Vancouverites took to social media to post images and videos of a red plane that was circling over Downtown Vancouver 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 #Vancouver right now? #YVR pic.twitter.com/teEdyJnm3E
— Rich Overgaard (@RichTweets) March 5, 2020
Hey #Vancouver 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 Vancouver Art Gallery. #redplane pic.twitter.com/Q4nY3HSD5X
— Michelle Gamage (@missmishelle) March 5, 2020
Strange event for #vancouver a small plane circling False Creek, it’s pretty low and many circles. Rescue???? @AM730Traffic pic.twitter.com/TI5OMm3sEI
— Janis Brass (@memaxmarz) March 5, 2020
Sau Sau Liu, a Communications Advisor with Transport Canada, told Vancouver Is Awesome 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 Vancouver 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 Vancouver 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.
