After years of preparation, the Netherlands Coastguard is replacing its entire fleet. Peter Ten Berg takes a look at the force as it switches from Dorniers and Dauphins to Dash-8s and AW189s
The Netherlands Coastguard (Nederlandse Kustwacht) is undergoing the largest upheaval in its history, with both its fixed and rotary-wing fleets being retired and replaced within a matter of weeks. Part of this change means the force’s 30-year association with the Dornier 228 is drawing to a close.
An example of the high-wing STOL turboprop, PH-MNZ (c/n 8206), was acquired in 1992 to patrol Dutch territorial waters in the North Sea. It quickly became a hit with onboard observers who enjoyed unobstructed views of seaways between the River Scheldt on the Belgian border and the River Ems which separates the Netherlands from Germany.
