Missionised Aircraft: Q&A with PAL Aerospace’s Paul Moss

This article is part of our SPOTLIGHT ON CANADA.

Paul Moss, PAL Aerospace’s Business Development Director – South Pacific, talks with chief editor Nicholas Dynon about the aerospace provider’s Force Multiplier program and Dash 8 P-4 partnership with De-Havilland Canada.

Line of Defence recently caught up with the former Coastwatcher and SAR specialist to talk patrol and technology capabilities for the New Zealand and Pacific region.

After flying as crew on every aircraft to come into service during his 20 years twenty of border protection service with Coastwatch in Australia, Paul Moss established the country’s first tier-one SAR organisation, which introduced long range Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) specifically for SAR response in the region.

In 2017, Paul left the SAR business to join world leading Canadian missionised aircraft prime contractor and operator PAL Aerospace.

ND: Can you give us a brief overview of PAL’s operations, not only in Canada but around the world?

PM: Certainly. PAL Aerospace is a Canadian owned and operated fullservice aerospace provider focused on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations, inservice support solutions and aircraft engineering and modifications. We’re a trusted Government of Canada partner, delivering long term programs under contract for several Government departments.

Beyond our head office in St Johns we have Canadian operations in Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Comox, and Campbell River. In the near term we are establishing additional Canadian presence in Greenwood, Trenton and Winnipeg in support of Canadas’ new Fixed Wing Search and Rescue capability.

Internationally, PAL Aerospace has a well-established presence in Abu Dhabi which supports two DHC-8 300 ASW aircraft operated by the UAE Airforce. PAL Aerospace missionised these aircraft, and we continue to maintain and support the program in partnership with the UAE Airforce.

PAL Aerospace has also modified and maintains two missionised Dash-8 100s in the Dutch Caribbean, providing support for counter narcotics and SAR activities and we are in the process of entering into service two missionised Dash-8 100s on behalf of Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans to provide surveillance for Canada’s inland, coastal and off-shore waters.

Additionally we are in the process of modifying two missionised Dash-8 100s for use by the Netherlands Coastguard in air reconnaissance, law enforcement and SAR missions.

ND: Can you explain the Force Multiplier program and what makes it different?

PM: PAL has successfully brought the ‘Force Multiplier’ program to the market, and we’re very happy with the results so far.

This program delivers self-sufficient, mission-ready aircraft for complex surveillance missions anywhere in the world. Aircraft are available with a complete crew consisting of pilots, sensor operators, and maintenance personnel.

The Force Multiplier model is designed to provide hourly, monthly or longer leased services without having to assume the cost obligations and logistical burdens associated with full adoption of a permanent standing surveillance and reconnaissance capability.

Importantly the Force Multiplier program includes the world class Mission Management expertise of CarteNav, who are a wholly owned subsidiary of PAL.

As part of the Force Multiplier deployment a ground station is established at the client’s HQ where data from Force Multiplier aircraft and other assets is received in near real time and collated. It can then be analysed at the user’s discretion, continually increasing current and historical maritime domain awareness.

With the Force Multiplier program, we are leveraging our decades of operational experience to offer our clients access to the most tailored, targeted, affordable, and capable aircraft working in this space. We have completed numerous deployments for Defence and Government entities in different theatres of operation, and see significant demand in the market for our services going forward.

ND: PAL and De-Havilland Canada presented the P-4 aircraft at a recent NZDIA Member Meeting; could you give us a snapshot of that program?

PM: The P-4 is the result of an exciting agreement between PAL Aerospace and De Havilland Canada to jointly pursue the development of a fully missionised Dash 8-400 aircraft, called the ‘Dash 8 P-4’. The P-4 is designed for maritime patrol (MPA), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) activities as well as other applications.

This partnership leverages PAL Aerospace’s significant experience as a Dash 8 modifier and De Havilland’s unmatched track record in aircraft design and manufacturing to produce a mission capable aircraft offering a bestin-class airspeed profile, considerable cabin space and payload capacity and the advantageous operating economics of the Dash 8-400 platform.

Modified with auxiliary fuel tanks, the Dash 8 P-4 boasts superior range, endurance, and time on station paired with the ability to deliver ‘low and slow’ operations essential for maritime patrol, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance .

PAL Aerospace is thrilled to work with De Havilland Canada on this important initiative. Our experience, combined with De Havilland Canada’s proud 92-year history of innovation and leadership in aircraft design and manufacturing, provide an ideal foundation from which to launch the Dash 8 P-4 program.

PAL Aerospace and De Havilland Canada believe there exists a significant global market for missionised turboprop aircraft, especially in the MPA and ISR market.

The unique capabilities the Dash 8-400 platform, in combination with PAL Aerospace’s demonstrated global capability as a full-service provider of specialised aircraft modification, technology integration and special missions operation, delivers a unique value proposition for clients looking for leading edge MPA and ISR programs.

Paul Moss is PAL Aerospace’s Business Development Director – South Pacific. Paul is an airborne surveillance and search and rescue specialist with vast experience in special mission aircraft used for Border Protection, SAR, ISR, medevac and environmental protection.