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APSA's E-Newsletter is designed to help keep you informed on the very latest happenings in the public safety aviation community. The E-Newsletter may also be read online here at our website.

Register Today…Only 30 Days Remaining for Early Pricing!

APSA EXPO 2016 is next month, July 18-23, in Savannah, GA. This year’s conference features nine courses (Mon-Wed), three of which have been updated with new content and instructors. The 14 subject-specific conference class tracks, conducted Friday and Saturday, consist of 50 classes, 36% of which are brand new. And 11 new instructors make their APSA EXPO debut!

APSA EXPO sets the standard for excellence in the public safety aviation education. Exhibitors will showcase their products and services to the aviation unit decision-makers and end-users, while creating an exceptional learning environment in one central location. Take part in the latest education and training by attending our diverse Conference Courses and Classes, and see the latest technology in our 200-booth exposition. Network with your peers at the vendor-sponsored special events and enjoy the charming city of Savannah.

Advance registration is open through July 10, 2016. If mailing your registration, to receive the advance rate, APSA must receive the registration form postmarked no later than July 10, 2016, and payment MUST accompany the registration form. After July 10, 2016, all registrations must be handled onsite and will be charged the onsite registration rate. Visit http://www.publicsafetyaviation.org/alea-expo-2016-savannah-ga to register now.

Four Killed in French Police Helicopter Crash

Four members of France's paramilitary police died after a helicopter crash in southwest France in late May, according to an Interior Ministry statement. The helicopter crashed into a cliff in a mountainous region, killing all four people aboard. The crew was participating in a training operation close to the Spanish border when it went down, the Interior Ministry said. The cause of the crash has not yet been identified. The number of victims changed several times following initial reports, but officials have now confirmed the four fatalities—the pilot, co-pilot and two rescue specialists.

SOURCE: http://news.sky.com

Swedish National Police Receive Seven Bell 429s

The Swedish National Police have received and entered into service seven Bell 429 helicopters. The fleet is being used for law enforcement and search and rescue, including mountain rescue, across Sweden. “This is now the largest Bell 429 fleet in operation in the European Union,” said Jakub Hoda, Bell Helicopter managing director for Europe and Russia.

The Bell 429 includes a fully integrated glass cockpit, advanced drive system, WAAS navigation and IFR capability. It has considerable cabin space, with flat flooring and seating for seven passengers and one flight crew. The aircraft’s 60-inch side doors and optional rear clamshell doors provide easy access. Bell Helicopter has recently delivered 15 Bell 429s to the Turkish National Police, four Bell 429s to the New York Police Department and the first of two Bell 429s to the Slovakian Police.

SOURCE: Bell Helicopter

Cleveland Law Allows Local Police to Enforce UAS Regulations

The Cleveland City Council passed an ordinance that would subject anyone flying unregistered unmanned aircraft systems to minor misdemeanor charges. Flying within five miles of an airport could also carry penalties, unless UAS operators clear the flight with the Federal Aviation Administration first.

The laws aren’t meant to override the federal government, which regulates airspace, according to Matt Zone, the chairman of the Cleveland City Council’s safety committee. They’re meant to give local police the ability to respond to potential violations of FAA rules.

“People who have drones or bought their kids drones for holidays or gifts—the kids can still fly them,” Zone said. UAS operators who break FAA rules could face thousands of dollars in fines or prison time, according to the federal agency’s website.

SOURCE www.ideastream.org

APSA to Exhibit at PAvCon 2016

APSA is exhibiting at PAvCon 2016 in Oberschleißheim, Germany, June 14-15. Additionally, APSA Executive Director & CEO Dan Schwarzbach will be speaking on Tuesday, June 14, and APSA Safety Program Manager Bryan Smith will be presenting on both days. Other APSA members making presentations include Bill Probets, Glenn Daley and Joseba Mendizabal. Stop by the APSA table and visit with Dan, Bryan, APSA President Steve Roussell and APSA Training Program Manager Don Roby to learn the latest about the Association and discuss what APSA can do for you. More info can be found at: http://pavcon.org/PAvCon_2016.htm

Video from Utah Highway Patrol Recovery Released

Video from a Utah Department of Public Safety helicopter attempting to retrieve the body of a fallen hiker in a terrifying close call was released last month. The aircrew was attempting a "skid load," intending to rest one skid on the ledge while essentially keeping the chopper hovering, when a rope became tangled in the craft's main rotor. This happened September 8, 2015.

