Flotilla 4-10 Air Operations

The United States Coast Guard has long been involved with aviation. Starting back in 1915, the Coast Guard used a Curtiss flying boat as the test of whether aviation was practical for search and rescue. Today, its one of the major components of the Search and Rescue missions of the Coast Guard.

Private pilots that fly for the Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteer their services and planes just as their Auxiliary brothers volunteer their boats and boating skills. In Flotilla 4-10, during the year 2004, there were 8 air observers, 5 pilots (one co-pilot, one first pilot and three aircraft commanders) and two operational air facilities. A total of 95 air missions were completed.

Flotilla 4-10 is very active in aviation related missions. Here is the list of the missions that our pilots normally fly:

• SAR Mission - Search and Rescue call out or the air equivalent to a vessel safety patrol. During an SAR mission, aircraft fly predetermined search patterns based on complex algorithms. These algorithms are based on last known or assumed position, wind, current, and type of vessel that is missing.

• Enforcement of Laws and Treaties - Air support of a Coast Guard mission to monitor major fishing areas.

• MEP Mission - Air support in the area of Marine Environmental Protection. Missions include support of locating and estimating sizes of oil slicks, and other environmental accidents.

• Logistics Mission - Transportation of personnel and equipment. Auxiliarists transport individuals for all types of Coast Guard support and humanitarian support.

• Training Mission - Training missions involving air operations, and coordination with land and surface vessels to hone those skills needed to support the aims and missions of the United States Coast Guard.

• VIP transportation, Area Familiarization for Coast Guard personnel.

• Safety Patrols and Search and Rescue Missions.

There is a new concentration on Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA). The objective is to spot and report unusual activities, commercial vessel movements and environmental problems. Missions are conducted with one or two pilots and an observer. The pilots concentrate on flying the aircraft and the observers reports and coordinates mission activities with the Coast Guard Station.

Auxiliary pilots and crews are, during an emergency call-out, available to lift off from their airfields on short notice on weekdays, and during boating season (weekends), are normally either in the air or at the airfield ready to fly. These men and women, like their boating counter-parts, volunteer their time and energy, and in many instances their aircraft to assist the Coast Guard. 

More information can be found at the Office of the Chief Director, Aviation Operations Branch - http://www.cgaux.info/g_ocx/missions/aviation-op-branch.html

	Pre-flight check off
	Auxiliary Facility N734UP