MSS 6000 tracks oil in the Gulf of Mexico
In early May 2010, Transport Canada transferred one of their MSS 6000 equipped Dash 8 aircraft to Louisiana in support of the oil spill clean-up effort. The aircraft has been flying twice-daily missions over the Gulf of Mexico to provide real time updates of the movement and extent of the spill.

Data and images have been transferred in real time to the command center, as well as recorded for more in-depth analysis after each flight. The up-to-date data collected by the aircraft has also been used for comparison with the oil spill trajectory modelling provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

SSC have been informed that all parties involved in the clean-up efforts have been very impressed with the data provided by the MSS 6000.
 

 

 

 

 

  
Map image from Transport Canada’s MSS 6000 showing the extent of the oil spill on 3rd May 2010. Courtesy of Transport Canada.
Canada’s Scott Payment records data in a plane above the Gulf of Mexico. The data is being used to map the oil slick. (Photo by Paul Hunter/CBC)