equipped with a Partenavia PN-68-TC
(VH-APH), a Cessna 402
and a C-182
(VH-APN) for these operations. The AAP was involved in several major SAR operations throughout the 1990s including the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
rescue and the rescue of the crew of the yacht 'Green Hornet' in 1999.
In 2002 The AAP became a tier 1 (first response) SAR unit and equipped with a Piper Chieftain
(VH-VRA). This aircraft was fitted with a Forward Looking Infrared
(FLIR) camera, leased from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
(AMSA). In 2006 AMSA contracted out T1 SAR operations to a single contractor (Aerorescue/Paspaly Aviation). As a result the AAP FLIR camera and SAR stores were returned to AMSA. This has left the heavily populated NSW coastline without a fixed wing T1 SAR capability.
The AAP currently conducts limited (Tier 4) SAR operations with mainly volunteer crew.
In 2001 the Australian Aerial Patrol acquired a local flying school (Wollongong Flight Training) and re-branded it as NSW Air. The flying school conducts flight training up to commercial level and also trains pilots for beach patrol/SAR operations.
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
patrols on the south coast of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia. The patrol was created in 1957 and is based at the Illawarra Regional Airport
Illawarra Regional Airport
Illawarra Regional Airport is an airport located 18 km southwest of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia.-Airport features:...
.
In the 1990s the Australian Aerial Patrol (AAP) became an accredited civil Search and Rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
(SAR) unit. The unit was equipped with a Partenavia PN-68-TC
Partenavia P.68
-See also:...
(VH-APH), a Cessna 402
Cessna 402
The Cessna 401 and 402 are series of 6 to 10 place, light twin, piston engine aircraft. This line was manufactured by Cessna from 1966 to 1985 under the name Utiliner and Businessliner...
and a C-182
Cessna 182
The Cessna 182 Skylane is an American four-seat, single-engine, light airplane, built by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. It has the option of adding two child seats, installed in the baggage area....
(VH-APN) for these operations. The AAP was involved in several major SAR operations throughout the 1990s including the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
The 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was the 54th annual running of the "blue water classic" Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It was hosted by the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia based in Sydney, New South Wales....
rescue and the rescue of the crew of the yacht 'Green Hornet' in 1999.
In 2002 The AAP became a tier 1 (first response) SAR unit and equipped with a Piper Chieftain
Piper PA-31 Navajo
The Piper PA-31 Navajo is a family of cabin-class, twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft for the general aviation market, most using Lycoming engines. It was also licence-built in a number of Latin American countries. Targeted at small-scale cargo and feeder liner operations and...
(VH-VRA). This aircraft was fitted with a Forward Looking Infrared
Forward looking infrared
Forward looking infrared cameras, typically used on military aircraft, use an imaging technology that senses infrared radiation.The sensors installed in forward looking infrared cameras, as well as those of other thermal imaging cameras, use detection of infrared radiation, typically emitted from a...
(FLIR) camera, leased from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Australian Maritime Safety Authority is responsible, on behalf of the Commonwealth Government of Australia, for the regulation and safety oversight of Australia's shipping fleet and management of Australia's international maritime obligations...
(AMSA). In 2006 AMSA contracted out T1 SAR operations to a single contractor (Aerorescue/Paspaly Aviation). As a result the AAP FLIR camera and SAR stores were returned to AMSA. This has left the heavily populated NSW coastline without a fixed wing T1 SAR capability.
The AAP currently conducts limited (Tier 4) SAR operations with mainly volunteer crew.
In 2001 the Australian Aerial Patrol acquired a local flying school (Wollongong Flight Training) and re-branded it as NSW Air. The flying school conducts flight training up to commercial level and also trains pilots for beach patrol/SAR operations.
Aircraft
- 1 x Cessna C-182PCessna 182The Cessna 182 Skylane is an American four-seat, single-engine, light airplane, built by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. It has the option of adding two child seats, installed in the baggage area....
- 1 x Partenavia PN-68TCPartenavia P.68-See also:...
- 1 x Piper PA-31Piper PA-31 NavajoThe Piper PA-31 Navajo is a family of cabin-class, twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft for the general aviation market, most using Lycoming engines. It was also licence-built in a number of Latin American countries. Targeted at small-scale cargo and feeder liner operations and...
- 3 x Cessna 152Cessna 152The Cessna 152 is an American two-seat, fixed tricycle gear, general aviation airplane, used primarily for flight training and personal use.-Development:...
- 1 x Cessna 172Cessna 172The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:...
- 1 x Beechcraft DuchessBeechcraft Duchess|-See also:-External links:*...
- 1 x Piper PA-28 ArrowPiper CherokeeThe Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of light aircraft designed for flight training, air taxi, and personal use. It is built by Piper Aircraft....
- 1 x Piper PA-38 TomahawkPiper PA-38 Tomahawk|-References:*Taylor, John W.R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.-External links:**-Related content:Comparable aircraft:* Aerotec Tangará* Alpha 2000 * Beechcraft Skipper...
External links
- http://www.aerialpatrol.com.au/index.pl?page=1
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/nsw/illawarra/200706/s1953903.htm
- http://www.study-travel-work-australia.com/shark-patrol-australia/