In the past five years, the Utah Highway Patrol has had roughly 500 rescues or recoveries across Utah. They happen high in the mountains, down in the desert and sometimes on very precarious land formations. A 43-year-old woman was hiking alone that day in September, but when she didn't return home, a search and rescue team was called out to look for her and searchers discovered her body. Because of the terrain, it was determined the safest and most effective way to bring her body down the mountain was to send a UHP helicopter. The pilot had done this before, with dozens of perfectly flown recoveries and rescues attached to his name.

Unseen video released shows the helicopter hovering over the recovery spot, with the blades spinning just feet away from the cliff face. And hunched over the edge of the cliff was a Salt Lake County Search and Rescue team, highly skilled and trained, carefully moving the woman's body toward the helicopter. "It was just in a really bad spot," said a rescuer. The incident happened in a matter of seconds.

Cellphone video from two different cameras shows the helicopter blades catch onto an orange safety rope. The rope isn't cut, but rather caught, and pulled by the blade. If that rope had made a full rotation, it would have wrapped itself around the main rotor and led to disaster. Instead, an almost impossible pitch and catch to the tail took place. "We heard a cannon go off. It sounded like an explosion," the TFO said. "Next thing I know I hear a crack next to me and see the tail fly over our heads."

The rope caused major damage to the StarFlex, a piece of equipment on the main rotor. "It literally snapped in half. It snapped completely off," the pilot said. "My first thought was, I need to crash this helicopter. I had no idea if the helicopter was going to fly for more than a few seconds at that point."

The pilot somehow regained control, avoiding jagged rocks, and landed the broken chopper in an open field. At face value, it was a moment of experience and skill. But maybe, it was something more. A fraction of a moment where the blades lined up perfectly, a fraction that went from certain tragedy, to giving the pilot a fighting chance. "He saved everybody's life that day, without question," the TFO said. "We had a very unlucky moment, that was followed within a split second by a very, very lucky moment," he continued. "Which in my estimation, probably saved all five lives that were involved, is that little twist of luck."

Source: www.ksl.com

Louisiana Parish Adds Helicopter and Equipment

The East Baton Rouge Parish (LA) Sheriff’s Office showed off several new pieces of equipment in late May intended to help deputies better track suspects, find missing children and handle volatile public safety events. The department bought its first helicopter and two new vehicles for a total of $863,754, a savings of millions over retail, according to a department spokesperson. “It helps us better serve the community,” Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said before about a hundred people gathered in a state-owned hangar next to the sheriff’s headquarters.

IACP Accepting Nominations for Excellence in Police Aviation Awards Until June 30, 2016

Awarded by the leadership of the IACP and its Aviation Committee and made possible by the generous support of Bell Helicopter, the Excellence in Police Aviation Award is presented annually at the IACP conference. Awards are presented to an individual who holds a management or leadership position in police aviation and/or an aviation program or unit that exemplifies excellence in airborne law enforcement. The awards emphasize initiatives to enhance the general level and safety of operations, accident prevention programs, and the efficiency and effectiveness of airborne law enforcement. Efforts eligible for recognition can range from the unit level to the national or international level, including rotary, fixed-wing, or unmanned aircraft operations.

Nominations are to be submitted by a head of a component or agency that holds current membership in the IACP as well as being postmarked no later than June 30, 2016. Submission details can be found at http://www.iacp.org/Excellence-in-Police-Aviation or by contacting Mike Fergus, (800) 843-4227 x811, fergus@theiacp.org for additional information. The awards will be presented during IACP 2016 in San Diego, CA on October 18.

