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APSA's E-Newsletter is designed to bring you the latest on news and events within the public safety aviation community. The E-Newsletter may also be read online here at our website.

Make Plans Now for APSA EXPO 2017 in Reno, NV this July!

APSA EXPO 2017 sets the standard for excellence in public safety aviation education.  Avail yourself of the latest in skills, techniques, tactics, regulations, practices, philosophies, methodologies, support programs, systems and factors in conducting safe and effective public safety aviation missions by attending our diverse Conference Courses and Classes.  Experience the vast array of public safety aviation products and services by visiting our 200-booth exposition  where exhibitors will showcase their latest technology to unit decision-makers and end-users.  Network with your peers at the vendor-sponsored special events while enjoying the exciting city of Reno.  All of this combines to create an exceptional learning and sharing environment in once central location.

APSA EXPO 2017 : Conference & EXPO Information

APSA EXPO 2017 : Attendee Registration

Advance registration is open through July 10, 2017

If mailing your registration, to receive the advance rate, APSA must receive the registration form postmarked no later than July 10, 2017, and payment MUST accompany the registration form.  After July 10, 2017,  ALL registrations must be handled onsite and will be charged the onsite registration rate.

For additional information and/or assistance, please contact the APSA Headquarters
at 301-631-2406 or bosborne@PublicSafetyAviation.org. 

U.K. Police Helicopter Bases to Close

The U.K.’s National Police Air Service (NPAS) will close three helicopter bases in April—NPAS Wharton, Wattisham and Durham Tees Valley. The closures are reportedly in an attempt to balance the national police services budget. Air support for the regions will now be called in from other locations.

Local officials didn’t give up on their bases easily. James Hind from Save NPAS Tees Valley said he was engaged in a two-year battle to keep the Durham Tees Valley helicopter. He said NPAS’ decision “completely ignored” concerns from members of the public, police officers and aviation experts. “The concerns I have, and I think many others have, is the time it will take to get to this area,” he said. “At the moment, a helicopter can be deployed within 15 minutes. It is going to take a minimum of 25 to 30 minutes—and that is if an aircraft is available.”

Chief Supt. Tyron Joyce, NPAS Chief Operating Officer, said, “We will continue to maintain essential air support but at a significantly reduced cost to the public.”

SOURCE: www.gazettelive.co.uk  

Police Helicopters Respond to London Terror Incident

Both police and emergency medical service providers dispatched rotorcraft in response to the March 22 terror attack in Westminster, London. The attack caused at least 50 injuries and four fatalities, including a police officer. “The [Metropolitan Police Service] has responded to an incident in the area of Parliament Square, and the Senior National Coordinator has declared this a terrorist incident,” Commander BJ Harrington said in a statement given at New Scotland Yard immediately following the incident.

Several National Police Air Service (NPAS) bases provided helicopter support, including NPAS Redhill and NPAS London. NPAS operates 24 rotorcraft, including MD Helicopters MD 902s, Airbus Helicopters EC 135s and EC 145s.

SOURCE: www.rotorandwing.com

NYC Firefighters Use UAS Against Blaze for First Time

New York City firefighters used an unmanned aircraft system for the first time to monitor a dangerous fire in early March. The $85,000 drone, equipped with high-definition and infrared cameras, was flown over the four-alarm fire to keep an eye on an apartment roof firefighters feared would collapse. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries in the fire.

"The roof started to fail and we had a lot of great radio reports, but that’s only verbal, so with the drone we had good visual pictures and it really helped us make decisions to put this fire out and keep our members safe," Deputy Assistant Fire Chief Dan Donoghue said. “Seeing it is helpful."

New York City area governments have been flying UAS for at least a decade. Until recently, they were operated under FAA certificates issued on a case-by-case basis.

SOURCE: www.usatoday.com

York Regional Police Upgrades H120

Canada’s York Regional Police recently upgraded its H120 helicopter, Air2, with high definition video equipment to complement its HD infrared camera system. EuroTec Canada performed the upgrade. “As technology advances, the equipment is increasingly getting better, lighter and faster, so the decision was made to have the team at EuroTec Canada install the various mission-specific upgrades,” York Regional Police Sergeant Andrew Owens said. “These upgrades will further advance our capabilities to better serve the public by providing ground officers with valuable tactical insight and assistance in patrol, surveillance and community safety.”

