IS AMPHIBIAN AIRCRAFT A VIABLE OPTION FOR SEARCH & RESCUE AND MARITIME RECONNAISSANCE OPERATIONS IN SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka being the 25th largest island of the world having a land area of 65,610 Square kilometers is surrounded by the sea possessing 1,585 km of coast line full of pristine beaches. The territorial waters of Sri Lanka extend 12 nautical miles in to sea from the baseline as per the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Exclusive Economic Zone extends for 200 nautical miles from the boundary of the territorial waters. Hence, Sri Lanka is having exclusive rights of exploiting the maritime resources of 517,000 square kilometers large sea area which is 8 times larger than the land area. There is no doubt that reaching economic prosperity of Sri Lanka depends upon exploiting its maritime resources. If the Sri Lankan claim for extended exclusive economic zone is accepted, it owns 1,400,000 square kilometers of sea area which is 23 times of its land mass. The living resources, exploitable minerals and hydrocarbons would be the treasures for Sri Lanka while promotion of oceanic recreational facilities further enhances the opportunity. As such, securing this enormous resource is of vital importance to Sri Lanka. In addition, the strategic location of Sri Lanka close to the international shipping line through which more than 70,000 ships navigate annually close to the southern coast provides the country with great promise of prosperity as a naval hub.

According to the statistics of Ministry of Fisheries updated for the year 2014, there are 4,447 offshore multi day boats, 876 Inboard single day boats, 23,982 outboard motor FRP boats, 2,720 motorized traditional boats, 21,963 non-motorized traditional boats are operated by the fishing community in Sri Lanka. Other than that 1174 beach seines (ma-dels) are also operated. It means that more than 200,000 people are out at sea on daily basis at anytime as well. In fact, the Sri Lankan Navy and Coast Guard are also operating vessels in Sea with crews in large number in addition to the merchant ship traffic.

Other than the marine vessels, there were 51,897 scheduled aircraft and 3,391 non-scheduled aircraft operated in and out of Sri Lanka over the sea with movement of approximately 8 million passengers in the year 2014 according to the statistics of Department of Civil Aviation. This number is growing up on daily basis. Other than that there is an average of 20000 aircraft over flying Sri Lanka annually ferrying millions of passengers through the Colombo Flight Information Region which is sixty times larger than the land area and extends in to the sea. Hence, there is an inherent demand for a mechanism of maritime search and rescue operations in Sri Lanka which needs quick response.

Search and Rescue during an aircraft crash on the Ocean.

In addition to the passenger transit and fishing activities which involves presence of human lives over and above the seas off Sri Lanka in large numbers at any given time, Sri Lankan EEZ is vulnerable to poachers who exploit our own resources at sea and illegal dumping of waste material. Human trafficking, drugs smuggling, illegal trade activities, piracy and so on demands actions to prevent such crimes at sea as well. Humanitarian assistance for crews in distress at sea, evacuation of patients and crews from off shore platforms are few of the other tasks in hand with drilling for oil and gas in Sri Lankan EEZ. Maritime Patrolling and Search & Rescue facilities are therefore a mandatory aspect that Sri Lanka should look into considering the prevailing situation in the World. Crashing of Malaysian airlines MH 370 is an eye opener for Sri Lanka to augment search and rescue facilities in Sri Lanka.

CL-215 is also used for Fire fighting activities. 

Sri Lanka is bound to assist the ships and aircraft in distress within its Maritime Rescue Zone.   The Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) and the Air Rescue Coordination Center (ARCC) are the two main institutions that manage search and rescue (SAR) activities in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force are the two institutions which are capable of assisting these two SAR centers with limited resources. Sri Lanka Navy has only three off shore patrol vessels (OPV) with on board heli pad. However, these OPVs have been purchased without the helicopters.  Sri Lanka Air Force does not possess a dedicated Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft Squadron after phasing out of Cessna 337 aircraft in the 90s. The medium lift fixed wing transport aircraft of its inventory are the only available aerial platforms capable of maritime patrol with only spotting and information relaying facilities minus attack or rescue facilities. Use of Sri Lanka Air Force helicopters over sea is also limited due to inadequacy of emergency floats fitted into it. However, the range of helicopters limits its operation in the sea. Further, exchange of bordering countries maritime reconnaissance intelligence and request for SAR assistance are also limited as it involves diplomatic issues. Hence, developing of own maritime reconnaissance and SAR capability is a viable option for the island nation.

