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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 Rescue Summit is a Resounding Success

The Airborne Public Safety Association was proud to be the new host of the annual Rescue Summit (formerly hosted by HRRA), conducted in conjunction with HELI-EXPO 2018 on Feb. 26. A record number of attendees gathered for a day of learning and exchanging ideas with others who perform helicopter search and rescue missions. APSA would like to thank all the members who participated as well as the sponsors whose support made the Rescue Summit possible. Mark Monday, March 4, 2019 on your calendars for next year’s summit in Atlanta, GA.

APSA Advances Public Safety Aviation at HELI-EXPO 2018

The last week of February brought thousands of helicopter enthusiasts together in sunny Las Vegas for the Helicopter Association International’s HELI-EXPO 2018. There were 51 aircraft displayed at the Las Vegas Convention Center with 705 companies exhibiting, including the Airborne Public Safety Association. APSA’s booth saw steady visitors seeking information on a host of topics.

APSA held a corporate member appreciation event on Tuesday, February 27, at Margaritaville Las Vegas that brought together approximately 150 members to enjoy food and drink and conduct a Corporate Council meeting. During HAI’s Salute to Excellence Awards Dinner on Wednesday, February 28, Deputies Eric Bashta and Jerry Osterloh from the Riverside County (CA) Sheriff’s Department Air Support Unit were recognized with this year’s MD Helicopters Law Enforcement Award for their heroic efforts during an incident in January 2017. Watch the video shown at the awards banquet that describes how the flight duo coordinated an effort to stop a violent criminal while being shot at in their helicopter.

Read more about HELI-EXPO 2018 in the March-April issue of Air Beat magazine.

Submit your APSA Logo Idea; Win a Trip to APSCON 2018

The Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) is accepting designs for a logo to complete its rebranding process.   The winning design should encompass elements representing public safety aviation disciplines, including but not necessarily limited to law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue (SAR) and emergency medical services. In addition, the design should incorporate the APSA wings as well as the APSA motto: “To Serve, Save & Protect From the Air.”

The contest winner will receive a trip to APSCON 2018 in Louisville, KY, including roundtrip airfare, lodging, and conference registration.  

The contest is open to all active individual members of APSA. Membership must be current at time of submission and remain current through APSCON 2018.  Any member with a creative eye and a passion for design may submit an innovative and professional logo concept.  All ideas, shapes and sizes are welcome, keeping in mind that the winning design must be suitable for creation as a patch.  Enter as many times as you want; multiple entries are welcome! Submission deadline is April 16, 2018.  Full details can be found on our website, including the official contest rules.

APSA Conducts 5 RPICS in Next 2 Months

The Airborne Public Safety Association’s Remote Pilot-In-Command Course is intended for public safety personnel, both sworn and non-sworn, that are interested in obtaining their FAA Remote Pilot Certificate under FAR PART 107.  The course consists of eighteen (18) hours of classroom training and is designed to prepare the student to successfully take the FAA’s PART 107 Remote Pilot Exam.  The course is a must-have for agencies to train their personnel on how to operate UAS and to obtain pilot certification. APSA has the following RPIC Courses scheduled through April 2018:

• March 12-13, 2018 – Williamson County, TN
• March 15-16, 2018 – Alameda County, CA
• April 7-8, 2018 – Wentzville, MO
• April 14-15, 2018 – Dunn County, ND
• April 21-22, 2018 – Willmar, MN

More information about each course can be found by clicking on the locations above.

Sales Tax Initiative Helped Fund Aircraft for Florida Agency

The Marion County (FL) Sheriff’s Office showed the community its newly acquired 2006 Bell 407 helicopter last month. The county’s penny sales tax initiative last year helped to pay for the aircraft. The helicopter was once a tour vehicle in New York. It was purchased in 2017 and then sent to Texas to be rebuilt. The cost to fully equip the helicopter was $3.35 million.

Lt. Don Standridge of the MCSO Aviation Unit said the helicopter has the capability to rescue people from inaccessible areas with a rescue hoist and can deliver 180 gallons of water to fight wildfires. Standridge said the helicopter’s sophisticated infrared camera system, which can help locate missing or lost persons or assist deputies on the ground with law enforcement operations, was like now having an iPhone as compared to previously having a flip phone.

