CONTRACT CHANGE FOR THE USE OF THE AERIAL VERIFICATION AND SPRAY SERVICE SPOTTER AIRCRAFT FOR MARITIME PATROL ACTIVITY

The MCA originally awarded a contract to RVL Aviation Limited for the provision of an aerial verification and spray service utilizing a spotter aircraft in support of both spray operations and maritime patrol activity. The service includes the aerial application of oil spill dispersant using a Boeing 737 400 modified for aerial dispersant spray delivery. This service requires the use of a Spotter Aircraft to conduct maritime reconnaissance patrols and, in the event of an oil spill in which dispersant is required, to ensure the safety of the spray aircraft and the effectiveness of the dispersant application. The Spotter Aircraft is available for the MCA’s use at least 98% of the time but is not routinely used for spray operations due to the rare requirement for this service.

The contract modification will provide a temporary alteration to be made to the Spotter Aircraft under the MCA’s Aerial Dispersant Spray Contract to enable it to undertake a trial of a radar system on behalf of the UK Government. The trial itself will consist of a series of flights over the course of 12 weeks, or around 120 flying hours, from the end of July 2021 to test the utility of the radar system in a range of operational scenarios. Once the trial is complete the requirement will cease and any additional equipment, including the installed radar system, will be removed.