RBDF - Air Wing
The Royal Bahamas Defence Force was mostly concerned with the interdiction of seaborne immigrants and the drug war and it's Air Wing normally uses some utility aircraft from civilian origin for patrol and liaison duties given the local geography. None of the aircraft are armed. The main goal of this minuscule air force is to provide VIP transport, medevac, SAR and general liaison services. The Air Wing was formed in 1982; in late 1986 plans called for a compound to be established at Nassau International Airport.
Starting in 1976 the Royal Bahamas Defence Force leased a number of Aero Commander 500S Shrike Commander and operated them under civilian register. Initially three Aero Commanders were purchased from Bahamasair, but by January 1990 they all were withdrawn from use. The next aircraft operated was a single Cessna 421C Golden Eagle (DF-1001) seized from drug runners in 1988.
Then, a single Cessna 404 Titan (DF-1002) was seized from drug runners in 1991, and was not operational since 1998. In 1992, a Cessna 402 was added, and a Cessna 421 soon after.
On January 17, 2002 the single Cessna 421C Golden Eagle (DF-1001) experienced engine troubles while returning from a flight to Crooked Island and was forced to ditch itself in Lake Killarney, near the HMBS Coral Harbour base. No injuries were reported by the five marines on-board at the time of the incident. The aircraft was partially submerged in about four feet of water and has been effectively written off. A replacement aircraft arrived in the form of a single Raytheon Beechcraft King Air 350 (DF-103), from unknown origin.
By late 2005, a Beech 350 Super king Air was delivered. In May 2009, a Cessna 208 Turbine Caravan with floats and a Partenavia P68 were delivered. These significantly improved the RBDF's surveillance and transport capabilities.
The country’s fisheries industry is experiencing higher yields as a result of the enhanced naval/military operations being conducted throughout The Bahamas by Officers and Marines of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. National Security officials said March 28, 2017 the Operations have also had the domino effect of making Bahamian fishermen feel more secure at sea due to the heavy presence of Defence Force personnel. The protection package includes coordinated air, land and sea patrols by the Sea-going and Commando Squadrons in conjunction with the Air Wing, Harbour Patrol and Port Security Units that have proven to be “highly effective.”
But the RBDF’s air wing has received little attention. Given the archipelagic geography of the country, it is surprising that no priority has yet been given to either expanding or modernising this inadequate force.
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