Oct. 4—Search-and-rescue efforts and other missions on Lake Huron recently got a boost with the addition of an upgraded helicopter to the Coast Guard Air Station in Detroit.

The station took delivery of its first upgraded MH-65E Dolphin helicopter at the end of September. The aircraft replaces one of the Coast Guard's legacy MH-65D helicopters.

Air Station Detroit Dolphin helicopter crews perform search and rescue, maritime law enforcement and marine environmental protection as well as provide aids to navigation and ice patrol support throughout the Great Lakes region.

The new aircraft features enhanced search-and-rescue capabilities including modern "glass cockpit" technology designed to increase pilot and crew awareness, increased reliability and capability for the automatic flight control system, enhanced digital weather and surface radar and multifunctional displays with more accurate fuel calculations, according to a press release from the Coast Guard.

The transition of Air Station Detroit's five Dolphin helicopters to the upgraded "E" configuration is expected to take about two months.

During the upgrade period, the unit's 23 pilots will undergo a three-week transition course at the Coast Guard's Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama. Aircrew and mechanics will receive formal training specific to their roles and duties delivered by a team from the Coast Guard's Aviation Technical Training Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina

"The upgrades and advanced training will enhance the situational awareness of our aircrews and improve our mission planning capabilities" Cmdr. Christian Polyak, commanding officer of Air Station Detroit, said in the press release. "The replacement and inspection of key aircraft components as a part of the upgrade also extend the aircraft's service life and enable us to continue ensuring maritime safety, security and stewardship far into the future."

Air Station Detroit helicopters and aircrews also provide support to augment the North American Aerospace Defense Command's airspace security mission in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country as required for national security.

Each upgraded Dolphin undergoes a six-month conversion at the Coast Guard's Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Detroit is the 11th of 13 Air Stations to receive the upgraded model. The Coast Guard plans to complete the conversion of all 98 of its Dolphin helicopters to the MH-65E configuration by the end of 2024.

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