“The class of 07”
From left to right: Serge Leger, Christer Colliander, Mac McGregor, Ralph Hilchie, Scott Payment, Yves Sivret ,all Operators. Standing on the stairway: Chad Achtemichuk (top) and Andre Vautour, both Pilots.Absent at this occasion: Doug Zahody, Pilot, and Louis Armstrong,Operator

During three weeks in January and February 2007, the Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) carried out the contractual System Operator Training included in the delivery of each SSC maritime surveillance system. As reported earlier, the first MSS 6000 system was delivered to Canada in 2006 and another will be delivered in 2007. (For background information, see previous news releases 2006-12-04, 2006-11-10, 2005-12-04, 2004-12-23). The training took place at the base in Moncton and over the North Atlantic Ocean. The training followed SSC’s standard syllabus, as always adapted to accommodate for the special configuration and operational requirements of each user.

The three week training program covered the basic operational and technical considerations to be taken when planning and executing maritime surveillance missions, as well as utilizing the capabilities of the MSS 6000, which now also include the Wescam MX-15 Electro-optical Infrared Camera System (EO/IR) commonly known as a FLIR, the MDF-124 F direction finder and the EMS high speed SATCOM.

A final week dedicated for the training of maintenance engineers is scheduled for early spring. Some of the maintenance personnel attended parts of the Operator training in order to establish a common understanding of the mission equipment.

An important component of the operational training is the establishment of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), for various types of incidents that the air crews are likely to encounter. These are established jointly, based on SSC’s long experience of airborne maritime surveillance in different environments around the world and deep understanding of the technologies that are applied, and on the user’s thorough understanding of local requirements, local marine and maritime conditions as well as the legal framework regulating the operations. Careful pre-flight briefing, in-flight hands on practice and thorough post-flight de-briefing are essential elements of this training strategy. Simulations of realistic scenarios during day and night conditions gave excellent results, and the teamwork within the air crews evolved rapidly with growing experience. Transport Canada now has a very powerful tool at its disposal, comprising aircraft, mission equipment and dedicated, experienced pilots and system operators.

For further information, please contact Christer Colliander, Airborne Systems Division, tel +46 8 627 63 28.

Pre-flight weather briefing


Getting ready for night patrol


100% concentration during night patrol