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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.

APSA’s TFO Course Headed to Tampa in Two Weeks – Only 4 Spots Remain

APSA will conduct our Tactical Flight Officer Course, Dec. 17-19, in Tampa, FL, at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Tampa Bay. APSA’s TFO Course is designed to provide aircrew members the tactical skills and information necessary to safely and successfully support ground units engaged in a variety of law enforcement missions. Although specifically designed for tactical flight officers, the course is applicable to pilots and crewmembers alike and is also a valuable course for unit supervisors.

Attendees will learn the elements of crew coordination, gain knowledge on how to set up a perimeter, direct the activities of ground units from the air, manage a vehicle pursuit and conduct a thermal imagery search using the latest in airborne tactics. Additionally, attendees will learn what specialized equipment is available and how to properly use the most common tools. This class is essential to the professional development of aviation law enforcement personnel and also meets one of the requirements for TFO training related to accreditation. Successful completion requires attendance at all 24 hours of classroom instruction.

Registration is open; this course is $350 for members and $450 for non-members. Additional details can be found on our website or by calling 201-631-2406.  Register today, almost sold out!

Nominations for APSA Board of Directors Closing Soon

The nomination period for APSA elected offices for the term of July 2019 through July 2021 is open through Dec. 15. The following offices are open for nomination: President, Treasurer, Canadian Region Director, Central Region Director and Southeast Region Director.

APSA Individual Members who are employed or appointed by a governmental agency under the laws of any state or nation, whose duties and responsibilities include the assignment as aircrew in or supervision and management of the agency's aviation and/or alternative aircraft operations unit, section, division or department may hold office. Members residing in that region shall elect region directors, and the director must reside in the region he is elected to represent.

Find out more and nominate online here.  Or, nominations may be submitted by regular mail, facsimile or email and addressed to APSA Secretary Murray Maschmeyer, 50 Carroll Creek Way, Suite 260, Frederick, MD 21701; email to mmaschmeyer@publicsafetyaviation.org and dschwarzbach@publicsafetyaviation.org; or fax to 301-631-2466. Results will be announced at the APSA General Membership Meeting on July 18, 2019.

Kick Off The New Year in Florida at APSA Safety Seminar

APSA Safety Seminars are offered free of charge for all active APSA members (a fee applies for non-members) and cover a wide range of topics through informative training classes as well as roundtable discussions. Marion County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit will be our host for the Safety Seminar to be held Feb 5-7, 2019.

The event will take place at the Hilton Ocala Hotel in Ocala, FL, offering upscale accommodations in the “heart of horse country”. Make your reservations by calling 352-854-1400 or online, using the group discount code of “APSA” before Jan. 19. Hotel parking and WiFi are complimentary.

Survival Systems USA, Inc. will conduct Water Egress & Survival Training in conjunction with this event on Feb. 5 from 0800-1700. Students will learn from a team of experts how to egress after ditching in water and how to use your emergency air and survival vest. Equipment and techniques will be discussed in a classroom/ground school setting followed by practical application in the dunker at the hotel pool. There is $225 registration fee for members, plus a waiver form to be completed prior to training. Note: A minimum of 20 participants must be registered by January 15, 2019 to conduct this training. Members wishing to attend the Water Egress & Survival Training must contact Tracy Whitehead directly at twhitehead@survivalsystemsinc.com to register.

Make your plans to see the latest aviation products and technology displayed in our mini-tradeshow, as well as attend classes and network with peers, all while enjoying the beautiful city of Ocala! Click here to register.

Police Helicopter Crashes in Georgia, Killing Two

A Metro Narcotics Task Force helicopter operating out of Columbus, GA, crashed into the Coosa River on Nov. 16, killing retired Columbus Police Department Officer David Hall and a 22-year-old passenger onboard for a ride-along. The Chilton County (AL) Sheriff's Office was first on-scene to provide rescue efforts but found the helicopter submerged and both men dead.

