Monday, 27th July 2009 - 06:01CET

AFM gets maritime patrol aircraft

Luxembourg is providing the Armed Forces of Malta's Air Wing with a leased CASA 212.CC maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) for use during the ongoing Frontex Operation ''Nautilus''.

The aircraft, which is due to arrive in Malta today, belongs to CAE Aviation of Luxemburg and will be flown from Luqa by an AFM crew under the supervision of an instructor from the firm.

Frontex is currently operating ''Nautilus'' in the central Mediterranean.

AFM senior pilots and technicians have been following training on this aircraft for the past few weeks.

The CASA 212 first flew in 1973 and is still in production. It is a highly successful and capable short take-off and landing aircraft which is operated worldwide by several air arms and civilian companies, mainly in the transport role. It is equipped with a powerful nose-mounted search radar, thermal imaging and homing equipment. A ramp at the rear makes it possible to drop survival equipment from the air.

The CASA 212 will be the largest fixed wing aircraft to be operated by the AFM.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Friday, July 30, 2010. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Daniel Tabone(on 1/8/09)

In my opinion, it is essential that the government invests on a highly trained SAR force with modern and more reliable equipment, with the priority being SAR and coastal patrol, not armed forces, given that Malta is simply an island surrounded by water and so in need for safe waters. The influx of illegal immigration and the Simshar tragedy are good examples of this need to upgrade our air and maritime patrol squadron.

tonio mercieca(on 29/7/09)

Well done to Luxemborg for its support in this matter, this countrry has given the AFM the opportunity to enhance its capabilities. SAR night and day equipment is badly needed for Malta not just air assetts but sea going assets as well. The Diciotti class offshore boat the AFM possess is mostly disabled at Ta' Xbiex so another true offshore vessel is needed. I do hope this temporary acquisition of this C212 encourages the Government to acquire a permanent C212 for the AFM, through EU funding, it's our money as well. Not just for irregular migrant trafficing but for fisheries, long distance patroling and SAR day and night. The Shimshar tragedy badly highlighted this requirement.

I add my praise for the good work the AFM does with mostly outdated equipment.

Alexander Azzopardi (on 28/7/09)

is it posible that the afm to have a suitable aircraft we had to bring it on loan ..uwejja qas biex nixtru ajruplan ???

the the afm air division really need an upgrade u mhux bi ftit !!!!
Only God Knows how many ilegal things pass from our teritorial waters and how can we stop this ?? with the alluotte or how it is called ? Im not pretending that malta purchase the euro typhoon or f16 but @ least a Light attack aircrafts and a modern Maritime patrol aircraft

its a fact that being a member in eu got its risks too ..

Joseph Tonna(on 27/7/09)

Bil-Malti najdu nazqu fl-ilma u hekk rega sar hawn.
L-AFM ma jonqosa xejn issa , il Mediterran salva gwardjat !
Il-Maltin mohhom mistrieh issa meta jkunu reqdin fis-satra tal-lejl, ghax mhux se jaslu immigranti illegali aktar :)
Frontex is a Big Hole in the Bucket ! Frontes is a free phone taxi !

Alexander Brincat(on 27/7/09)

FRONTEX is a huge political mess. No doubt about that. Fewer immigrants arrivals only resulted because Italy has taken a stand against a huge influx of alien, non-Italian resident people. FRONTEX never worked and never will work in the future. Having said that the aircraft is a very good opportunity for maltese pilots to get more experience and flying hours on such type of aircraft as well as increasing more co-operation with their European counterparts. Actually it is high time for the government to plan on purchasing some higher powered aircraft for use by the AFM. The existing helicopters are good for patrol and should be well maintained and retained in the inventory. But the bulldog aircraft are not the type any government would equip its air squadron. Most of the AFM pilots are fine pilots with loads of experience and can (deserve to) fly better aircraft. Well done to AFM pilots and keep up the good work. 9H-ABW

Joanne Micallef(on 27/7/09)

A much needed aircraft I'm sure, seeing that the AFM lack such valuable assets it would have been better if the aircraft was donated though.

Chris A. Park(on 27/7/09)

I am surprised how readers have reacted negatively, apparently, at this piece of fine news. Coupled with the German Border Police Puma-helicopters, Malta has two states in the UE who truly appreciate Malta's predicament, given its accident of geography.

Surely, but steadily, Malta's voice has been heard and repeatdely stronger than ever each time, each time it raised illegal migration issues and the woes of the nation in the various EU fora. The successes and achievements of the Maltese Government and its MEPs are the envy of a couple other EU states afflicted by these migration flows, and no better example was the bad foul rhetoric fired up my the Italian Interiors Minister Maroni, later feebly supported by former EU Commissioner and Foreign Affairs Minister Franco Frattini.

