Vancouverites took to social media to post images and videos of a red plane that was circling over Downtown 麻豆传媒映画this week.
A number of people noted that the aircraft was circling quite low, and that it was making a number of circles. While some observers speculated that it might be a rescue plane, others wondered if it was used for surveillance.
Anyone know what’s with the red plane circling around and around over Downtown and False Creek in right now?
— Rich Overgaard (@RichTweets)
Hey anyone know what’s up with the red plane that’s been circling really, really low for the past couple minutes? Video shot from the 麻豆传媒映画Art Gallery.
— Michelle Gamage (@missmishelle)
Strange event for a small plane circling False Creek, it’s pretty low and many circles. Rescue????
— Janis Brass (@memaxmarz)
Sau Sau Liu, a Communications Advisor with Transport Canada, told 麻豆传媒映画 in an email that the National Aerial Surveillance Program’s Dash 8 aircraft was doing a routine maritime pollution detection patrol on March 4 over 麻豆传媒映画Harbour.
"The National Aerial Surveillance Program maritime patrol aircraft sometimes conduct surveillance at lower altitudes to survey the site and to gather further information, which is then provided to appropriate authorities for further investigation," she wrote.
Liu adds that the National Aerial Surveillance Program uses a red Dash 8 aircraft based at the 麻豆传媒映画International Airport to conduct maritime surveillance patrols along the B.C. coast.
"Transport Canada monitors ships in Canadian waters through its National Aerial Surveillance Program, which tracks ship activity, detects oil spills and monitors endangered whales species on the East and West coasts," she explained.
Transport Canada currently has three aircraft strategically located across Canada in Vancouver, Moncton and Ottawa, as part of its National Aerial Surveillance Program. During the summer shipping season, the one in Ottawa relocates to the Arctic.