The Metro Narcotics Task Force is a joint unit including personnel from Harris, Russell, Phenix City, Muscogee County and Columbus. Officials confirmed the helicopter was flying into Clanton, AL, for routine maintenance. Witnesses on the river told deputies the helicopter struck power lines and crashed into the river. A Federal Aviation Administration investigation is ongoing.

SOURCE: www.cbs42.com 

LAANC Applications Exceed Expectations

The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) nationwide deployment of the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) has exceeded all of the program’s original objectives. Since the program began with a prototype system in November 2017, LAANC has processed more than 50,000 applications from drone operators for authorization to fly in controlled airspace. The system now covers almost 300 air traffic facilities serving approximately 500 airports, providing near-instantaneous approvals and allowing operators to quickly plan their flights. View a list of the participating facilities.

LAANC helps support the safe integration of drones into the nation’s airspace. The system uses airspace data provided through temporary flight restrictions, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) facility maps that show the maximum altitude ceiling around airports where the FAA may authorize operations under Part 107, the small drone rule for commercial and public agency operators.

The FAA has approved 14 LAANC service suppliers. Drone operators also may file for airspace authorizations using the FAA DroneZone, including for areas not covered by LAANC or when the operator holds a Part 107 waiver.

SOURCE: www.FAA.gov 

LAFD Releases Video of Woolsey Fire Helicopter Rescue

The Los Angeles (CA) Fire Department (LAFD) has released video of one of its helicopter crews rescuing three people from a mountain peak as the Woolsey Wildfire bore down on them. On Nov. 9, the helicopter was making water drops on the fire but was redirected to the hills of Malibu to perform a rescue. The pilots made their way through thick columns of smoke to arrive at Castro Peak, where they encountered a narrow ridge with multiple buildings, communication towers and parked cars, making it hard to land the helicopter. Moments later, three people and two dogs appeared from the shrubs. The victims boarded the helicopter and escaped the fire unharmed. View the video here.

 SOURCE: www.fox10phoenix.com 

U.K. Police Helicopters to Have Standardized Night Vision

The U.K.’s National Police Air Service (NPAS) has begun receiving upgraded helicopters via a contract with Airbus to standardize its fleet’s night vision capabilities. Under a nearly $2 million contract signed in December 2017, NPAS will receive seven upgraded H135 helicopters. The first aircraft was received on Nov. 12. All seven of NPAS’ H135s eventually will be capable of night vision operations down to ground level, enhancing their nighttime surveillance capabilities at all heights and in all environments.

SOURCE: www.collectivemag.com 

Virginia Beach Police Launches New Helicopter

The Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) has taken delivery of a new MD530F helicopter. The aircraft was welcomed at VBPD headquarters on Oct. 17 and began flight operations within the week. As the first MD Helicopters-brand aircraft to join the VBPD Aviation Unit since it was established, the aircraft is expected to deliver improved operational efficiency and increased mission versatility.

The VBPD Aviation Unit operates 20 hours a day, seven days a week in service of the 450,000 citizens that inhabit Virginia Beach’s 310 square miles. Two-person flight crews support ground officers in the execution of air patrol, search-and-rescue, surveillance, and crime scene and damage assessment. “The aviation unit plays an invaluable role in our ability to protect and serve the citizens and visitors of Virginia Beach,” Officer Reginald Padgett said. “As an effective command platform during critical situations like vehicle and suspect pursuits or missing person operations, the helicopter unit provides optimal situational awareness that protects both officers and civilians on the ground.”

SOURCE: www.verticalmag.com 

U.K. Drone Operator Fined for Interrupting Police Search

A man from Cambridgeshire was the first person in the U.K. to be convicted of illegally flying an unmanned aircraft near a police helicopter during a search operation. The man piloted his DJI Phantom 4 beneath the chopper, causing a search for a missing woman to be abandoned by Pilot Lee Holmes.

The U.K. National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter had been helping workers on the ground look for the woman, who was thought to be somewhere near the River Nene. “My first assumption was it was being used by the fire brigade or the police, and we were not aware of it,” Holmes said. “We quickly established that was not the case. The problem is we did not know its size or scale and didn't know what we were dealing with or who was controlling it.”

