AERIAL ICE RECONNAISSANCE 



During the period 1 September 1977 to 31 

 August 1978, a total of 94 ice observation flights 

 were flown; 12 preseasonal and 82 seasonal. The 

 objective of the preseason survey was to study the 

 iceberg distribution patterns in the Labrador Sea 

 and to evaluate the iceberg potential of the 

 developing season. The season flight objectives 

 were to locate the southwestern, southern and 

 southeastern limits of icebergs, to evaluate the 

 short-term iceberg potential of the waters 

 immediately north of the Grand Banks, and 

 occasionally to determine the iceberg distribution 

 along the Labrador coast. 



The flight statistics shown in Table 2 do not 

 include flight time required to make the passages 

 between U.S. Coast Guard Air Stations Elizabeth 

 City, North Carolina and Clearwater, Florida and 

 the Ice Patrol operating airfield at St. John's, 

 Newfoundland for crew relief or aircraft 

 maintenance. 



Aerial ice reconnaissance was accomplished by 

 U.S. Coast Guard HC-130B (Lockheed Hercules) 

 four-engine aircraft from Coast Guard Air Stations 

 at Elizabeth City, North Carolina and St. 

 Petersburg, Florida. During the ice season, the 

 aircraft operated out of Torbay Airport, St. 

 John's, Newfoundland, Canada. 



On 10 March the Ice Reconnaissance Detach- 

 ment deployed to St. John's. The Detachment 

 remained at St. John's through the season, 

 returning to the United States on 20 July 1978. 



Table 2— Aerial Ice Reconnaissance Statistics 

 1 September 1977 to 31 August 1978 



Number of flights AlC flight hrs 

 12 63 



6 32.1 



76 341 



Preseason 

 SLAR T&E 

 Regular season 



Total 



94 



436.1 