The inherited characteristics of naval and air platforms also demands a blend of both capabilities in maritime reconnaissance and search and rescue missions. The ability of the naval crafts to have higher tonnage, fuel capacity and range with on board facilities like medical care, cooking facilities, accommodation, weaponry, sensing equipment and so on together with high endurance and loitering time in Sea have an edge over its air counter parts. However, speed and sea conditions limit the response of naval vessels reaching the target area and much needed quick response. The aerial platforms which exploits the third dimension possesses its unique characteristics of speed, reach and height together with additional strengths of ubiquity, agility and concentration which enable quick response in maritime reconnaissance and search & rescue missions (SAR &MR). Speed allows the SAR & MR missions to respond quickly and to reach the destination fast. Height allows to observe a long range from naked eye from the third dimension; i.e. Air, and to gather information from extended range through sensors like RADAR. Omni presence everywhere when needed during deployment, nimbleness and focusing of deployed task would add  the value of using aerial platform in SAR & MR. However, inability to be air indefinitely, limited payload, cost of acquisition and maintenance, fragility and requirement of support bases limit the use of aerial platforms. Hence, augmenting of both capabilities are much needed to secure the sea covered by EEZ and Colombo FIR.

There is no doubt that Navy should be strengthened with blue water capability of providing more off shore patrol vessels in addition to fortifying the brown water capability with fast attack crafts. Air Force is to be provided with a squadron of dedicated maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Even though it demands a huge sum of tax payers’ contribution to the Government, it is an hour of need considering the facts enumerated above. Induction of flying boats known as amphibian aircraft which can land in sea and on runway would be an ideal choice to exercise coordinated effort of Navy and Air Force to achieve much needed quick response.

Japanese Shinmaywa US-2

Japan Maritime Self Defence Force operates ShinMaywa US-2 short takeoff and landing amphibian aircraft for search and rescue operations and maritime patrolling. This long range amphibian aircraft is tipped to be acquired by the Indian Navy as well according to the web reports. It has a crew of 11 and capacity of 20 passengers or 12 stretchers. ShinMaywa US-2 47 tonne aircraft has a maximum speed of 560 kmph with a range of 4700 km. It has an endurance of 10 hours which results in higher loitering time. Hence it can reach anywhere in the Indian Ocean region within a short time and not limited by sea state or range. It can land on ground with full load on a 1500 meter long runway and can take off with same weight within 490 meters. It uses only 280 m on water to take off with loaded weight and can landing distance on water is 330 meters. It also can land and take off in high sea state with 3 meters high sea waves. This four engined turbo prop aircraft is also a proven reliable SAR & MR aircraft presently operated by 31st Fleet Air Wing of the Japanese Self Defence Forces. It is therefore an ideal high performance versatile platform for long range search & rescue and maritime reconnaissance purposes.

Harbin SH-5 in Flight

Chinese built Harbin SH-5 is a quite old amphibian aircraft produced in 1984-1985. It produced only 7 aircraft and in operation with People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force for air sea rescue and anti submarine warfare. Canadair CL-215, Bombardier 415, Beriev BE-200 are some of the other amphibious aircraft in operation of the World. Deployment of Catalina amphibian aircraft during the World War II from then RAF Base in Koggala for maritime reconnaissance missions and early warning provides historical evidence of suitability of this type of aircraft for Sri Lanka.

Catalina Amphibious Aircraft was heavily used by RAF
during World War II, operated from the lagoons of Koggala

In conclusion, it is pertinent to state that introduction of amphibian aircraft will open up a new dimension in flying operations in Sri Lanka while augmenting the maritime patrol and SAR capability of the island nation with a large maritime area. This type of aircraft would be able to access any point in the Sri Lankan EEZ and the Colombo FIR to perform the roles of long range combat search and rescue, long range maritime reconnaissance, shore to ship/platform or ship to ship transport and other humanitarian and disaster relief missions. It will certainly enhance the quick response required by SAR while providing wider observation facility and reporting required by maritime reconnaissance.