Marion County Fire Chief James B. Banta Jr. said he is excited to have the helicopter to help them in case they need it and called it “a great enhancement” to everyone in the county. The chopper replaces a helicopter that went down in May 2017 while the pilot, Sgt. John Rawls, was helping battle a wildfire near Fort McCoy. Rawls, who was injured, managed to free himself and swim to shore. Although he was taken to a local hospital, from which he was released a few days later, he has remained on medical leave for issues with his back.

Rawls said he is “happy to see a new asset come to the department and the community to help us do our job better.” He said he is “doing much better” and expects to return to work in April.

Source: www.ocala.com

Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Puts New Helicopter into Service

On Feb. 26, Fresno County (CA) Sheriff Office accepted its new helicopter, a MD 530F. This state-of-the-art aircraft will be a valuable resource for search and rescue operations, as well as daily law enforcement duties. An interesting fact about this helicopter is that all of its parts were manufactured and assembled in the United States.

The new aircraft is replacing one of the FCSO’s two existing helicopters, EAGLE One and EAGLE Two, which are MD 500E models. The newest aircraft offers more power and has the ability to fly at higher elevations in hotter weather. Funds from the 2015–2016 budget and federal asset forfeiture paid for the aircraft.

Sheriff Margaret Mims is in the process of securing funds to purchase another new helicopter.  The Sheriff’s Office has already set aside $1.8 million, which the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) presented to the FCSO as part of proceeds seized during its investigation of a synthetic drug trafficking operation.

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Air Support Unit is a force multiplier with unique capabilities to impact the effectiveness of ground-based patrol deputies, search and rescue teams, narcotics detectives and allied law enforcement agencies throughout Fresno County. The aviation unit operates seven days a week, 365 days a year and consists of two helicopters and one fixed-wing airplane.

LAPD Showcases First AS350 With HUMS & Sky Connect

The Los Angeles (CA) Police Department recently became the first department to operate an AS350 helicopter with the Honeywell VXP Health & Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) and Sky Connect Tracker III. Diagnostic Solutions International, LLC (DSI) installed the advanced avionics in late February. “A HUMS system is vital to the safety of these aircraft and the city,” said Brian Hatcher, DSI managing director. “The HUMS will help the LAPD operators keep their AS350 in operation by enabling improved maintenance planning and reduced downtime.”

Honeywell’s VXP solutions are sensor-based monitoring systems that continuously monitor aircraft vibration data at numerous points throughout the drive train, determine component health and pinpoint anomalies before they become failures. HUMS solutions enable operators to anticipate mechanical failures, make maintenance decisions and act when maintenance is necessary.

SOURCE: www.dsi-hums.com

APSA Accepting 2018 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 accepting award nominations and scholarship applications now through May 1, 2018. Scholarship recipients and award winners will be announced during APSCON 2018 in Louisville, KY. The scholarships will be presented during the General Membership Meeting July 12, and the awards will be presented during the Awards Reception on July 13. For full details and to submit nominations and applications, click here.

Gwinnett County Accepts Grant for New Equipment

The Gwinnett County (GA) Sheriff’s Office will receive new equipment for its aviation unit after county commissioners agreed to a grant in early February. The equipment will be purchased with a $424,392.33 award from the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Urban Area Security Initiative. Police Chief Butch Ayers said the money would be used to obtain a mapping and downlink system.

“This is part of a regional project to equip law enforcement aviation units in the Atlanta area with the ability to provide enhanced situational awareness for the pilots, as well as provide live video downlinks to receiver stations on the ground, such as command posts, emergency operations centers, etc.,” Ayers said. The aviation unit operated two helicopters until one crashed last September. Commissioners authorized the purchase of a replacement in December. The equipment award covers one helicopter.

SOURCE: www.gwinnettdailypost.com

Royal Thai Police Contracts for Helicopter Support

Airbus Helicopters and Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) recently signed an agreement to support military and law enforcement helicopters in Thailand over the next two years. Under the agreement, TAI will become the main Airbus Helicopters’ service provider for the Royal Thai Armed Forces and Royal Thai Police. The Royal Thai Armed Forces and Police currently operate a fleet of about 40 helicopters. The aircraft are deployed for various missions within the Royal Thai Air Force, Army, Navy, police force and survey department.