Air2’s new Churchill system enables the aircraft to display an augmented reality overlay, while the Vislink HD downlink system transmits high definition video to ground support units. Avalex high definition monitors were installed in the aircraft to allow TFOs a clear view of the on-ground scene. EuroTec Canada reportedly completed the necessary modifications on time and under budget.

SOURCE: www.verticalmag.com

May 1 Deadline: APSA Accepting 2017 Award Nominations & Scholarship Applications

For over 40 years, the Airborne Public Safety Association has encouraged the highest standards of professionalism in public safety aviation by acknowledging outstanding performance within our specialized industry.  Annually, we present seven awards to recognize excellence by our members and others whose actions have had a positive impact on our profession. To honor the academic achievements of our members’ children, we offer 18 scholarships totaling $43,000.

APSA is now accepting award nominations and scholarship applications for 2017. The submission deadline is May 1. Scholarship recipients and award winners will be announced during APSA EXPO 2017 in Reno, NV. The scholarships will be presented during the General Membership Meeting July 27, and the awards will be presented during the Awards Reception on July 28. For full details and to submit nominations and applications, visit http://alea.org/awards-scholarships-citations.

Miami Beach Police Department Buys Two UAS

The Miami-Dade County (FL) Police Department purchased its first unmanned aircraft system in 2010 and added two new UAS in late March. The department, which spent a $50,000 grant on its first UAS and another $17,000 for the two latest, has been slow to get its UAS operations off the ground. The department has stated it intends to use the aircraft especially in "life-threatening" situations in the city’s beachside high-rises.

"In a city of high-rise buildings and open space, there are circumstances in which it will be critical for the police department to have [UAS] flight and camera capability to see into areas where a threat exists (e.g., a gunman or a hostage-taker) or to look for a lost child or missing person in a park or on a beach," City Manager Jimmy Morales wrote on March 15.

SOURCE: www.miaminewtimes.com

MD Natural Resources Police Could Lose Helicopter Unit

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police saw its helicopter returned to service late last year, but the aircraft is in danger of being grounded again. The 1972 Bell Jet Ranger was re-launched last November after seven years on the ground. The police aviation unit, founded nearly 70 years ago, had been eliminated by the previous administration in a cost-cutting move, and the helicopter was transferred to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.

But Mark Belton, the state’s Secretary of Natural Resources, made restoring the unit’s airborne division a priority. He reacquired the helicopter and had it refurbished for $158,000. The aircraft is used to help catch oyster and deer poachers and assist with search and rescue missions.

On March 6, a state legislature subcommittee recommended deleting nearly $556,000 in funding for the aviation unit and the helicopter. The legislature is still debating its budget bill, but Belton hopes the helicopter can be spared. “I feel like we made a really good case for it,” he said. “I’m disappointed in the subcommittee vote, but we’ll see.”

SOURCE: www.bayjournal.com

Vice Chairman Designated at NTSB

National Transportation Safety Board Member Robert L. Sumwalt began to serve as the NTSB's vice chairman this month following his designation as vice chairman by President Donald Trump. The designation of vice chairman was made in conjunction with the President's intent to nominate Sumwalt for another five-year term as a NTSB board member. The NTSB has five board members, each nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate to serve five-year terms.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to serve our nation as the NTSB's vice chairman," said Sumwalt.  "I want to thank Christopher Hart for his leadership during his tenure as the NTSB chairman, and Bella Dinh-Zarr for her outstanding work as vice chairman and most recently as acting chairman. Together they have helped advance transportation safety, making us all safer, while also making NTSB one of the best places to work in government," said Sumwalt.

Sumwalt began his tenure with NTSB in August 2006 when he was appointed as the 37th member of the NTSB, whereupon President George W. Bush designated him as vice chairman for a two-year term. President Barack Obama reappointed Sumwalt to an additional five-year term as a board member in November 2011.   Before joining the NTSB Sumwalt was a pilot for 32 years, accumulating more than 14,000 flight hours. Sumwalt chaired the Air Line Pilots Association's Human Factors and Training Group and co-founded the association's critical incident response program. He also spent eight years as a consultant to NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System and has written extensively on aviation safety matters.

