Field Aviation completes Dash 8Q Maritime Patrol Aircraft contract for U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Field Aviation

Canadian Operations

Field Aviation designs, modifies and certifies aircraft for specialized roles across the globe. Our expertise is the missionization of commercial platforms for search and rescue, intelligence, surveillance and interdiction roles for both government and civilian customers.

We also develop system specific STCs for many different aircraft. Our capabilities include build-to-print parts manufacturing for aircraft OEMs and our own modifications. We are also a factory authorized repair, overhaul and sales center for many avionics equipment manufacturers.

Go to Field Aviation

Field Aerospace

U.S. Operations

Field Aerospace has more than 25 years of experience developing and delivering systems engineering and systems integration solutions to the U.S. government and aerospace and defense industry.

Through Field Aviation, we also provide engineering expertise spanning aircraft operations and avionics, test planning and execution, test instrumentation design and configuration, electrical and system design, as well as structural design and modification.

Go to Field Aerospace

Mississauga, Ontario | Dec. 15, 2009

Following a thorough evaluation of aircraft, sensors and modifiers, Field Aviation modified the first Dash 8 Series 200 MPA aircraft for CBP in 2004, and additional aircraft were subsequently ordered such that the fleet now consists of four Dash 8 Series 200s and three larger, Series 300 aircraft.

Field Aviation's role in this program has been to receive each aircraft as a standard commercial version from the manufacturer, modify the structure, interior, navigation and communications equipment as well as other systems so the sensor hardware and the mission management system could be installed by ATK Integrated Systems in the USA prior to final delivery to CBP.

Taking advantage of the arrangements that have already been established for exporting defence related products from Canada to the USA, all of the modified aircraft for CBP were contracted through the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC).

Field Aviation's chief operating officer, Joar Gronlund said, "This has been a very successful program for all parties involved, and a successful example of international cooperation. When CBP first started looking for Maritime Patrol Aircraft in this class, Field Aviation was able to show and demonstrate one of the early Dash 8 Series 200 aircraft before it was delivered to our customer in Australia; this original MPA concept including the structural modifications and the general layout has been the basis for each succeeding customer variant.

"Field Aviation has never stood still with its development of the Dash 8 MPA, and several new features were introduced to meet specific CBP requirements, such as combined observation windows/emergency exits and the 1,000 lbs. Maximum Take Off Weight increase," Gronlund added. "These improvements were subsequently incorporated into the Australian fleet when this was expanded and modernized in 2006 and 2007. We also ensured maximum commonality between CBP's first four Series 200 MPAs and their subsequent three, larger Series 300 MPAs."

The primary elements of the surveillance system for CBP's Dash 8 MPAs consist of Raytheon's SeaVue 2032I Search Radar, L-3 Wescam's MX-15 EO/IR turret feeding sensor information to ATK Integrated System's ISADS Mission Management System.

Field Aviation is internationally recognized for its unique engineered solutions and the modification and conversion of aircraft for special purpose applications. These capabilities have made Field a world leader in the adaptation of commercial aircraft for special mission use - ranging from flight inspection to electronic surveillance and maritime patrol. Maritime patrol aircraft that Field Aviation has modified are today flying with customers in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, Iceland, Japan, Sweden and USA.