SOURCE: www.verticalmag.com

Texas DPS Launches New UAS Program

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has launched a new unmanned aircraft systems program, about eight years after scrapping its first effort due to federal restrictions and maintenance costs. Over the past few months, the department has spent about $70,000 to purchase 17 UAS. The most expensive, an Aeryon SkyRanger equipped with a camera, cost $48,000 and can fly for up to 50 minutes. DPS spokesman Tom Vinger said the SkyRanger would mostly be used by the highway patrol for crash scene reconstruction.

The other new UAS will aid in search and rescue, disaster support, aerial observation, and crime scene photography, among other uses, according to a department press release. “The [UAS] is an excellent tool to deploy when DPS aircraft are unavailable, if a mission is too dangerous for manned aircraft to be deployed or when deemed more cost effective than conventional aircraft,” the release stated. So far, three agency officials have passed the 10-hour training course required to fly the UAS, which only can be operated during daylight hours. The UAS add to a growing fleet of DPS aircraft that includes 15 helicopters and nine airplanes.

SOURCE: www.expressnews.com

South Korea Olympics Security Includes Drone-Catching Drones

Among the extensive security technology implemented at the recent winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, was a cutting-edge device designed to capture unmanned aircraft systems. Security officials equipped certain UAS with nets to intercept weaponized drones that might threaten the games. The devices were operated by a trained group of UAS pilots and equipped with high-definition and thermal imaging cameras.

Security for the Olympics was a cooperative effort among South Korea’s National Counter-Terrorism Center, National Intelligence Service (NIS), Presidential Security Service, police and armed forces. About 60,000 security professionals assisted in the effort to secure the event. The teams set up 18 safety control offices scattered around accommodations, event venues and other locations, and a headquarters that began around-the-clock operations on Feb. 1.

SOURCE: www.bigthink.com 

Ohio Highway Patrol Helicopter Helps Find Missing Boy

A Tuscarawas County (OH) Sheriff’s Office team and Ohio Highway Patrol helicopter crew worked together to find a missing boy in mid-February. The nine-year-old had wandered into the darkness and snow-covered hills around his family's home. Deputies, state troopers and local firefighters were unable to find the boy for several hours, when they called in the Ohio Highway Patrol helicopter equipped with a thermal imaging camera. About an hour later, the helicopter and its crew joined the search and the boy was spotted asleep, curled up in the snow. He was wet and freezing but alive. Local officials said that without the help of the helicopter, the boy might not have survived much longer.

SOURCE: www.fox8.com

Virginia Unit Acquires UAS Fleet

The Petersburg (VA) Bureau of Police has acquired a small fleet of unmanned aircraft systems, and other Richmond-area agencies are considering implementing the technology. Petersburg Police Chief Kenneth Miller used his Twitter account in February to announce his department had acquired three new drones “to tackle crime and keep the community safe.” “We now have four drones to use in the city,” he said.

Police in Richmond, Colonial Heights and Hopewell, and the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico have yet to acquire or use a drone, but several are assessing UAS and weighing their options, according to reports. “We are taking a look at them, but no decision has yet been made,” Richmond police spokesman Gene Lepley said.

SOURCE: www.richmond.com

Arizona DPS Helicopter Rescues Stranded Hikers

An Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter rescued three hikers who were stranded and spent the night in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix. The helicopter used a rescue hoist to lift the three hikers from a ridge the morning after they initially called for help. DPS spokesman Bart Graves said a trooper-paramedic airlifted to the site determined it would be safer to do the extraction during daylight. Rescue personnel spent the night with the hikers and also were extracted by the DPS helicopter.

SOURCE: www.abc15.com

German Police Begin Using UAS

The State of Hesse in Germany has begun implementing unmanned aircraft systems for law enforcement. The Hesse State Police purchased and launched the UAS in February. To operate the unmanned aircraft, eight pilots have completed a two-week workshop with theoretical and practical modules. Police said the UAS will be used at accident sites and crime scenes but will not replace helicopters.

The Yuneec H520s purchased by the department feature sophisticated encryption technology and have use restrictions. They must be flown only in the operator’s line-of-sight within 50 meters during the day. The UAS may not be used above large crowds at demonstrations or sporting events.

