Aurora joins ‘Great Whites’ search

NANTUCKET, Mass. - Aurora Flight Sciences recently partnered with OCEARCH, a world-leading marine conservation organization, to provide aerial support in locating and tracking great white sharks off the coast of Massachusetts. The Centaur optionally-piloted DA-42 aircraft flew above the expedition area in a pre-determined flight pattern to help scientists onboard the M/V OCEARCH ship to target, identify and track the location of the great white sharks in real time. Remotely piloted onboard OCEARCH's vessel, Centaur scanned the mission area with a FLIR 230 infrared sensor to pick up heat signatures and movements in the waters below. The live down-linked imagery allowed OCEARCH to enhance its mission by widening their search capabilities. Aurora's Centaur Optionally-Piloted Aircraft flies above the vessel providing assistance in locating the sharks. "We are thrilled about our new partnership with OCEARCH and Centaur's ability to expand on the process for identifying sharks," said Aurora CEO John Langford. "The expedition allowed us to demonstrate the technological and operational capabilities of Centaur, and more importantly, the value and benefits of utilizing optionally-piloted aircraft for a variety of missions which now includes maritime." (Source: PR News Wire 11/09/16) Gulf Coast Note: Aurora operates an aerial production plant in Columbus, Miss.