The Armed Forces of Malta’s Air Wing this afternoon received its second Hawker Beech King Air B200 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), as part of a project that has been co-financed by the European Union’s External Borders Fund (EBF) 2007 – 2013.

The External Borders Fund establishes a financial solidarity mechanism to support States who endure, for the benefit of the Community, a lasting and heavy financial burden arising from the implementation of common standards on control and surveillance of external borders and visa policy.

The MPA flew in from the firm Aerodata’s facility in Braunschweig near Berlin, Germany, piloted by Captain Klaus Kuehl, the German firm’s delivery pilot and Major George Abela, escorted into Maltese airspace by its ‘elder sister’, AS1126 flown by Major Mark Said and Lieutenant Pierre Carabez. The aircraft was flown a thousand nautical miles directly from Braunschweig to Luqa in under four hours.

The MPA project of the EU’s EBF comprised the procurement of a fixed wing maritime patrol aircraft, training for pilots, aircraft technicians and mission system operators and a field support package for the aircraft and equipment

The King Air MPA is operated by a crew of five: two pilots, a mission system operator and two observers, who are also trained as mission system operators. The general arrangement of the aircraft also includes a small galley, toilet and air conditioning. Communications include internet, discreet satellite phone and high frequency radio at each occupant seat.

The AFM Air Wing’s two MPAs are designed to be mainly employed for surveillance, border control, fisheries protection and Search and Rescue. The King Air type of aircraft is a well proven and tested design with more than 6,000 examples sold worldwide and operated in various different configurations by other law enforcement agencies and military services.

Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-42 engines of 850 shaft horse power rating each propel the aircraft at a maximum operating speed of 260 knots and up to a maximum altitude of 28,000 feet. The aircraft is also equipped with a drop hatch for delivery of survival equipment.

The Mission system operator’s station has all the required communication equipment necessary for the aircraft to act as a Search and Rescue on scene command and control platform in conjunction with other air, naval and land assets. All imagery and communication data is recorded and may be forwarded real time to other assets via internet or on the radio frequencies.

AFM fixed wing pilots and technical personnel have received training at Flight Safety International training facilities in Wichita, Kansas, United States of America, where the training focused on the operations and maintenance of the King Air B200 aircraft in basic configuration. The Maltese pilots underwent flight training in an all-moving simulator. Specialised training last year was also provided to two instructor pilots, technicians and mission systems operators at the Braunschweig facility of Aerodata on the aircraft in the maritime patrol configuration. This included the use of the electro optical and infra red camera, 360° belly-mounted search radar, direction finding equipment and various other communications and surveillance systems.

To support these new aircraft the AFM is currently building a new hangar. This is another project that is co-financed through EBF with an investment of over € 1.5m.

The official roll-out ceremony of this second AFM Air Wing King Air MPA is scheduled to be held in some three weeks time.

Photos – Estelle Calleja.

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