SOURCE: www.internationallawoffice.com

VSP Finds Victim’s Body in River After Exhaustive Search

The Virginia State Police (VSP) Aviation Unit on Feb. 8 found the body of a woman killed in a vehicle crash 2 to 3 miles down the river from the incident site. The body was sent to the office of the medical examiner in Roanoke for examination and autopsy.

The local fire department responded to the scene of the crash on Feb. 7 and found a vehicle in the river. VSP, the Adwolfe Volunteer Fire Department and a local wrecker service were able to pull the car out of the river, but it did not contain a driver. The VSP Aviation Unit, tactical team and divers from the search and recovery team spent hours searching the area but were unable to find the woman until the next morning.

SOURCE: www.wdbj7.com

Tasmania Police Purchase UAS

The Tasmania Police have purchased an unmanned aircraft system and are working on a UAS policy to help the department fight crime while policing hobbyist drones. “The policy…will provide an opportunity to reduce work health and safety risks to police members,” Assistant Commissioner Glenn Frame said. Among other things, UAS are expected to be used for “specialist police activities” and general duty support.

The UAS policy is being developed while ownership is exploding in Australia among hobbyists and criminals. Last year, a local paper reported an international drug smuggling syndicate had used a drone to find out whether police were watching its meetings.

Australia was the first country in the world to regulate UAS activity in 2002. In 2016, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority ruled operators of drones under 2 kilograms no longer needed a certificate or license.

SOURCE: www.theadvocate.com.au

APSA Online Meetings: March 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 March 2018, the online meeting for UAS operators was conducted on Tuesday, March 7. The online meeting for safety officers will be conducted Tuesday, March 20 from 1:00-2:00 PM EST (1800 UTC), and for maintenance technicians on Thursday, March 29 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. 

Bell Helicopter Drops “Helicopter” From Name

Bell Helicopter announced on Feb. 22 it would now be known only as Bell, a move intended to reflect that the company is more than just a helicopter manufacturer. Bell has also rolled out a new logo.

The company said the name change shows its evolution from a helicopter producer into something broader and more innovative. “Bell has always been about more than just helicopters,” company president and CEO Mitch Snyder said in a statement. “Our team has spent the past 80 years pushing the boundaries of flight and now we will accurately reflect that quest.”

The new logo features a dragonfly on a shield. “The dragonfly can take off and land wherever it wants, fly quickly and efficiently in any direction, and hover at will. It represents the mastery of flight, something Bell strives to achieve,” Snyder said. The rebranding marks the first time Bell has made such a change since Textron purchased it in 1960.

SOURCE: www.defensenews.com

Delaware State Police Dispatch Helicopter to Prison

A physical altercation on Feb. 6 between two inmates at a prison in Smyrna, DE drew the assistance of the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit, according to Chief Community Relations Office of the Commissioner Jayme Gravell. Gravell said paramedics responded to the scene and requested assistance from the helicopter. One of the inmates involved in the incident was treated and released by an area hospital. There are no reports of injury to department of corrections staff, Gravell said. The helicopter, Trooper 4, was reportedly utilized for transport.

SOURCE: www.firststateupdate.com

Oregon Department Seeing Success With UAS Unit

The Bend (OR) Police Department recently apprehended a career criminal stockpiling weapons in Central Oregon with the assistance of an unmanned aircraft system. The department has been using drones for about 11 months.

The Bend Police Department operates two UAS, a DJI Mavic (about $1,500) and DJI Inspire outfitted with a thermal imaging camera (about $20,000). Lieutenant Brian Beekman said they’re used several times a week to great effect. “We’re trying to use this great tool to our advantage,” he said. “And we’re trying to be transparent.”

Bend Police’s six officers on UAS detail have commercial certificates under the FAA’s Part 107 program. Oregon law forbids law enforcement use of UAS expect in circumstances such as search and rescue operations. Warrants are required in most instances, and drones may not be used to establish reasonable suspicion or probable cause.

SOURCE: www.bendbulletin.com

San Bernardino Sheriff’s Helicopter Struck With

A California man spent Feb. 9 in jail after being accused of pointing a laser at a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department helicopter. The 35-year-old was arrested on suspicion of discharging a laser at an aircraft, booked and later released on bail.