Once police identified the drone, they followed it a half mile and watched it land. A police sergeant arrested the operator, searched his house and found the drone hidden behind a loft hatch in his bathroom.

SOURCE: www.theregister.co.uk 

Indiana State Police Aviation Changing Headquarters

The Indiana State Police (ISP) Aviation Unit announced last month it is moving its headquarters to an airport in Greenwood. The city has agreed to build a new hangar and office space at the Indy South Airport to house the statewide police force’s aviation department. Several aircraft will be housed at the 12,000 square-foot hangar, which the city has agreed to build as part of a long-term lease agreement with ISP. The hangar will include 4,000 square feet of office space.

The Greenwood Redevelopment Commission has agreed to spend nearly $1.2 million to build the hangar, which is expected to cost a total of $2.5 million. About $1.3 million is available from funds already dedicated to airport improvement. State police will lease the hangar from the city for about $5,000 a month, with the initial lease being for six years.

ISP’s Aviation Unit was located at the Indianapolis International Airport until 2014, when the department entered into a four-year lease in Mount Comfort east of the city. ISP Superintendent Doug Carter said the Indy South Airport will serve as an ideal location, from which aircraft can get anywhere in Indiana in under an hour.

SOURCE: www.dailyjournal.net 

USCG Selects P1AR for SAR and Hoist Training

Priority 1 Air Rescue (P1AR) will soon be providing the United States Coast Guard (USCG) instructor-led ab-initio to advanced-level helicopter hoist operator training for flight mechanic aircrews operating both the MH-65 D/E and MH-60T helicopters. The contract has a period of performance for up to five years and approximately 475 to 500 students.

The USCG flight mechanics will attend the P1AR Search and Rescue Tactical Training Academy (SART/TAC) in Arizona to participate in ground school instruction, practice with USCG specific SAR equipment, and complete hoist procedural tower and synthetic training utilizing the virtual hoist simulator with P1AR instructors.

Historically, like many other military services, the USCG has trained its helicopter hoist operators through on the job training employing a structured syllabus with all hoist practice and training completed in the aircraft during flight; gaining this qualification would take anywhere from four to nine months. To meet the training challenges of the USCG’s increasingly demanding mission mandate and readiness needs, P1AR will provide the USCG a custom-tailored training solution to include eLearning and computer-based training (CBT), training guides and workbooks, interactive learning, and student training information management systems and support.

To address the very broad spectrum of USCG SAR mission requirements, P1AR will incorporate its proven instructional design approaches and standardized training modalities along with their state-of-the-art simulation system. The virtual hoist simulator will provide course participants the ability to complete mission specific hoist and SAR evolutions in operationally relevant environments and will further enhance crew readiness at reduced risk and cost, while also maximizing the training value.

“It is a tremendous honor to work with the USCG Office of Aviation Forces and USCG Aviation Helicopter Standardization Branches,” said Brad Matheson, president of Priority 1 Air Rescue. “This is certainly one of the most important achievements and undertakings that we have ever had the opportunity to participate in.”

Bridge Dedicated in Honor of Fallen Virginia Trooper Pilot

A bridge in New Kent County was dedicated last month to honor fallen Virginia State Police Trooper-Pilot Berke Bates. The bridge, located on Route 612 (Airport Road) over I-64, is now known as the “Trooper Pilot Berke Bates Memorial Bridge.” State and local officials as well as law enforcement joined family and friends for a ceremony on Nov. 2 to announce the dedication.

Bates was one of the two troopers killed in a helicopter crash during August 2017’s Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. Bates and Lieutenant Jay Cullen were on their way to provide over-watch for the governor’s motorcade when their helicopter crashed into a wooded area.

Bates, 40, was a 13-year veteran of the Virginia State Police. He joined the department’s aviation unit in July 2017. The Virginia State Police Aviation Unit helicopter pad at the Midlothian Turnpike headquarters was named in Bates’ honor in April.