Source: www.iacp.org

CHP Aircraft Assists Hot Air Balloon Passengers

The crew of California Highway Patrol (CHP) Golden Gate Division Air Operations airplane-37 (A-37) and helicopter-32 (H-32) teamed for a hot air balloon rescue on May 17. A-37 was preparing for the first flight of the day when an inflated but grounded hot air balloon was observed 3 miles south of the Napa County Airport. As A-37 became airborne, the crew observed the hot air balloon had landed on a thin strip of land surrounded by a network of ponds and sloughs with no road access.

The crew of A-37 initially contacted the pilot and 17 passengers of the hot air balloon and advised the pilot of the situation. A-37 then contacted H-32 to assist with transportation of the pilot and passengers to a safe location. After determining safe landing and drop off zones, H-32 performed a series of ferry flights. The Carneros Volunteer Fire Department and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection assisted with scene safety and medical assessment at the landing zone.

The CHP Golden Gate Division Air Operations Unit operates four aircraft (two airplanes and two helicopters) that patrol the nine counties. The helicopter is equipped with a rescue hoist with 165 feet of cable that’s routinely used for rescues.

SOURCE: California Highway Patrol

Canadian Teen Arrested for Police Helicopter Laser Strike

A 16-year-old male was charged with endangering a Winnipeg Police Service helicopter with a laser pointer recently. The suspect allegedly targeted the helicopter cockpit at least five times, blinding crewmembers and forcing the pilot to take evasive action.

"To maneuver an aircraft like this requires full attention," Constable Jason Michalyshen said. "If they are distracted or their vision compromised in any way, shape or form and they are required to make sudden or abrupt maneuvers, that puts the aircraft and the flight crew at risk." The aircrew was able to determine the source of the light, and ground troops were dispatched. They seized the laser pointer and took the 16-year-old into custody. Police said the teen was charged with mischief endangering life.

SOURCE: www.winnipegfreepress.com

NYPD Police Rescue Sinking Kayaker

A New York Police Department helicopter rescue crew saved the life of a 33-year-old man whose kayak was sinking after he drifted about two miles off Coney Island Beach last month. The unidentified man called a friend to say his kayak was taking on water and that a strong current was taking him farther out than he expected, police said.

A NYPD chopper responded to the friend’s subsequent 911 call and found a “dark spot of debris,” which turned out to be the kayak, according to Robin Rohner of the NYPD Aviation Unit. Within four minutes, the helicopter deployed two scuba divers who swam to the man already halfway submerged in the water with four- to six-foot swells. The divers helped the man onto an NYPD Harbor Unit vessel, which took him to a Manhattan Beach dock. An ambulance was waiting at the scene, but the man refused medical attention.

SOURCE: www.nypost.com

Photo Contest Deadline June 15: You Can’t Win It If You’re Not In It!

Before June 15, enter your best photos in Air Beat magazine’s 2016 Photo Contest to win an iPad Air2 and a one-year ARGUS Prism Professional SMS subscription. The iPad Air2 includes 64 GB of memory and the PRISM SMS subscription will be accessible to not only the contest winner, but also the winner’s entire unit from any mobile device or computer. All unit personnel will have access to the PRISM SMS website to help implement and sustain their SMS, as well as easy-to-use FRATs, GRATS and hazard reporting tools.

To satisfy the contest requirements, the photographer must be an APSA member in good standing, and the photos must have a public safety aviation element (aircraft, crew, mission, training, etc.) and include a caption. The contest ends June 15, and entries are being accepted at www.airbeatmagazine.com. The more photos you submit, the greater your chances of winning. This grand prize benefits the winner’s entire organization and will significantly enhance safety.

The iPad Air2 and ARGUS subscription will be awarded on July 21 during the General Membership Meeting at APSA EXPO 2016 in Savannah, GA. The winner is not required to be present.