The sheriff’s helicopter crew was assisting deputies on the ground that were looking for a suspicious subject when a beam from a green laser repeatedly hit the aircraft’s windshield. The crew was able to pinpoint the residence where the laser came from, and deputies on the ground found the suspect in possession of the laser. The crime of discharging a laser at an aircraft can be charged as either a misdemeanor or felony under the California penal code.

SOURCEC: www.sbsun.com

UAS Helps Save Woman Asking Cops to Kill Her

The Stafford County (FL) Sheriff’s Office recently used an unmanned aircraft system to de-escalate a conflict with a Florida woman who pleaded to die at the hands of officers. The 57-year-old triggered a four-hour standoff as she waved a revolver, cursing deputies as she demanded that they shoot her. Rather than engage in a firefight, officers flew two UAS to monitor the woman from a safe distance. The airborne cameras gave police a close-up view of the woman and her vehicle as she paced and ducked in and out of her car. Officials said they could see a liquor bottle and believed the woman was taking pills.

SOURCE: www.fredericksburg.com

NTSB Cites Pilot Error for Kansas Highway Patrol Helicopter Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board determined pilot error was responsible for last July’s Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter accident in which two troopers suffered minor injuries at Philip Billard Municipal Airport. “[NTSB] determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a building during landing,” read the report, which was issued last month.

A Kansas Highway Patrol accident report said Captain Gregory Kyser and Trooper Ryan Nolte were taken to St. Francis Health Center after the tail rotor of the helicopter struck the hangar on July 7 near the end of an early-morning flight. The impact caused the helicopter to make a hard landing. Kyser had been piloting the helicopter when the crash occurred. Both men were wearing safety restraints. The helicopter sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, the NTSB report said.

SOURCE: www.cjonline.com

Aviation Unit Helps Eradicate Large Cannabis Crop

A police operation relying heavily on aviation assets on the New South Wales north coast of Australia has resulted in the eradication of a cannabis haul worth $12.5 million. Since November, the New South Wales police cannabis eradication program has seized more than 6,000 plants found in dense bushland. Detective Superintendent Peter McErlain said aerial surveillance had been a key tactic in locating many of the hidden farms. "We work very closely with the aviation support branch, and PolAir is a great tool for us," he said.

The multimillion-dollar cannabis haul was taken to an undisclosed sawmill, where the large plants were bunched and sent into an incinerator. McErlain said the plants seized were "a lot larger and healthier" compared to other regions in the state, largely due to climate.

SOURCE: www.abc.net.au

Company Announces UAS Public Safety Grant Program

Unmanned aircraft systems trainer DARTdrones has pledged $100,000 in public safety grant funds to advance the UAS industry. The pledge was made in honor of the company’s one-year anniversary since appearing on ABC’s Shark Tank, a reality show that grants capital to start-ups. DARTdrones has tripled in size since the appearance and now offers training in 40 cities across the country. DARTdrones has trained more than 70 police and fire departments and utilizes flight instructors with both public safety and manned aviation experience. Learn more here.

SOURCE: www.ems1.com

Ohio Police, Fire Departments Team to Launch UAS Unit

Law enforcement and firefighting officials in Willoughby, OH have formed the Lake County Public Safety Unmanned Aircraft System unit to assist first responders across the county. The drones can be pressed into service in minutes and have multiple uses, according to Detective Lieutenant Jim Schultz, such as “crash scenes, swat scenes, crime scenes, tracking suspects, fire scenes,” he said. In late February, the Willoughby Police Department used the UAS to help pursue a 45-year-old facing several charges, including felonious assault.

Willoughby Fire Department Captain Scott Mlakar said local fire departments are using the UAS in HAZMAT situations, fires and water rescues. The Lake County Public Safety Unmanned Aircraft System now has five UAS, 12 pilots, cameras and payload accessories. The unit was launched with $15,000 in drug seizure money from the Lake County Narcotics Agency.

SOURCE: www.news5cleveland.com

APSA Safety Seminar Coming to Valley Forge

The next APSA Safety Seminar will be held in two months: May 15-17 in Valley Forge, PA. The seminar is free of charge for all active APSA members (a fee applies for non-members) and will cover a wide range of topics through informative training classes, as well as roundtable discussions. The latest aviation products and technology will be displayed in a mini-tradeshow.

