Air Wing
Regional Security System
Air Wing
The two C-26A aircraft owned and operated by the Regional Security System (RSS) Air Wing were donated by the US Government in January 1999. It was expected that the operation of the two aircraft in support of the RSS Member States Coast Guards and Police maritime Units, Drug Squad Units, and International Law Enforcement Agencies would enhance the Counter Drug (CD) effort in the region. These expectations were met from the beginning. Despite limitations in the first two years of operations when the aircraft had yet to be fitted with a surveillance package, the Air Wing still managed to report Go-Fast sightings and disruptions.
The challenges were addressed by upgrading the airframes, installing sensors, and providing necessary training for the crew and maintenance personnel. In 2005, full funding of the Air Wing by the US Government was discontinued. As a result, the RSS took over all funding responsibilities due to the critical nature of this capability. The two aircraft were refurbished and equipped with modern state-of-the-art sensors using funding from the Governments of the US and Canada.
The two C-26A aircraft serve as a force multiplier in the region, collaborating with multiple countries to help them achieve their security objectives. This was demonstrated during the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean and after the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January 2010, when one aircraft was deployed to Jamaica for five weeks to support the Jamaica Defence Force. The Air Wing has since then taken part in relief efforts to support countries affected by Hurricanes Irma, Maria and Dorian.
The aircraft's capabilities are not limited to maritime operations but also extend to land-based operations. The Air Wing has supported several marijuana eradication operations carried out by law enforcement units within the RSS Member States. Reconnaissance missions identify fields and provide command, control, and communication for troops conducting the eradication exercise.
The RSS Air Wing is an established and fully functional unit at the forefront of maritime CD surveillance missions in the region. The unit enjoys a close relationship with its international partners, particularly the UK National Crime Agency (NCA), the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force (JIATF) South and the French Department in Martinique. They share a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to provide aircraft support for counter-drug missions. To date, the Air Wing has logged just over 16,000 flight hours in support of the region. The Air Wing operates from the South ramp of the Grantley Adams International Airport Incorporated (GAIA Inc).
The Air Wing now conducts its own maintenance, a function previously handled by Provincial Airlines of Canada until 2014.
The two C-26A aircraft serve as a force multiplier in the region, collaborating with multiple countries to help them achieve their security objectives. This was demonstrated during the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean and after the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January 2010, when one aircraft was deployed to Jamaica for five weeks to support the Jamaica Defence Force. The Air Wing has since then taken part in relief efforts to support countries affected by Hurricanes Irma, Maria and Dorian.
The aircraft's capabilities are not limited to maritime operations but also extend to land-based operations. The Air Wing has supported several marijuana eradication operations carried out by law enforcement units within the RSS Member States. Reconnaissance missions identify fields and provide command, control, and communication for troops conducting the eradication exercise.
The RSS Air Wing is an established and fully functional unit at the forefront of maritime CD surveillance missions in the region. The unit enjoys a close relationship with its international partners, particularly the UK National Crime Agency (NCA), the Joint Inter-Agency Task Force (JIATF) South and the French Department in Martinique. They share a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to provide aircraft support for counter-drug missions. To date, the Air Wing has logged just over 16,000 flight hours in support of the region. The Air Wing operates from the South ramp of the Grantley Adams International Airport Incorporated (GAIA Inc).
The Air Wing now conducts its own maintenance, a function previously handled by Provincial Airlines of Canada until 2014.
Regional Security System
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RSS SECURITY RESPONSE MECHANISM
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