Malaysia Air Wing Receives Two AW139s

The Royal Malaysian Police Air Wing Unit received two new AW139 twin-engine helicopters in late May. The aircraft were procured under a budget plan finalized in March. In all, the Malaysian government has approved the acquisition of six AW139 helicopters to expand its airborne law enforcement capabilities.

The Malaysian government has contracted with Galaxy Helicopters to perform the helicopter completions, which will be done in stages. A brief ceremony was held following delivery of the first two aircraft. The helicopters are expected to be used in disaster relief situations, especially those that involve high altitude rescues.

SOURCE: www.nst.com.my

Three Ohio Agencies Plan UAS for Shared Use

A trio of Ohio police departments, Toledo, Lucas County and Oregon, are considering purchasing a small unmanned aircraft system to use for searches and other police work. Toledo Police Chief George Kral, Lucas County Sheriff John Tharp and Oregon Police Chief Mike Navarre signed a memorandum of understanding in March allowing the three departments to split the $75,399 cost of the Lockheed Martin Indago.

“I think technology is the future,” Chief Navarre said. “These are going to be very commonplace in not just police departments, but fire departments also. The uses for unmanned aircraft in public safety are unlimited.” He said the drone would assist in several instances, including barricade and hostage situations, fires, and search and rescue efforts, especially in the water. The three departments teaming up to buy the drone are responsible for more than 250 square miles of water between Maumee Bay and Lake Erie. “It does from the sky in about 30 minutes what it would take a person on the ground six or seven hours to do,” Navarre said.

Navarre said the process to obtain a Certificate of Authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration is underway. He also applied for a $100,000 state grant. Training for six officers from the three departments can begin when the FAA gives its final approval.

SOURCE: www.toledoblade.com

Chinese Police Buy 10 Helicopters in Record Deal

China’s Ministry of Public Security signed an agreement in mid-May to purchase 10 helicopters for police safety use. The ministry is purchasing the helicopters from Aviation Industry Corp. of China, and the first four, two AC311s and two AC312s, will be delivered to public safety bureaus in Nanjing, Kunming, Hefei and Luoyang.

The ministry declined to disclose when the entire contract will be fulfilled, as well as the total cost, citing commercial confidentiality. According to a statement, 28 police aviation units on the Chinese mainland currently are using 50 helicopters. They have helped with tracking suspects, search-and-rescue, drug enforcement, counterterrorism operations and other law enforcement activities. Liu Daolin, deputy director of the ministry's Police Aviation Management Office, said public safety authorities aim to double the size of their helicopter fleets within five years. The office estimates that by the end of 2020, about 50 police helicopter squads with nearly 100 helicopters will be operating on the mainland.

SOURCE: www.china.org.cn

London Boy Sentenced for Pointing Laser at Police; Man Arrested for Same Offense

A bored 16-year-old shined a laser pen at a police helicopter pilot in February as the aircraft circled over London; he was given a six-month youth referral order in early May. A crewmember onboard said, "The laser attack continued to be consistent and deliberate" for roughly five minutes. The boy later said he did not know he was targeting a police helicopter.

On the night of the incident, the helicopter crew located the source of the laser and helped dispatch ground crews to apprehend him. The schoolboy said he decided to play with a laser pen when his video game system cut out. The teen appeared at Hammersmith Youth Court to be sentenced after admitting to acting recklessly in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or person inside. The youth told District Judge Richard Blake he "didn't know it would do any harm" to shine the laser at the aircraft.

Several days after the incident, police charged a man in connection with a laser incident in Reading. A police helicopter based in Benson was allegedly struck by the 34-year-old man, who was charged with one count of directing/shining a light at an aircraft in flight so as to dazzle/distract the pilot. He was originally arrested on suspicion of endangering aircraft under the Aviation Security Act of 1982.