Source: NTSB

Florida Sheriff Upgrades Mission Equipment

The St. Lucie County (FL) Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit has added a high-definition infrared camera to its suite of mission equipment as part of a recent helicopter upgrade. Pilot Jeffery Shoner said the equipment helped the unit complete a rescue in early March within minutes of being on-scene. “It is a game changer,” said Sergeant Jimmy Adams, who heads up the Aviation Unit. “We can see with a lot more detail, and we know what it is that we’re looking at.”

The recent upgrades to St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office’s helicopters were paid for by a federal grant. The Aviation Unit supports more than 18 different surrounding agencies.

SOURCE: www.wflx.com

Peruvian National Police Creates UAS Unit

The Peruvian National Police force is developing a unit of unmanned aircraft as a complement to the helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft already in use. Interior Minister Carlos Basombrio Iglesias said the UAS unit would be “a big step in modernization…police aviation will be in the center of modernity.”

General Orlando Velasco Mujica, director of the Peruvian National Police’s Aviation Unit, said the unit had four UAS and was looking to acquire more. He said citizen security in Lima and other cities would be a particular focus, but they will also be employed in the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking. Peru, according to U.S. estimates, has the second-largest area under cultivation for coca, the base ingredient for cocaine.

Peru is the latest country in the region to incorporate UAS. Argentina announced in October it was introducing two unmanned aircraft for intelligence gathering and border control. Argentina is at one end of an air corridor through which drugs from Peru and Bolivia move.

SOURCE: www.finance.yahoo.com 

Snap & Win: Air Beat Photo Contest Launched

Enter your best shots in Air Beat magazine's 2017 Photo Contest to win a GoPro Hero5 Black camera. HERO5 Black is the most powerful and easy to use GoPro ever, thanks to its 4K video, voice control, one-button simplicity, touch display and waterproof design. You're gonna love it; enter Air Beat's photo contest today for your chance to win!

To be eligible to enter, 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 submission deadline is June 30, 2017 and entries are being accepted at www.airbeatmagazine.com. The more photos you submit, the greater your chances of winning. The GoPro Hero5 Black camera will be awarded on July 27 during the General Membership Meeting at APSA EXPO 2017 in Reno, NV. The winner is not required to be present.

Airshow Highlights Law Enforcement Helicopters

APSA Safety Program Director Bryan Smith and the Seminole County (FL) Sheriff’s Office helped organized a local edition of the American Heroes Airshow in mid-March. Smith, a decorated Seminole County pilot, said the airshow was in part intended to dispel some of the myths associated with public safety aviation and let people not only see how these machines work, but also ask questions.

While the pilots might seem removed from the action, Smith says the danger is very real. “People often call for helicopters when the weather is terrible,” he said, noting that bad weather is the No. 1 killer of rotary-wing pilots in action. In Seminole County, the sheriff’s helicopters also fight fires, using a Bambi bucket that pulls thousands of gallons of water out of nearby lakes and ponds. Taking all that into account and add in that pilots are “maneuvering these things, running camera systems, searchlights, microwave downlinks that maintain a perimeter around a scene, it becomes a very, very busy workspace up there,” shared Smith.

The free event took place near Orlando, FL and invited the public for an up-close view of helicopters and their crews. Approximately 25 helicopters from state police departments as well as the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, hospitals, private companies and NASA, were on hand.

SOURCE: www.orlandosentinel.com

Walmart Funds New UAS Unit for Missouri Agency

A local Walmart store is providing funds to help the Maryville (MO) Department of Public Safety purchase a video-equipped unmanned aircraft system. The gift comes in the form of a $2,500 Walmart Foundation community service grant.

The UAS was purchased and arrived in mid-March. Other recent police donations from Walmart have included $2,500 for a bullet-resistant shield and a pair of rifle-mounted flashlights, as well as $1,800 in store funds used to equip first-aid kits for each of the city’s 20 uniformed officers.

