The Regional Security System (RSS) Air Wing has been at the forefront of Maritime Counter Drug (CD) surveillance in the Eastern Caribbean since February 2001 when one of two C-26A aircraft was delivered to the RSS Air Wing fitted with a full suite of sensor equipment significantly enhancing the maritime surveillance capability in the region. Flight operations had been ongoing since January 1999 however, when the first Aircraft without a sensor package was delivered to Barbados. The RSS Air Wing currently operates two Sensor fitted C-26A surveillance aircraft in support of RSS Member States.

The precedent for the donation of the two aircraft was set in the aftermath of a visit to the region by then President Clinton in 1996 under the auspices of a Presidential Draw down. Under the agreement two aircrafts were to be donated to the Regional Security System by the United States for use in Counter Drug (CD) operations in the Eastern Caribbean.

The first aircraft was handed over by then US Ambassador to Barbados Mr. William Crotty to the Prime-Minister of Barbados, the Rt. Hon Owen Arthur, at a ceremony held on the South Ramp of the Grantley Adams International Airport.  During the same period the second aircraft was delivered to Provincial Airlines in St. John’s Newfoundland to be retrofitted with a sensor package. This aircraft was subsequently delivered from St. John’s to Barbados on 10 January 01, and officially handed over to Senator Glyne Murray, the representative of the Barbados Government, by Ambassador Dailey, US Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

Nearing Eleven years of flight operations primarily dedicated to maritime Counter Drug operations in the Eastern Caribbean, the Air wing has logged more than 11,000 flight hours in support of RSS Member State Coast Guard and law enforcement, and International agencies.  To the end of Mar 10 the Air Wing had conducted 2094 maritime Counter Drug missions resulting in the detection of 427 vessels involved in the illicit trafficking of Cocaine, Marijuana and weapons making it the busiest CD air operation in the world in terms of targets detected per number of missions flown (Jane’s Intelligence weekly Dec 04 issue). These CD operations have resulted in the seizure/disruption of 81,344 lbs of Marijuana, 27,731 lbs of Cocaine, the equivalent of US 2.35 million in monies, 441 persons involved in trafficking and 89 vessels.

In support of the Regional Security System the Air wing also provides Logistic support, (troops from the other Member States airlifted into Barbados to support operation RESTORE PEACE following the prison uprising – May 2005 and Cricket World Cup 2007) disaster relief (Grenada – post Hurricane Ivan 2004 approximately 46,000 lbs of relief supplies and 356 personnel airlifted into Grenada and relief operations into Haiti staging from Jamaica following the earth quake on 12 Jan 10, 271 persons and 36,000 lbs of supplies) and Search and Rescue (SAR). 

The RSS Air Wing has developed a high profile with many International and Regional partners all of whom hold the Air Wing in high regard and work together on many joint initiatives. The experience gained and the high level of training has been invaluable resulting in a significant increase in the success of operations as the unit has improved and fine-tuned its capabilities in conducting tactical maritime surveillance.

The RSS Air Wing is fully committed and will continue to support the Region in its efforts to deny traffickers involved in the illicit drugs trade. Surveillance operations conducted by the Air Wing over the years clearly demonstrate that the Region is highly vulnerable to the illicit movement of Narcotics, Firearms and human trafficking.