AERIAL ICE RECONNAISSANCE 



During the period 1 September 1970 to 31 August 1971 a total of 

 56 ice observation flights were flown. Preseason flights made in 

 September, January, February, and March accounted for 17 flights, and 

 the remaining 39 flights were made during the Season. There was no 

 requirement for postseason flights. The objective of the preseason 

 flights was to study the iceberg distribution in Baffin Bay and the 

 Labrador Sea, and to assess the iceberg potential of the coming 

 Season. The Season flight objective was to locate the southerly 

 limit of the region of icebergs, to assess the iceberg potential for 

 the near term in the area immediately north of the Grand Banks, and 

 on 2 occasions to determine the iceberg distribution along the 

 southern part of Labrador's eastern coast. The flight statistics 

 shown in Table 1 do not include the flight time required to make the 

 passages between U. S. Coast Guard Air Station, Elizabeth City, 

 North Carolina and the operating bases for the Ice Patrol reconnaissanct 

 for crew relief or aircraft maintenance. 



The reconnaissance aircraft were U. S. Coast Guard HC-130-B 

 (Lockheed Hercules) four-engine planes from the Coast Guard Air 

 Station at Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The aircraft operated 

 from Canadian Forces Base, Summer side, Prince Edward Island, 

 Canada throughout the season. Since Summerside is some 500 miles 

 from the area of icebergs, it was the usual practice to top-off 

 fuel at St. John's, Newfoundland on the outbound leg of the flight. 

 Occasionally, when good visibility was forecast for two or more 

 successive days the aircraft terminated its flight at St. John's 

 and several thousands of air-miles were saved. 



The honest welcome and cooperation given by the Canadian 

 Forces at Summerside was deeply appreciated. They were generous 

 and professional in providing logistic and communication support 

 to the Ice Reconnaissance Detachment. 