SOURCE: www.WTVR.com 

APSA Online Meetings

APSA currently conducts separate monthly meetings for safety officers, maintenance technicians, and UAS operators. These 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. Contract maintenance providers to APSA members are welcome to participate in the maintenance meeting as well. To receive meeting information and be added to the mailing list, send an email to safety@publicsafetyaviation.org.

Due to the scheduling complexities of the multiple holidays as well as end-of-year obligations that December brings, these meetings will not be conducted during December 2018. Please check January 2019’s E-Newsletter as well as your email for the dates and times of next month’s meetings.

Ethiopian Police Attend UAS Training Program

Officers with the Ethiopian Federal Police attended unmanned aircraft systems training in Beijing in mid-November. The drone pilot program was organized by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security at an aviation school in the Fangshan District of Beijing and held on Nov. 14. In addition to learning how to operate UAS, the Ethiopian police officers watched demonstrations of applied drone use in rescues, fire emergencies and scouting.

SOURCE: www.xinhuanet.com 

Canadian Unit Adds UAS to SAR Capabilities

The North Bay (ON) Police Service (NBPS) in Canada has partnered with BAYSAR, a local search and rescue team, to add unmanned aircraft to its toolkit. Constable Steve Carleton met with BAYSAR members to review the use of drones during a joint training exercise in mid-November. The NBPS Emergency Response Team and BAYSAR set up a search scenario to explore UAS operations. “The North Bay Police Service and BAYSAR Air Search and Rescue have worked together under a written protocol since 2006,” North Bay Police Chief Shawn Devine said. “The volunteers in BAYSAR have demonstrated a high degree of professionalism during joint training exercises and actual search and rescue operations. We are quite pleased that BAYSAR has been able to add drones to enhance our search and rescue capabilities.”

SOURCE: www.baytoday.ca 

Australian Shark Spotting Unit Adds UAS

Unmanned aircraft will join helicopters and fixed-wing assets for shark-spotting patrols off the southern coast of Australia, according to the country’s Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services. The UAS will be launched in December after pilots undergo training. The police minister said the UAS, made possible via a $250,000 budget for Surf Life Saving SA (SLSSA), would fulfill an election commitment.

“Fixed-wing aerial shark surveillance patrols commenced this weekend running through mid-March 2019, and now we have this extra capability in our skies to protect beachgoers,” the minister said. “The use of drones in other states have shown they’re an effective tool in spotting marine animals in a range of environmental conditions. The vision from the drones will be monitored by qualified lifesavers who can assess the risks and hazards and will be in communication with SLSSA headquarters, allowing them to spot any potential problems in the water as they happen.”

SOURCE: www.miragenews.com 

Ukraine to Receive New Multi-Role Helicopters

The Ukraine National Guard and State Emergency Service will receive its first H225 multi-role helicopter in December. The Ukrainian government has ordered 55 aircraft to be used for a range of police and parapublic operations. The country signed a contract for the purchase of 21 repurposed H225s, as well as 10 new H145s and 24 H125s to be used by the National Guard, State Border Guard Service and National Police. The contract also includes a local training and maintenance center.

SOURCE: www.defence-blog.com 

Virginia County UAS Operations in Full Swing

The Fauquier County (VA) Sheriff’s Office in March launched an unmanned aircraft program, which was fully operational by June and has been used nine times to find missing people and criminals, along with helping deputies assess emergency situations. The unit has five UAS and five certified pilots. The program was launched with a startup cost of $62,871, taken from criminal drug seizure proceeds. “The main purpose is to save lives,” Captain Ray Acors said.

The UAS are equipped with cameras capable of day and nighttime operations. The sheriff’s office operates under the FAA’s Part 107 rules but has obtained waivers to use the drones at night and fly beyond line-of-sight by using a ground crew for assistance. The sheriff’s office pilots use iPads running DroneSense software and live video feeds to control the aircraft.

