US Coast Guard receives 18th HC-144A Ocean Sentry

The 18th HC-144A Ocean Sentry maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) has been delivered to the US Coast Guard by Airbus Defense and Space (D&S), the company announced on 7 October.

The aircraft will join a fleet of Ocean Sentries operating from Coast Guard Air Stations in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Mobile, Alabama, Miami, Florida; and Corpus Christi, Texas, which retired its HU-25 Guardian MPA aircraft in favour of the HC-144 in September.

Mike Cosentino, president, Airbus D&S, said: ‘Airbus D&S is dedicated to supporting the US Coast Guard’s HC-144A fleet and will provide technical engineering services and spare parts for decades to come. The ease of maintenance and low operating costs have allowed the coast guard to achieve exceptional operational effectiveness and reliability with the HC-144A.

The Ocean Sentry is based on the Airbus D&S CN235 tactical airlifter. The coast guard operates the aircraft in a broad range of maritime patrol missions, including search and rescue, homeland security and disaster response.
 
The US Coast Guard’s Ocean Sentry fleet recently reached 50,000 flight hours.