SOURCE: www.getreading.co.uk and www.thesun.co.uk

Florida Aviation Agency Celebrates 20-Year Partnership

The Alachua County (FL) Joint Aviation Unit celebrated its 20th anniversary last month. The Joint Aviation Unit has been a collaborative venture of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the Gainesville Police Department since 1996, when it was started utilizing two surplus OH-6 helicopters. Today, the Joint Aviation Unit operates three OH-58 helicopters and is staffed by six pilots, five TFOs and one mechanic.

On hand for the event were more than 100 current and former unit members and supporters, as well as Sheriff Sadie Darnell and Chief Tony Jones. Retired Gainesville Police Department captain and former Unit Commander Ed Van Winkle, who presented plaques on behalf of Airbus Helicopters, emceed the event. Attendees enjoyed a fly-in by several aircraft, live country music and a delicious catered dinner.

India Police Department Launches Nation’s First UAS Fleet

The police in the southern Indian State of Karnataka have become the first in the country to acquire a fleet of unmanned aircraft systems. The state police department is deploying the fleet of 12 UAS primarily to detect illegal sand mining. Operated by 20 police officials in six districts of the state, the Phantom 4 UAS were purchased for about $2,200 each and are equipped with cameras and night vision.

A police spokesperson said the UAS have been successfully deployed to detect illegal sand mining along the state’s border, and the department has kept the monitoring secretive by taping the illuminated parts of the aircraft. While the commercial and civilian use of UAS remains restricted in India, government organizations have experimented with them in the past.

SOURCE: www.mashable.com

Canadian Unit Hits 10,000-Hour Milestone

Canada’s Durham Regional Police Service recently celebrated achieving 10,000 hours of incident and accident free flight with a reception at the Durham Air Services hangar, home of the unit’s helicopter “Air 1.” The Bell 206 JetRanger III has been in service with the Durham Police Air Support Unit since new in 2003.

A number of industry partners made presentations at the reception, and Chief Paul Martin accepted commemorative plaques from longtime air support service providers National Helicopters Inc., Bell Helicopter, and Global Aerospace insurers.

Martin said the accolades were nice, but more importantly, Air 1 remains an integral part of the force. “One helicopter is like having 20 people on the ground doing a search,” he said. “So for us, it’s become an invaluable tool, especially in the area of searching for vulnerable people. This is a tool that we can get to the area quickly, we can search a wide area…and we can bring people home safe.” Last year, Air 1 responded to 781 calls, assisted in 88 arrests on those calls, was first on scene 402 times, and located 190 missing persons or fleeing criminals.

SOURCE: www.durhamradionews.com

Montana Makes Deal on Firefighting Helicopters

Montana and federal officials have reached an agreement that will allow the state's five firefighting helicopters to respond to incidents on federal lands. They were barred from doing so last year. The agreement allows the military surplus helicopters to be used when lives are at risk or when the governor declares a state of emergency, according to Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation spokesperson John Grassy.

The helicopters were in the past kept from responding to fires in national forests and U.S. Bureau of Land Management land because federal standards require they use smaller buckets to scoop water. The issue sparked tension between state and federal officials with a shortage of resources available to fight blazes during last year’s active fire season. The five modified Bell UH-1H helicopters can carry 324-gallon water buckets; however, U.S. Forest Service policy, developed after helicopter crashes in the past, requires aircraft of that type to carry buckets 100 gallons smaller.

SOURCE: Associated Press

New Hampshire Unit Displays Aircraft for Aviation Day

The New Hampshire State Police recently participated in Aviation Discover Day at Laconia Airport in an effort to raise awareness of aviation and airborne policing. The event included a static aircraft display of a New Hampshire State Police airplane, a 1943 amphibious Widgeon, a PT-26 and a twin-engine Cessna 414, as well as guest speakers and flight simulators. One of the 20-minute talks at the event was “There’s a Bear in the Air—Law Enforcement Using Aircraft.”

SOURCE: www.unionleader.com

Florida Teen Arrested for Shining Laser at Sheriff’s Deputies

The Osceola County (FL) Sheriff's Office in early May arrested a 14-year-old boy they say shined a laser light at a police helicopter, a third-degree felony. The boy was taken to a juvenile detention center and released to his parents. Records indicate police arrested the same boy in November 2015 on charges of burglary, robbery and assault. Misuse of a laser-pointing device is punishable by up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine.

