CLEVELAND - The U.S. Coast Guard's newest aircraft, the HC-144A Ocean Sentry, landed here at Burke Lakefront Airport on Monday.

The medium-range surveillance aircraft is in the Great Lakes Region to conduct operational testing.

The HC-144A, part of the Coast Guard's Deepwater Major Acquisition Program, will replace the Service's aging fleet of HU-25 Falcon jets.  The fixed-wing turbo prop aircraft will perform various missions including maritime patrols, law enforcement, search and rescue, disaster response, and cargo and personnel transport.

Previously delivered HC-144A aircraft already have proven their capabilities in the field. During a routine training flight on Feb. 20, 2008, an HC-144A was diverted to assist with a search-and-rescue mission following the collision of two Air Force F-15 aircraft over the Gulf of Mexico. The HC-144A quickly became the on-scene rescue coordinator and successfully led a multi-agency rescue mission, which included assets from the Coast Guard, the Department of Defense, and civilian partners.

The HC-144A also provided invaluable reconnaissance capabilities during the Midwestern floods on June 19, 2008, when it assisted Coast Guard and local government officials in determining where response and recovery resources should be utilized in the ongoing flood relief efforts. In both cases, the HC-144A's range, loitering capability, endurance, and passenger capacity met the requirements of the mission, demonstrating that the HC-144A is well-matched to the multi-mission Coast Guard it will serve.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 04 November 2008 )