SOURCE: www.maryvilledailyforum.com

Helicopter Crews Rescue Hikers in Catalina Mountains

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter crew and the Pima County (AZ) Sheriff's Department teamed up to rescue two hikers on March 21. The hikers had to be airlifted out of a rugged area in the Catalina Mountains, north of Tucson.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said the hikers became exhausted and couldn't hike out the night before the rescue but had enough supplies to make it through the night. The helicopter crew launched at first light to complete the rescue. After extraction, paramedics found the hikers were in good health. For video of the rescue, see http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/34967271/cbp-helicopter-rescues-hikers-in-catalina-mountains.

SOURCE: www.tucsonnewsnow.com

 Royal Cayman Police Helicopter Strikes Tethered Kite

A Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) helicopter struck the line of a tethered kite flying more than 400 feet in the air in late March. Police said the aircraft encountered the kite line, described as a fishing line with a swivel attached, while on patrol and became entangled. The line snapped in the helicopter’s main rotor head.

“The kite itself was not seen by the helicopter crew during the flight,” according to an RCIPS statement. “The crew of the helicopter were immediately aware of the encounter with the line and completed emergency checks in accordance with their training. They immediately returned to the airport and landed without incident.”

None of the crew was injured, police said. An inspection by the helicopter’s engineers revealed the aircraft to be airworthy, with only cosmetic scratches, and it quickly returned to service. Flying kites higher than 100 feet is prohibited under Royal Cayman legislation. Police had been unable to identify the kite’s owner at press time.

SOURCE: www.caymancompass.com

APSA Online Meetings: April Schedule

Meetings are conducted through an online conference call you can join using your computer, device or phone. Online meetings are open to any APSA member. To receive meeting information and be added to the mailing list, send an email to safety@PublicSafetyAviation.org.  

For April 2017, an online meeting for UAS operators will be conducted on Wednesday, April 12 from 1:00-2:00 PM EST (1800 UTC); for Safety Officers on Wednesday, April 19 from 1:00-2:00 PM EST (1800 UTC); and for maintenance technicians on Tuesday, April 25 from 1:00-2:00 PM EST (1800 UTC). Contract maintenance providers to APSA members are welcome to participate in the maintenance meeting as well. 

RAVEN Has Another Near-Miss With Unmanned Craft

The Washoe County (NV) Sheriff's Office helicopter had a recent near-miss with an unmanned aircraft system, its fourth such encounter in the past year. “The closest one was probably within 10 feet of the cockpit,” said Deputy Doug Russell, Chief Pilot for the department’s Regional Aviation Enforcement Unit (RAVEN). "When you have a very small object like a drone come zipping over the horizon at you, it can catch you off guard, they're not easy to see, they're very small," Russell said.

Russell said watching for UAS has now become part of his busy flying routine, especially at night. He said the UAS pilots often launch to see what the police helicopter is seeing or obtain video of the police aircraft in action.

SOURCE: www.mynews4.com

New Zealand Unit Expands Police Helicopter Role

The Auckland division of the New Zealand Police has allocated funding that will allow its helicopter to be on-call 24/7. Police have said the availability of the helicopter will reduce the risk of injury from chases and reduce the “3 a.m. spike” in offenses driven in part by the previous lack of helicopter oversight.

Prime Minister Bill English last month announced a $503 million policy to provide 880 extra police officers to the department, with the Aviation Unit in Auckland seeing some of the benefits. The unit’s helicopter is currently only available at pre-scheduled times, with about 1,800 budgeted flying hours annually. The new funding will allow it to fly 1,500 more hours, with a 10-15 minute response time.

SOURCE: www.nzherald.co.nz

APSA Resources - Polls & Surveys

Did you know that APSA conducts short surveys and polls of items of interest to our members and posts the results on our website for members’ use?  A link to these polls and surveys can be found under the Resources tab on the APSA homepage, where you can respond to active polls and surveys as well as view current and archived responses. APSA is revamping this section of the website and is beginning the process of updating the archived polls and surveys. To this end, the 6-question TFO Survey was launched earlier this month. 

Your input is needed in order to ensure relevant information for your fellow members’ reference, so you are encouraged to respond and then check back often as we post new polls and surveys to the active section. Have a topic for a poll or survey?  Feel free to contact Research and Surveys Committee Chair Dave McVey or Dan Schwarzbach. We welcome your ideas!