SOURCE: www.orlandosentinel.com

Small Fine Levied for U.K. Laser Conviction

A 49-year-old man was fined about $450 for shining a laser at a U.K. police helicopter as it was flying over Bournemouth. The man admitted to shining the light at the MD 902 Explorer helicopter in Bournemouth Magistrates' Court. He also pleaded guilty to resisting arrest when officers apprehended him at his home after the incident.

According to a Dorset Police spokesman, the National Police Air Service helicopter was responding to an incident on April 6 when the crew noticed a laser pen was being shone at them. Police were able to identify the address of origin for the laser and arrested the resident. The man said in court he has been “experimenting with lasers to see how sound waves can affect light waves.”

SOURCE: www.bournemouthecho.co.uk

APSA Welcomes New Members

APSA would like to welcome the following corporate and individual members who joined during May 2016:

Corporate Members

Av-DEC
PIXIA Corp
Platinum Simulators Inc.
Specmat Technologies, Inc.
The Kearns Group LLC

Individual Members

Lars Aakre, Norwegian Police Air Support Unit
Kevin Afflick, Charleston County (SC) Sheriff Office
Spencer Ammons, California Highway Patrol
Paul Apolinar, Phoenix (AZ) Police Department Air Support Unit
Patrick Bartusch, Independent Member
Kristin Blumberg, U.S. Army (GA)
Kyle Borden, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Aircraft Division, Troop O
Ryan Borkert, Contra Costa County (CA) Sheriff's Office
Davis Brenton, My Sky Helicopter Services
Michael Cadiz, Los Angeles County Sheriff
Matthew Clifton, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
Robert Cunningham, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise (NZTE)
Brandon DeHart, Oklahoma Highway Patrol
Brandon Eddy, Hoover (AL) Police Department
Jim Finnell, Independent Member
Kurt Foulke, New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau
Kenneth Fountain, Jefferson (AL) Air Support Unit
David Garvey, Maryland Natural Resources Police
Tyler Getz, Vertical Ascent Aviation
Justin Godfrey, NC State Bureau of Investigation
Ron Golembeski, PA Office of Attorney General
Kris Graham, Galloway Unmanned
Ryan Greenhill, Winnipeg (MB) Police Service-Flight Operations Unit
Robert Greer, Atlanta (GA) Police Department
Michael Hankemeier, Austin (TX) Police Department Air Support Unit
Ken Hardy, EBS/Vision Financial
Rick Hassna, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office
Russell Helbing, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Aero Bureau
Neil Hultberg, Helicopter Association International
Kennedy Jones, JJASPP Engineering Services
John Lowden, Contra Costa County (CA) Sheriff's Office
Todd Lund, Winnipeg (MB) Police Service-Flight Operations Unit
James Mackler, Frost Brown Todd, LLC
Frederick Mahone, Retired
Emilio Mascorro, San Antonio (TX) Police Department Helicopter Detail
Charles Massey, NC State Bureau of Investigation
Brantley McGee, NC Army National Guard
Michael Merrill, Citrus County (FL) Sheriff's Office
Don Mitchell, Abbotsford (BC) Police Department
Ian Moore, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources
James Ornellas, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office Air Squadron
Jonathan Parker, Houston Police Department
Aaron Penner, Winnipeg (MB) Police Service-Flight Operations Unit
Matthew Pierre, National Operation Centre - Air Division
Jeffrey Riggs, Orange County (FL) Sheriff's Office
Robert Roberts, Helibacon
Kurtis Romley, Fremont (CA) Police Department
Bill Seymour, Tulare County (CA) Sheriff's Department
Pål Simensen, Norwegian Police Air Support Unit
Louis Soviero, New York Police Department Aviation Unit
Salli-Ann Ward, New South Wales Police Aviation Support Branch