Bottom line remains the same always: engage Libya forcibly and coercively. It's pointless bitching, moaning and whining at local levels here on this and that, the main problems are on the shores of Africa and beyond inland.

Joseph Sammut (Ta' Harrbat)(on 27/7/09)

Two things should be pointed out so far to those bloggers here responding to this piece of good news:

a. the aircraft is here TEMPORARILY, not donated to AFM or taken on its inventory. This till the end of FRONTEX's Joint Operation 'Nautilus' 2009 !!

b. Luxembourg is a LAND-LOCKED country, not having coastal waters means it HASN'T any naval assets to send and assist the AFM Maritime Squadron.

If such gestures of support and solidarity by EU states and/ or FRONTEX are deemed by bloggers here as feable measures to shut the Maltese up, then most of your website readers miserably fail to appreciate the bigger picture of the illegal migration phenomenon at the EU's external borders. Just look at the daily saga of illegal immigration Greece, for instance, has to face on its land borders with Albania, Rumania and Bulgaria, besides those bordering islands with Turkey.

Bloggers out to read more (to be better in the know) before mouthing-off in print here, like keyboard warriors or armchair critics!

Michael Seychell(on 27/7/09)

If it is bad or negative news we moan very dismally using the most low language.

If it is good news we moan with lesser force

How right were the Brits when they nicknamed us - Maltese Gemgem !

ichael Seychell

Sandro Pace(on 27/7/09)

Anything that will not deter, punish, neutralise or destroy motherships and their crews, will not keep immigration at bay.

If this aircraft directly or indirectly achieve this purpose, than it is a welcome gift. Frontex should have been a war of attrition on traffickers. Making this business unworthy, and immigrants being on their ships at their own risk. But apparently this does not fit with the effeminate North European and the european socialist mindset in general, to our detriment.

D Schembri(on 27/7/09)

We should appreciate what we are given.
These people have not only given AFM an Aircraft but they have provided highly qualified tutors to train pilots and technicians.

We should also appreciate OUR soldiers dedication!!!

@ M Anastasi
If you look into how many immigrants arrived this year compared to last year you will see the result of what you call Europe shutting us up!
The survival equipment on Casa 212 CC also can be used for other illegal matters.
So dont mock it if you dont understand it.

David Stephen Ganado(on 27/7/09)

Once again someone has to moan about a positive thing!
This aircraft has much better autonomy and equipment than the planes we currently have! it can only help our Maritime squad do the job more efficiently.

Anthony A. Mifsud(on 27/7/09)

Mr. Farrugia,
Think positive, this aircraft is suberb, low flying and it can fly to stoll speed, you know snail pace.
Having said that, being low level fixed wing it well could be a deterrent to keep the migration at bay.

Ninu

Chev Chris Galea(on 27/7/09)

Compliments to Malta for this new aquisition. The AFM badly needed such equipment for long distance patrols. I am sure Malta can operate this aircraft as we always had capable and experienced personnel to serve the country. For centuries the Maltese soldier was praised for his ability and strength.

Also how about a new AIR AMBULANCE helicopter for SAR and MEDEVAC operations from GOZO ?? Thank you

m anastasi(on 27/7/09)

This is Europe giving us toys to shut us up.
Now that we have more search & rescue they're telling us we have the resources to take in illegal immigrants.

J.Azzopardi(on 27/7/09)

One sore point - This plane won't stop illegal immigration ! If it manages to detect illegal boats in Libyan waters and Frontex can coordinate with the Libyans to stop such a boat then good, yet very very doubtful considering the typical Libyan reaction time warp. The bigger question is what happens when that boat is spotted within an inch into Malta's vast sea rescue area ?

Joseph E Briffa(on 27/7/09)

When are we going to change this mentality of ours that the world owes us a living? If Brussels had to send its own people we would say they are taking our jobs, don't we? We have to do our bit as much as everybody else instead of grumbling and moaning and sulking. Malta won in WWII because the Maltese took a very active part in the war and did not just lie back and let the Brits do everything for us. I am afraid that today's Maltese do not have the fibre of their ancestors who were made of sterner stuff.

J Farrugia(on 27/7/09)

This is truly hot. Instead of sending personnel to help the AFM, they take more resources from the AFM to fly their aeroplane. Where are the other foreign forces operating Frontex? Frontex is a whole mess. They think that by sending us a plane they are stopping illegal immigration. For their information we already have 2 patrol aircraft thank you very much. We need Luxembourg to send its own forces to patrol the sea not our units.

AFM gets maritime patrol aircraft

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