A Coast Guard Air Station (abbreviated as CGAS or AirSta ) provides aviation support for the United States Coast Guard . The Coast Guard operates approximately 210 aircraft from 24 Coast Guard Air Stations in the United States. Fixed-wing aircraft, such as the HC-130 Hercules , are built for long range missions and operate from air stations. The air stations and facilities are also home to locally based MH-65D Dolphin and Sikorsky HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters and support rotor craft assigned to flight deck equipped cutters .
6-455: Unlike Coast Guard Boat Stations, which are subordinate to Sector Commanders , the commanding officer of a Coast Guard Air Station reports to the appropriate District Commander. Air stations are typically commanded by an officer with the rank of captain . Air station planning and overall aviation policies are under the oversight of the Office of Aviation Forces (CG-711), which in turn reports to
12-995: A permanently assigned crew and accommodations for the extended support of that crew. The Coast Guard operates about 1,402 boats, defined as any vessel less than 65 feet (20 meters) in length, which generally operate near shore and on inland waterways. The most common is 25 feet (7.6 m) long, of which the Guard has more than 350. The shortest is 13 feet (4.0 m). The Coast Guard operates about 210 aircraft. Fixed-wing aircraft, such as Lockheed HC-130 Hercules turboprops , operate from Air Stations on long-duration missions. Helicopters ( Aérospatiale HH-65 Dolphin and Sikorsky HH-60J Jayhawk ) operate from Air Stations, Air Facilities, and flight-deck equipped cutters, and can rescue people or intercept smuggling vessels. Some special MH- designated helicopters are armed with guns and some are equipped with armor to protect against small arms fire. The Coast Guard flies several aircraft types: The Coast Guard
18-470: A wide geographical area using very high frequency and high frequency radios. There are eight major radio stations covering long-range transmissions and an extensive network of VHF radio stations along the nation's coastline and inland rivers. The current communication system is the Rescue 21 . Rescue 21 is an advanced maritime command, control, and communications (C3) system. The OMEGA navigation system and
24-605: The Assistant Commandant for Capability. 42. https://cgaviationhistory.org/1969-coast-guard-air-station-chicago-established/ List of equipment of the United States Coast Guard#Boats Originally, the Coast Guard used the term cutter in its traditional sense, as a type of small sailing ship. Larger cutters, over 181 feet (55 m) in length, are controlled by Area Commands,
30-572: The Atlantic Area or Pacific Area. Smaller cutters come under control of district commands. Cutters usually carry a motor surf boat and/or a rigid-hulled inflatable boat . Polar-class icebreakers (WAGB) carry an Arctic survey boat (ASB) and landing craft. Any Coast Guard crew with officers or petty officers assigned has law-enforcement authority (14 USC Sec. 89) and can conduct armed boardings. The Coast Guard operates 243 Cutters, defined as any vessel more than 65 feet (20 m) long, that has
36-622: Was to purchase the Bell Eagle Eye UAV as part of the Deepwater program, but this has been cancelled. The Coast Guard is currently preparing to launch a small UAS competition for the Legend-class NSC and future Heritage-class cutter. In addition to regular Coast Guard aircraft, privately owned general aviation aircraft are used by Coast Guard Auxiliarists for patrols and search-and-rescue missions. Coast Guard radio stations cover
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