600 

 500 

 400 

 300 

 200 

 100 



^ 



1998 



1999 



2000 



2001 



2002 



I ■Patrol Hours ■ Transit Hours D Research Hours ■ Logistics Hours 



Figure 10. Breakdown of flight hours (1998-2002). 



small icebergs. The Grand Banks is a 

 major fishing area frequented by fishing 

 vessels ranging In size from 60 to over 200 

 feet. Small vessels and small icebergs 

 sometimes present similar radar returns 

 and cannot be differentiated. When there 

 are no clear distinguishing features, the 

 target is classified as a radar target. 



Since 1997, the Grand Banks region 

 has been rapidly developed for its oil 

 reserves. In November 1997, Hibernia, a 

 gravity-based oil production platform, was 

 set in position approximately 150 nm 



2000 



1500 



1000 



500 



88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 

 I W Hours ■ — IcebergSj 



Figure 11. Flight hours versus icebergs south of 48 N. 



offshore on the northeastern portion of the 

 Grand Banks. Each year, there are 

 several mobile drilling rigs in the Terra 

 Nova and White Rose drilling fields on the 

 Grand Banks. Increased development has 

 increased air and surface traffic in HP's 

 area of responsibility, further complicating 

 reconnaissance efforts. This emphasizes 

 the need to pursue technological 

 innovations in reconnaissance equipment 

 and strategy. 



Oceanographic Operations 



Historically, IIP conducted extensive 

 oceanographic surveys on the Grand 

 Banks. Oceanographic operations peaked 

 in the 1960s when the U. S. Coast Guard 

 devoted substantial ship resources to 

 collecting oceanographic data. Two factors 

 combined to change the nature of HP's 

 oceanographic operations. First, increased 

 competition among the various U. S. Coast 

 Guard missions made it increasingly 

 difficult for IIP to obtain ship resources. 

 Second, there was a vast improvement in 

 the capability and reliability of deployable 

 oceanographic instruments. 



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