Daytona Beach Unit Adds UAS Capabilities

The City of Daytona Beach Shores is investing in unmanned aircraft systems to help its police department primarily in search and rescue efforts. The move comes after a remote-controlled aircraft took less than two hours to survey the entire city after a Category 3 storm ripped through town in October. Once city leaders noticed the efficiency and effectiveness of the UAS, the decision was an easy one. “We all thought, ‘You know, this is a big thing. Why not use it for police?’” said Stephan Dembinsky, the city’s Director of Public Safety. “It's cheaper than a search dog. It's cheaper than a helicopter.”

Daytona Beach Shores is training eight of its police officers to operate a UAS for a variety of purposes, including locating missing people, search and rescue and finding suspects. Chief Mark Strobridge, a spokesman with the nearby Flagler County Sheriff's Office, said his deputies could use UAS in the future. “As of today, we don't have a solid plan but we're looking at all options," he said.

SOURCE: www.news-journalonline.com

U.K. Men Get Six-Plus Months for Laser Offenses

A 42-year-old U.K. man, who deliberately shined a laser pen at a National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter, causing a crewmember to momentarily lose vision, was given six months in prison on March 10. Another man, 33, was jailed one day earlier for eight months for shining a laser pen in the direction of two airplanes and a police helicopter flying over Merseyside.

The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to recklessly and negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft. His six-month imprisonment was suspended for two years, during which time he must observe a curfew and pay court costs. The 33-year-old was sentenced after pleading guilty to three counts of endangering the safety of an aircraft. He directed his laser pen at two commercial jets and an NPAS helicopter in October last year.

SOURCE: www.hamhigh.co.uk and www.wirralglobe.co.uk

Aviation and Law Enforcement on Display at Career Expo

A career expo sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) Aviation campus, APR Aviation, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Squadron 112 and Fresno City (CA) Police Department was held in late March to highlight careers in aviation and law enforcement. The event was part of the “Bringing Broken Neighborhoods Back to Life” community outreach program and attracted the local and regional community to learn about careers that merge police work and flying, among others. The event included a static display of military, law enforcement and general aviation aircraft.

SOURCE: www.thebusinessjournal.com

First-Time Launch of UAS to Monitor U.K. Soccer Game

The U.K.’s Cleveland Police Department used an unmanned aircraft system to monitor fans at an early March Middlesbrough-Manchester United soccer game. The police department, along with the Cleveland Fire Brigade, piloted the UAS to give specialists access to real-time high-definition footage. The UAS was not flown over the soccer stadium or close to the grounds but rather to monitor crowds gathered outside the stadium.

It was the first time either organization had operated a UAS. “If successful, there would be the potential to explore the use of drones in missing person inquiries, for large scale events, fires, chemical spills and road traffic collisions,” a Cleveland Police and Fire Brigade spokesperson said.

SOURCE: www.gazettelive.co.uk

Connecticut State Aviation Unit Pioneer Paul Vance Retires

Lieutenant Paul Vance, who was instrumental in Connecticut’s first state police aviation unit, retired from the Connecticut State Police on April 1. At the time of his retirement, after 42 years, Vance was serving in his long-time role as department spokesman. When Vance helped launch the Connecticut State Police Aviation Unit, its helicopters performed both police functions and emergency medical transport.

SOURCE: www.nhregister.com

U.K. Gets First 24-hour UAS Unit

The U.K.’s Devon and Cornwall Police is set to launch the country’s first 24-hour unmanned aircraft unit. The aircraft are expected to be used primarily to find missing people, take pictures and help with major crime investigations. The Devon and Cornwall Police Department is still seeking a director for the unit, which will launch this summer and be shared with nearby Dorset.

The plan comes amid warnings that cutbacks to police budgets have caused a “national crisis” and left forces with a personnel shortage. Assistant Chief Constable Steve Barry, the National Police Chiefs' Council’s UAS spokesman, said the use of remote-controlled devices would allow cash-strapped forces to “rationalize” their resources. “I would not be at all surprised if other forces follow in due course,” he said. “The question is not whether they will, it's when.”

