Cobham to Maintain Australian Search, Rescue Planes; Peter Nottage Comments

Cobham will work with Australia’s maritime safety agency to prepare, modify and operate four Bombardier Challenger CL-604 jets for search-and-rescue functions under a potential 15-year, $616 million contract.

The company said Friday it will install new sensors, air-operable doors and high-vision windows on the aircraft and support operations with air crews that contain a captain, first officer, visual search officer, electronic search observer and aircraft mission coordinator.

AMSA intends to use the aircraft to deliver survival equipment, locate missing people and activated distress beacons and support communications during an incident, Cobham said.

Peter Nottage, sector president of Cobham’s aviation services segment, said the Mission Management and Communications System included in the contract leverages electronic sensors and broadband satellite connectivity to support video, audio and image sharing between the jet and a rescue coordination center in Canberra, Australia.

Cobham said it will perform the modifications at its Australian facilities in Adelaide, while the aircraft will operate out of Cairns, Melbourne and Perth.