SOURCE: www.fauquiernow.com 

Dubai Police Training on Flying Motorbikes

The Dubai Police Force has begun training on flying motorcycles. The training began about one year after California-based startup Hoversurf unveiled the bikes in the Dubai Police’s white and green color scheme. Hoversurf donated its first serial production unit to the Dubai Police Force and is directly involved in officer training.

Brigadier Khalid Nasser Alrazooqi said the vehicles would be used to access hard-to-reach areas. He said the department wants to have hoverbikes in action by 2020. “Currently, we have two crews already training, and we’re increasing the number,” he said.

SOURCE: www.wreg.com 

U.K. Tests Compatibility of Manned, Unmanned Aircraft

A U.K. aviation industry collaborative recently completed Operation Zenith, an ambitious unmanned aircraft demonstration at Manchester Airport, to show drones can be flown safely alongside manned aircraft in controlled airspace. The UAS, overseen by air traffic controllers communicating with the drone operators, successfully demonstrated how a series of on-airfield tasks could be performed without endangering or disrupting airport operations. The carefully planned scenarios included an automated instruction to clear the skies for an “emergency” police helicopter landing.

SOURCE: www.suasnews.com 

South Dakota SAR Unit to Buy UAS

The Lawrence County (SD) Commission in November approved the purchase of a $2,000 unmanned aircraft system to be operated by Lawrence County Search and Rescue. The SAR unit wants to purchase the low cost UAS for training purposes, according to Search and Rescue President Richard Carlson. “It’s really been on our agenda for the last couple of years,” he said. “We wanted to get something that was much less expensive than the stuff that people are using, spending $25,000 to $30,000 in some cases. We sort of got ourselves to the spot where we thought, ‘Hey, if we get through a year and/or if we have to plan for this, and we don’t have any unforeseen repairs, and we’ve got a little room in our budget, we should buy one that’s less expensive but still useful.’”

SOURCE: www.bhpioneer.com 

Three Police Helicopters Respond to Collision Scene

Two Delaware State Police helicopters and two Maryland State Police helicopters responded to reports of a major head-on collision on Nov. 14. Rescue crews from the North East Fire Company and across Cecil County (DE) responded to the highway crash site and found three patients trapped in their vehicles. The first responders immediately requested multiple helicopters and at least four ambulances. Delaware’s Trooper 4 transported at least one patient to a nearby trauma center, and Maryland’s Trooper 1 and Trooper 6 left the scene at around the same time. The collision caused the roadway to be shut down for several hours.

SOURCE: www.firststateupdate.com 

Canadian Aviation Unit Says 2017 Its Most Successful Year

An annual report released in November this year indicated 2017 was one of the most successful years for the Saskatoon Police Service Air Support Unit in Canada. According to the report, the unit logged 1,041 hours of operational flight time last year, a 30 percent increase from 2016. The unit’s fixed-wing aircraft was involved in nearly 1,400 calls covering incidents from chases to breaking and entering. The police aviation program was credited with 221 arrests, a 71 percent increase from 2016. More than 725 criminal charges were laid last year via the aviation unit, an 84 percent increase from 2016.

The Saskatoon Police Service Air Support Unit has two teams comprised of a pilot and two tactical flight officers. Last year was the unit’s 13th year of operation. The department’s annual report was delivered to the board of police commissioners in November.

SOURCE: www.globalnews.ca 

U.K. Police Grounds Some UAS

The U.K.’s National Police Air Service (NPAS) has grounded some of its fleet of unmanned aircraft due to a fault causing them to crash. The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority said a “handful of drones” became affected by a glitch that cut their power and made them fall to the ground. The error occurred even when the UAS batteries appeared to be charged. The DJI UAS are used primarily in search and rescue operations, crime prevention and investigations. The outage affected the M200 series of drones. Police in Norfolk, Devon, Cornwall and the West Midlands are among those deploying DJI drones. DJI said in a statement it was “thoroughly reviewing” reports of power issues with the products in question.

