On Friday 8/12/2016 Chairman Michael McCaul of the House Committee on Homeland Security was given a technical briefing of the ASPECT Program.
Michael Thomas McCaul, Sr. is the U.S. Representative for Texas’s 10th congressional district, serving since 2005. Since the beginning of the 113th Congress, he has been the Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
Here’s how Cesna describes the current ASPECT Super Cargomaster:
The ultimate aerial utility tool
Carry thousands of pounds of cargo at a distance of up to 905 nautical miles at up to 185 knots with the Super Cargomaster EX. The name says it all — this master of cargo hauling shares the same durable airframe and wing construction as its fellow Caravans and the same famed dispatch reliability. Engineered to take a beating, this workhorse will take off from short, rough strips in various weather conditions in all parts of the world.
The ASPECT Super Cargomaster aircraft is powered by a PT-6A-114A. The PT6A turboprop engine is a powerhouse that offers unmatched performance, reliability and value in its class for a wide range of applications. From transporting people in business and airline aviation, to dropping cargo in the Antarctic darkness at 75 degrees below zero and supporting environmental efforts in reforestation programs, the dependability and versatility of the PT6A family continues to earn the highest respect from pilots worldwide.
Model PT6A-114A
Power 675 SHP
Diameter 19 ”
Length 62 ”
RPM 1900
The Super Cargomaster is part of the Cesna Caravan Family of aircraft. The dispatch reliability of the Caravan models is unparalleled: a remarkable 99%+ rate. For more than 25 years, operators have relied on these aircraft to meet the most demanding mission parameters; they haven’t flinched yet. Considering the powerful PT6A turbine powerplant underneath the cowling, it’s easy to understand why. This ultra-dependable engine from Pratt & Whitney Canada endows each Caravan model with exceptional payload capabilities. Factor in the inherent versatility, configurability and sheer ruggedness of the Caravan line, and the applications become virtually limitless.
The Super Cargomaster’s airframe is constructed of durable aluminum and has multiple load redundancies and reliable remote operations.
Finally, here is Cesna’s assessment of the Caravan Super Cargomaster as a special mission aircraft:
In the context of special mission operations, there’s a sense of rightness to a Cessna Caravan: a confidence that comes with knowing you have availed yourself of the best possible resource for the job. The rugged construction of all Caravan models is reassuring in itself, and with the versatility and configurability to meet the ever-shifting parameters of a diverse array of special missions, the Caravan line is your rock-solid star performer—not afraid to get dirty, always ready for the field.
This design and capability makes the Caravan Super Cargomaster a good selection for the ASPECT aircraft, and a reliable platform for the ASPECT mission.
July 24, 2013 · As one of the members of the Joint Interagency Task Force, the United States Environmental Protection Agency worked alongside the West Virginia National Guard and other state and federal agencies to support the 2013 National Scout Jamboree.
Read More: http://www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=30948
ASPECT provides infrared and photographic images with geospatial, chemical and radiological information within minutes to the first responder. The speed of transmitting this information permits a more efficient assessment of the extent and severity of damages to critical infrastructure during emergencies to minimize impacts to the American people, environment and the economy.
ASPECT is a screening tool that uses multiple sensors to support emergency responses, homeland security missions, environmental surveys, and climate monitoring missions. Data generated from these missions produce scientifically-valid products in a variety of formats to support the local, state, and federal operation centers. The ASPECT Team encompasses scientists, engineers, and public health experts all with advanced degrees, and more than 75 years of collective experience in airborne remote chemical or radiological detection and emergency response operations.
ASPECT is a 24/7/365 response-ready asset that can be wheels up within an hour of activation and be on station, collecting data, anywhere in CONUS within nine hours from its home base near Dallas, TX.
For more information about ASPECT, go to http://www.epa.gov/osweroe1/content/partners/cb
For more about EPA: http://www.epa.gov/
We accept comments according to our comment policy: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/comment-policy/
Disclaimer: The U.S. Government does not promote or endorse any non-Government or commercial content appearing on this page.
Based near Dallas, Texas, and able to be deployed within one hour of notification, ASPECT is the only airborne stand-off real-time chemical and radiological detection, infrared and photographic imagery platform available to assist local, national, and international agencies supporting hazardous substance response and radiological incidents in the US. ASPECT consists of a suite of sensors and software mounted in a twin-engine aircraft that, within a single pass of the aircraft, can generate data in a variety of formats to produce scientifically valid products within five minutes of data collection. Primary sensors and features include:
Infrared Line Scanner
High Speed Infrared Spectrometer
Gamma-Ray Spectrometers
Digital Aerial Cameras
Satellite Data System
Data Delivery Using Google Earth Display Tool
To request ASPECT assistance, please call EPA’s Emergency Operations Center at: 202-564-3850; or the National Call Center at: 800-424-8802.
For more information about ASPECT, visit http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/conten…
For more about EPA: http://www.epa.gov/
We accept comments according to our comment policy: http://blog.epa.gov/blog/comment-policy/
The EPA ASPECT aircraft recently helped ensure the safety of the crowds which gathered for the successful inauguration.
The Washington Times article “Mapping a picture of Earth’s minute particles from the sky” includes this info (click link for the complete article)
For hours each night, a pilot flew a 1968 Aero Commander dual propeller airplane, crisscrossing the skies around the Capital Beltway. But because of what it carried, the plane actually is the only one of its kind in the country.
Inside, there’s a collection, among other technology, of infrared and gamma-ray spectrometers, a neutron detector, scanners, cameras and broadband satellite equipment that remotely transmit chemical and radiological data back to the scientists on the ground.
EPA ASPECT – On the SceneOn the scene, in the air, when needed, where needed. The EPA ASPECT aircraft continues to provide on-scene commanders with the information they need to make critical decisions.
Algorithms, aircraft, and scientific analysis that allows state of the art detection at a higher sensitivity make the ASPECT program unique. Wheels up on call make the program available when needed. A solid, well developed and practiced concept of operations (CONOPS) makes ASPECT repeatable and reliable.