Coast Guard Aviation will continue to support all of the many varied missions of the Coast Guard, providing the President and the Secretary of Transportation with the capability to respond to any maritime scenario or national emergency in the maritime environment. Applied research, development, test, and evaluation will continually introduce emerging technologies and innovative methods to accomplish this goal.

The Coast Guard has four main roles: maritime law enforcement, maritime safety, national defense and marine environmental protection. These roles all contribute to our national security¾ our people, our territory, and our way of life. The Coast Guard has the primary authority to enforce all applicable federal laws and to ensure the safety of persons on, over, and under the high seas and adjacent waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Additionally, the Coast Guard enforces applicable international agreements. To do this, the Coast Guard employs an operating force of multi-mission aircraft, cutters, and boats. The service’s multi-mission approach permits a relatively small organization to respond to public needs in a wide variety of maritime activities and to shift emphasis as needs indicate. A CG aircraft may search for and assist distressed vessels, evacuate injured people, conduct pollution detection and surveillance flights, report sightings in conjunction with law enforcement, or carry out the mission of the International Ice Patrol.

Further, the Coast Guard is, under Title 14, U.S. Code, "At all times an armed force of the United States." The Coast Guard is organizationally in the Department of Transportation, but, in time of war, or by presidential decree, reports to the U.S. Navy, providing services to the Department of Defense. Although the Coast Guard is the smallest U.S. Armed Service, it is the twelfth largest navy, in number of vessels, in the world, and operates the world’s seventh largest naval air force. The following tables show the breakout of personnel and the budget, as of September 1995.

The Coast Guard presently operates 202 aircraft, which are primarily of four types. The American Eurocopter HH-65A Dauphin serves as a short-range recovery (SRR) asset. The medium-range recovery aircraft is the Sikorsky HH-60J Jayhawk. Dassault’s HU-25A/B/C Guardian is utilized for medium-range surveillance (MRS), and Lockheed HC-130H Hercules fill the role of a long-range surveillance (LRS) aircraft. In addition, 2 Schweitzer RG-8A motor-gliders are operated as special-use surveillance aircraft, a Gulfstream VC-4A is used for special-use cargo, and a Gulfstream C-20B is used for long-range command and control. The Coast Guard Auxiliary (a civilian volunteer assistance group) operates 206 various aircraft to assist with Coast Guard missions.

The Coast Guard operates its aircraft from 26 Air Stations throughout CONUS, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Alaska (Figure 1).

- Figure 1 -

Six part-time Air Detachments are also supported by a nearby Air Station. These are located in Chicago, IL; Charleston, SC; Newport, OR; Cold Bay, AK; Great Inagua Island, Bahamas; and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Aircraft in the Coast Guard inventory have a planned service life of 20 years. The current project for each aircraft type’s planned service life is shown below (Figure 2). The concept of Planned Service Life (PSL) includes a trigger to initiate a proactive analysis of mission needs prior to the end of asset life. Another element of the PSL concept is to evaluate the capability of the asset to meet designed mission needs. This assessment is currently accomplished through the mission analysis process.

- Figure 2 -

The fleet of 30 HC-130s was built between 1972 and 1987. An LRS mission analysis is scheduled to begin in 1997. This would lead to Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for a replacement aircraft in 2004 and project completion in 2009. A service life assessment program is in the developmental stages, however. The program will assess the fleet condition and develop cost/benefit data to assist in fleet rehabilitation and future acquisition decisions. Fleet improvements including Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Global Positioning System (GPS), and power plant conversions (to a standard engine series) are in progress. An electrical power upgrade, to improve the quality of onboard electrical power, is under consideration.

The original fleet of 41 HU-25s has already been reduced by six, with a further reduction of 12 aircraft planned by 1996. A mission analysis for MRR replacement is scheduled to begin in 1997. IOC would occur in 2001, and the project should be complete in 2005. Ongoing initiatives include engine high pressure turbine reliability improvement, TCAS, GPS, RNAV software upgrades, and an FLIR relocation effort.

The HH-65A planned service life would end in 2006. An SRR mission analysis is scheduled to begin in 2000. IOC would follow in 2004, with the project complete in 2008. A Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), including updated avionics, increased payload, and increased power from the LTS-101 engines, is being evaluated for the HH-65A. If implemented, the SLEP will extend Coast Guard HH-65 operations through 2015. Efforts are already underway to upgrade the HH-65A fleet by adding an NVG compatible cockpit, TCAS, GPS, an upgraded Environmental Control System utilizing R-134, a refrigerant, and an upgraded main gear box to increase payload.

The HH-60J is the Coast Guard’s newest aircraft. Deliveries are still in progress with the last of 42 aircraft scheduled for delivery in March 1996. Long range planning for replacement would begin with a mission analysis in 2005, followed by IOC in about 2010. Improvements now in progress include Tactical Data Processor software upgrade, TCAS, Cockpit Voice/Flight Data Recorder, Mission Data Loader, and engine upgrades. Future aircraft improvements will primarily be driven and coordinated by Joint Services H-60 TEAMHAWK Work Group Initiatives. Cockpit air bag systems, common electronic technical publication systems, vibration absorber systems, and improved communications are under consideration.