SOURCE: www.dronebelow.com 

U.S. Attorney’s Office Issues Laser Strike Warning

The U.S. Attorney's Office, Michigan State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Federal Aviation Administration have teamed their efforts to improve laser threat awareness. In late November, the groups launched a campaign to reduce the number of dangerous laser incidents that have plagued state police helicopters and other air traffic in recent years.

A man targeted a Michigan State Police helicopter and four commercial planes with a laser in February 2017. He was tracked down and arrested. “It is critically important to the safety of all aircraft passengers and air crews, public and private, to have a state law that can be enforced when these incidents occur,” Michigan State Police Lieutenant Michael Shaw said. The latest statistics show that as of September, 41 laser strikes had been reported in Michigan. Nationally, the number increases to about 4,000.

SOURCE: www.thenewsherald.com 

Happy Holidays From Your APSA Leadership & Staff

At the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our progress possible. In this spirit, the APSA Board of Directors and staff would like to say thank you to all of our members. Best wishes for the holidays and a happy, safe New Year!

The APSA office will be closed Monday and Tuesday, December 24-25, as well as Tuesday, January 1.

APSA Welcomes New Members

APSA would like to welcome the following corporate and individual members who joined during November 2018:

Corporate Members:

CityServiceValcon, LLC

Individual Members:

Gabe Adel, Clackamas County (OR) Sheriff's Office
Ali Almheiri, Dubai Police Air Wing
Brian Barina, Texas Department of Public Safety Aircraft Section
Wilfred Blanchard, Texas Department of Public Safety Aircraft Section
Angela Bull, San Diego (CA) Police Department
Joseph Davidson, Broward County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit
Tyler Delnea, Calgary (AB) Police Service Air Support Unit
Jason Dolan, Clackamas County (OR) Sheriff's Office
Rudy Escobar, Texas Department of Public Safety Aircraft Section
Jeffrey Evans, Texas Department of Public Safety Aircraft Section
Craig Fluent, Federal Bureau of Investigation
Izak Gallegos, Texas Department of Public Safety Aircraft Section
Charles Galloza, Pinellas County (FL) Sheriff's Office Flight Unit
Andrew Gleason, Orange County (CA) Sheriff's Department/Tustin (CA) Police Department
Chase Gomez, Indian River County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit
Philip Gonzales, Texas Department of Public Safety Aircraft Section
Mark Greenlee, Sacramento (CA) Police Department Air Support Unit
Lee Hamilton, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Timothy Hardy, Washington County (NY) Department of Public Safety
Brad Hays, AIMI LLC
Carey High, Chambers County (AL) Sheriff's Office
Christopher Hosey, Georgia State Patrol
James Hunt, Lane County (OR) Sheriff's Office
Jarrett Ivey, Tuscaloosa (AL) Police Department - Aviation Unit
Steven Kielcheski, Austin (TX) Police Department
Chris Langham, Calgary (AB) Police Service Air Support Unit
Ronald Leac, Leach Strategic Partners
Chuck Leake, Missouri Helicopter Search & Rescue
Cody Lockhart, Teton County (WY) Search and Rescue
David Lopez, Broward County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit
David Massey, Indian River County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit
Andrew Melamed, Suffolk County (NY) Police Department
Jeff Mercer, Michigan State Police Aviation Section
Adam Murray, Maryland State Police (Salisbury)
James Orrom, SLSQ / Queensland Police Service
Kyle Ott, Louisville (KY) Metro Police Department Air Patrol Unit
William Pelleberg, Washington State Patrol Aviation Unit
Alan Reiss, Washington State Patrol Aviation Unit
David Richards, San Antonio (TX) Police Department
Daniel Rodriguez, Farmington Hills (MI) Police Department
Matthew Storey, York (Ontario) Regional Police
Marcu Tomerlin, Texas Department of Public Safety Aircraft Section
Jeremy Vandever, Louisville (KY) Metro Police Department Air Patrol Unit
Arthur Vera, Texas Department of Public Safety Aircraft Section
Derome West, Texas Department of Public Safety Aircraft Section