Apparatus and instruments for use in aircraft for observing, monitoring and research of the earth's surface including water surfaces as well as for monitoring and tracking of vehicles and other moving objects on land and at sea, namely, radar apparatus, infrared detectors, infrared cameras, ultraviolet detectors, ultraviolet cameras, electro-optical imaging apparatus, laser fluorosensor apparatus, laser imaging apparatus, visible spectrum imaging apparatus, radio direction finder, and microwave radiometer, all for airborne maritime surveillance, airborne oil spill remote sensing, search and rescue, and airborne land surveillance, in particular for use in aircraft; apparatus and instruments for use in aircraft for observing, monitoring and research of the earth's surface including water surfaces as well as for monitoring and tracking of vehicles and other moving objects on land and at sea, namely, radar apparatus, infrared detectors, infrared cameras, ultraviolet detectors, ultraviolet cameras, electro-optical imaging apparatus, laser fluorosensor apparatus, laser imaging apparatus, visible spectrum imaging apparatus, radio direction finder, and microwave radiometer, all for continuous radar surveillance, wide-swath radar imaging, aerial infrared imaging, aerial ultraviolet imaging, day and night substance classification, scanning microwave radiometry, search and rescue and tactical direction finding, aerial visible imaging, electro-optical imaging, and infrared imaging, in particular for use in aircraft; apparatus and instruments for use in aircraft for observing, monitoring and research of the earth's surface including water surfaces as well as for monitoring and tracking of vehicles and other moving objects on land and at sea, namely, ultrasonic sensors, radar apparatus, infrared detection apparatus and optical scanners, in particular for use in aircraft; parts and accessories for the aforesaid instruments, in particular cameras and laser-based object detection devices for use on aircraft; microwave-based detection devices, sensors, radar apparatus, heat detection devices, infrared detection devices, and ultraviolet detection devices and instruments all for computation and reproduction of land surfaces and water surfaces and for detecting oil spills and oil slicks as well as for analysing the dimensions, thickness and type of the oil and for the reproduction of the dimensions, form and position of oil spills and oil slicks, in particular in maps