Demonstrator plane in emergency Cape Verde SAR op

Image: Library image (RUAG Aviation)

RUAG Aviation reported on 25 April how its Dornier 228 demonstrator plane was tasked for a SAR mission seven hours into its journey back to Germany from Brazil. The fixed-wing aircraft was flying over the Atlantic Ocean en route to its base at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany on 11 April, after completing its debut Latin America Demo Tour, when it was requested to assist in an emergency mission off the coast of Praia, Cape Verde. A missing kayaker was rescued successfully, despite poor visibility.

RUAG explained: “The [plane] was beginning its approach to the Praia airport when the air traffic control tower identified it as the sole aircraft in the vicinity capable of providing SAR assistance under the prevailing conditions. Low-lying cloud cover, darkening skies, plus the small size of the watercraft posed significant challenges. Once engaged, the aircraft continued its descent from its approach altitude of 10,000 ft to 1,000 ft to perform the expanding square search pattern.”

The operation took place off at 19:30 hrs. In total, the aircraft and crew accrued 40 additional flight minutes onto what had been a non-stop transAtlantic crossing. After completing a SAR flight pattern at two locations, the crew identified the rescue location after their instrumentation recorded a short distress signal and one crew member sighted a flare fired by the lone kayaker.

Commander Franz Huber, factory test pilot for RUAG Aviation, commented: “Once the tower relayed the co-ordinates, we programmed our flight management system (FMS) and began the programmed search pattern. When the location failed to reveal a SAR subject, the tower relayed an adjusted set of co-ordinates and we repeated the procedure there. Our sensors received a 20-second acoustic burst, providing our instrumentation with the necessary, final course adjustment.”