Development of U. S. Coast Guard Prototype Airborne Oil Surveillance System

ABSTRACT In the past, the U. S. Coast Guard has relied on visual and photographic sightings for detection, monitoring and law enforcement associated with the oil pollution control mission. However effective enforcement of the provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, pertaining to the discharge of oil and hazardous substances into the U. S. navigable waters and the contiguous zone, the effective execution of responsibilities assigned by the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan, and the assessment of the impact on the marine environment of pollutants introduced by the transportation process requires a supporting surveillance system. To meet this need, the U. S. Coast Guard has contracted with the Aerojet Electrosystems Company, a Division of Aerojet-General Corporation, for the design, development and flight test evaluation of a prototype Airborne Oil Surveillance System. This system as conceived will utilize multispectral sensors to provide for the day ...