Belgian Defence sold 6 remaining Britten Norman Islanders

Post by **ElcoB** » 07 Jun 2006, 16:01

http://www.mil.be/def/news/index.asp?LAN=nl&ID=554(Dutch)
http://www.mil.be/def/news/index.asp?LAN=fr&ID=554(French)

airazurxtror · Post by **airazurxtror** » 07 Jun 2006, 16:46

One of the military BN Islanders has been bought by the "Unité de Gestion de la Mer du Nord" (North Sea Management Unit), according to an article in the Belgian newspaper "Le Soir" this morning.
This aircraft was built in 1976.
From 1991 to 2004, the Army (Light Aviation school of Brasschaat) had already put it at disposal for North Sea survey.
It has then been thoroughly overhauled in England.
The pilots are military; but the scientific instruments are manned by civilian personnel of the UGMN.
There is a picture of this Islander. It is painted white, with orange nose, tail and rear belly.
One can see only the three last letters of the reg, which are MMM. I guess it is thus OO-MMM.

Andries · Post by **Andries** » 07 Jun 2006, 17:24

Image by Tom Houquet

Greetz,

Andries

Post by **ElcoB** » 07 Jun 2006, 21:13

These tubes are the antennas for SLAR : Side Looking Airborne Radar.
This permits to 'see' hydrocarbons on the sea surface from 20 km away.
More info in detail (Dutch,French, English) :http://www.mumm.ac.be/NL/Monitoring/Air ... ethods.php

Fantom · Post by **Fantom** » 11 Jun 2006, 10:30

airazurxtror wrote:One can see only the three last letters of the reg, which are MMM. I guess it is thus OO-MMM.

You are fully correct. The call sign is "MMM" which actually is an inside joke: It is the abreviation for Maritiem Mathematisch Model.
Grtz

Lyulka · Post by **Lyulka** » 11 Jun 2006, 10:55

What aircraft will take over the tasks performed by the Islanders?

Post by **ElcoB** » 11 Jun 2006, 11:36

Indeed, the Islanders belonged to 'Groepering Lichte Vliegwezen' which was part of the army (not Airforce).
In March 2004, with the reorganization of the Belgian armed forces, the name was changed to 'Wing Helicopters" and came under the command of the Air Component.
There are no more fixed wing planes in that wing, they have now the Alouette II and the A-109.
The new NH-90 will also (2012?) integrated .

Fantom · Post by **Fantom** » 11 Jun 2006, 14:06

The OO-MMM is in fact the former OTA-LB (tailnr B02), which had a complete overhaul and a new paintjob at Bembridge (Pilatus Britten Norman). The aircraft is now again "as good as new" and will continue to provide polution control and fishery control over the north sea. The pilots are still military. The aircraft will be stationed at EBAW.

Fantom · Post by **Fantom** » 11 Jun 2006, 14:09

The alouette 2 helicopters will be used until end of 2007. There is no replacement for these aircraft.
The NH90 should arrive at EBFN from 2009 on. (That is if everything works according to plan). 4 airframes will be used in the naval role (SAR and Marine support) and 6 airframes will be used for "Land Ops"

Bilboone · Post by **Bilboone** » 18 Jun 2006, 10:25

The eye on the North Sea - North Sea Aerial Survey in Belgium

Bilboone · Post by **Bilboone** » 18 Jun 2006, 10:34

BAHA special feature "Islanders For Sale" with some pictures