AIR STATION CAPE COD

• Established in 1970: Air Station Cape Cod was officially commissioned in 1970, consolidating several smaller Coast Guard air facilities in the New England region. • Strategic Location: The station is located at Joint Base Cape Cod, Massachusetts, giving it a prime position to cover the treacherous waters off the Northeast coast, including the busy maritime route around Cape Cod. • Primary Search and Rescue Hub: Air Station Cape Cod is the only Coast Guard aviation facility in the Northeast, making it the principal responder for search and rescue missions from New Jersey to the Canadian border. • Multi-mission Capability: The unit performs a wide range of missions, including search and rescue, law enforcement, environmental protection, and homeland security. • Helicopters and Aircraft: The station operates MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters and HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixed-wing aircraft, both vital for long-range rescues and patrols. • Historic Rescues: The station’s crews have been involved in many dramatic rescues, including the 1987 rescue of crew members from the sinking fishing vessel Sea Breeze in hurricane conditions. • Response to the Andrea Gail: Air Station Cape Cod participated in the search for the crew of the Andrea Gail, the ill-fated fishing boat lost during the “Perfect Storm” of 1991. • Environmental Missions: The unit is often called upon to respond to oil spills and marine pollution incidents throughout New England’s coastal waters. • Supporting NASA: The station has supported NASA shuttle launches by providing search and rescue coverage for shuttle launch abort scenarios off the Atlantic coast. • Community Engagement: Air Station Cape Cod regularly hosts public outreach events, airshows, and educational programs to connect with the local community and promote maritime safety.