SOURCE: www.news.sky.com

APSA Welcomes New Members

APSA would like to welcome the following individual members who joined during March 2017:

Corporate Members:

Airbox Systems
Arista Aviation
Bader Models
Boost Human External Cargo Systems, Inc.
Evans Incorporated
Luma Technologies, LLC
Luminator Aircraft Products
Rhino Air, Inc.
Spider Tracks North America Ltd. 

Individual Members:

Claude Boushey, Maryland State Police Aviation Command
Dwane Clifford, Cobham Aerospace Communications
Ross Curtin, Oakland (CA) Police Department Helicopter Unit
Frank D'Aoust, Ottawa Police Service (ON)
Joseph Davis, California Highway Patrol Valley Division
George Deluca, Santa Barbara County (CA) Sheriff's Department Aviation Bureau
Jayson Doumas, California Highway Patrol
Jordan Drees, Grand Forks (ND) Police Department
Michael Duncan, East Bay (CA) Regional Park District Police
Dan Elton, Redlands (CA) Police Department
Nancy Farmer, Calgary (AB) Police Service: Collision Reconstruction
Frederick Fell, Yuma (AZ) Police Department
Brandon Gilliam, Knox County (TN) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit
Jeff Hanson, Maricopa County (AZ) Sheriff's Office Air Support Unit
Daniel Harrington, Metropolitan (DC) Police Department Air Support Unit
George Hauf, Baltimore City (MD) Police Department Aviation Unit
Melissa Haut, Maryland State Police
Andrew Jarolimek, US Coast Guard (AK)
Jay Judin, Calgary (AB) Police Service: Collision Reconstruction
Jeffrey Kelly, Maryland State Police
Todd Lefemine, Santa Barbara County (CA) Sheriff's Department Aviation  Bureau
Chris Messick, Bakersfield (CA) Police Department
Marcello Muzzatti, Metropolitan (DC) Police Department Air Support Unit
Edward Nero, Baltimore City (MD) Police Department Aviation Unit
Andrew Osantowske, Evans Incorporated
Glen Perry, U.S. Department of Defense Police (DE)
Jason Reinfeld, Chelan County (WA) Sheriff's Office
Vincent Rodgers, US Army (TX)
Mark Rodriguez, Contra Costa County (CA) Sheriff's Office
Ryan Rogers, Erie County (NY) Sheriff's Office
Eric Rudzinski, Chicago (IL) Police Department
Jason Schmidt, Cook County (IL) Sheriff's Police
Timothy Siebold, Maryland State Police
Grant Smith, New Zealand Police Air Support Unit
Micah Smith, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency - Aviation
Bonnie Snyder, United States Park Police (MD)
Clayton Sutton, Middle Georgia State University
William Swank, US DHS Federal Air Marshal Service (OH)
Jeff Taylor, California Highway Patrol
Jared VandenHeuvel, Texas Department of Public Safety
Jonathan Vanerwegen, Oakland (CA) Police Department
Mike Vorachek, National Association for Search And Rescue
Elise Warren, Contra Costa County (CA) Sheriff's Office
James Westfall, Maryland State Police
Anthony Winstead, Stanislaus County (CA) Sheriff's Department Air Support Unit
Kenneth Yoho, Tomball (TX) Police Department Air Support Unit
Shawn Young, Erie County (NY) Sheriff's Office

2017 Northeast Region Safety Seminar; Book Room With Discount

APSA's primary mission is to provide training to the world's airborne public safety professionals. Join us for our 2017 Northeast Region Safety Seminar in Annapolis, MD on May 2-4. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Police Aviation Unit will serve as host agency for the event. Registration is complimentary for all active APSA Individual Members as a membership benefit.

We have an excellent education agenda planned, encompassing fixed-wing, rotary and UAS use and legislation. Take part in workshops and classes, as well as experience the latest aviation products and services displayed in APSA’s corporate member exhibit area. The Pilot/TFO, Unit Commander and Safety Officer Roundtables are open to all attendees, regardless of their assignment.

You can pre-register to speed up your check-in at the safety seminar. Click here http://alea.org/2017-northeast-region-safety-seminar-annapolis-md , call 301.631.2406 or contact Region Director Dave McVey at dmcvey@PublicSafetyAviation.org for more information. The deadline to reserve a room at the discounted rate at the host hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Annapolis, is April 18, 2017 (use code ALE).