The sometimes hazardous work cannot be done by satellite as one is not always overhead at the right time and satellites also cannot achieve the oblique angles often required. Atlantic Reconnaissance is located in the geometric centre of Britain and, in the event of an emergency, is required to be airborne within 20 minutes.

The work requires byte-hungry high resolution images transmitted at an acceptably rapid speed, as the Cessna sends strategic data to the MCA on three levels:

radar, thermal infra-red, and video images. These images convey the location, size, position and visual detail of an incident such as oil spillage from a tanker ruptured at sea.

The information is vital to the MCA as it determines the course of action to be taken.

Using the data, MCA specialists determine whether to disperse the spillage at sea and let natural enzymes break it down or whether to send out ships with booms and suck up the spill with skimmers. The image gathering Cessna can also convey the nature of a coastline to be impacted, giving recovery services vital preparation information.

The ideal camera for this work would have to meet a difficult set of criteria, digital with CCTV-type remote control as well as multiple frame-capture capability. Atlantic's electronics engineers tested 'a million cameras' before it was suggested they try the JVC Professional KY-F70BU digital imaging camera which is virtually industry standard when attached to electronic microscopes for medical and scientific research.

Much to everyone's surprise, this camera, fitted with a high resolution lens and attached to the belly of the Cessna, gives good images at a reasonable 7.5 frames per second, with CCTV-like remote control.

MJ Information No: 17168