Thales Canada announced that it has been awarded a contract by the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) for a flight following system (FFS) to provide improved helicopter tracking. The project includes installing flight following equipment in 22 helicopters, plus 17 helicopter-capable ships.

“This FFS project further reinforces our position as a premier electronic systems integrator for the Canadian Coast Guard,” said Paul Kahn, President and CEO Thales Canada. “This follows on from our recent win of another contract that has potential for technical synergies, to deliver the Interdepartmental Maritime Integrated Command, Control and Communications (IMIC3) project, a joint effort of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Coast Guard. We look forward to further improving the overall Canadian Coast Guard maritime safety and situational awareness.”

Thales Canada will be working in partnership with SkyTrac, a Canadian company, globally respected as a specialised supplier of hardware and software for satellite-based flight following systems. “SkyTrac Systems is thrilled to work with a first-rate organisation like Thales,” commented SkyTrac President and CEO Steve Fuhr. “Together we will provide the CCG with unparalleled situational awareness on all their participating resources. This technology has the ability to take an organisation’s operational safety and efficiency to the next level.”

The FFS project has four main components: helicopter tracking: aviation tracking units installed in helicopters (i.e. helicopter-to-ship-to-helicopter bearing and distance information which replaces the existing NavLink capability); vessel tracking (VT): Units installed in helicopter-capable vessels; Satcom: A satellite communications service and shore component: data centre services.