The seminar, to be held at the Valley Forge Casino Resort, is open for registration now, and a group rate is available at the host hotel through April 28. Visit the APSA website for more information.  Don’t wait; register today!

APSA Welcomes New Members

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

Corporate Members:

INERCO Forespro
Sinclair Community College

Individual Members:

John Adams, Snohomish County (WA) Sheriff's Office
Irene Alatorre, Santa Ana (CA) Police Department
Brian Allos, Tampa (FL) Police Department Aviation Unit
Cherif Amin, Los Angeles City (CA) Fire Department Air Operations
Michael Aspnes, St. Paul (MN) Fire Department/Minnesota Aviation Rescue Team
Elie Aswad, Independent Member
Luis Badia, Florida Highway Patrol Aviation Section
Derek Baker, Cowlitz County (WA) Sheriff's Office
Timothy Barnett, Arizona DPS Aviation Bureau Headquarters
Spencer Basner, Las Vegas (NV) Metro Police Department Air Support Section
Rashad Benoit, Los Angeles City (CA) Fire Department Air Operations
David Bruening, Collier County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Bureau
Robert Bucho, Orange County (CA) Fire Authority
Dave Callen, Las Vegas (NV) Metro Police Department Air Support Section
John Campbell III, UND
Toby Catlin, Texas Department of Public Safety
Caylan Clark, Sacramento (CA) Metropolitan Fire District
Rick Combs, Los Angeles City (CA) Fire Department Air Operations
Justin Connell, Henderson (NV) Fire Department
Roderick Cooper, Arkansas State Police
Richard Cornelius, Cornelius Aviation Services
John Coulter, Williamson County (TN) Emergency Management Agency
Craig Covey, Orange County (CA) Fire Authority
George Cummings, Pegasus Technologies
Kyle Curtis, Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau
Taylor Dalton, Northwest Florida State College Law Enforcement Academy
Christopher Dasner, Los Angeles City (CA) Fire Department Air Operations
Tim Davis, Alachua County (FL) Fire Rescue
Scot Davison, Los Angeles City (CA) Fire Department Air Operations
Kenny Delzer, Las Vegas (NV) Metro Police Department Air Support Section
Darshan Divakaran, North Carolina Department of Transportation
Charles Drake, Alachua County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit
Michael Dubron, Los Angeles County (CA) Fire Department Air Operations
Scott Fielding, Alachua County (FL) Fire Rescue
Cory Frank, Houston (TX) Police Department Air Support Division
Chuck Groves, Los Angeles County (CA) Fire Air Operations
Stephen Hammack, Las Vegas (NV) Metropolitan Police Department
Justin Hansen, Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau
Paul Helmuth, City of Harrisonburg (VA) Fire Department
Brandon Herring, Washington County (AR) Sheriff's Office
Mike Hinson, Tampa (FL) Police Department Aviation Unit
Camron Iverson, Washington State Patrol Aviation Unit
William Jansen, Maryland State Police (Frederick) Aviation Command
Anson John, Las Vegas (NV) Metro Police Department Air Support Section
Jackie Keaton, USDA/APHIS/WS
Adam Knabe, Los Angeles City (CA) Fire Department Air Operations
Walter Kraujalis, AeronomX
Brian Lange, Missouri State Highway Patrol
Chris LeBlanc, Las Vegas (NV) Metro Police Department Air Support Section
Chris Loucks, Las Vegas (NV) Metro Police Department Air Support Section
Robert Marshall, Washoe County (NV) Sheriff's Office Aviation Operations
Paul Mauser, Pennsylvania State Police
Joseph McLain, Washington State Patrol Aviation Unit
Robert McLaughlin, California Department of Justice/CAMP
Shawn Mertens, Pegasus Technologies
Christy Mohr, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Reeve Mott, Pennsylvania State Police
Ken Napper, Sacramento (CA) Police Department
Tim Neumann, California Highway Patrol
Collin Nobles, Alachua County (FL) Sheriff's Office
Luis Ochoa, California Highway Patrol/Oceanside
Eric Olsen, State of Alaska / Alaska State Troopers
Jared Parks, Pegasus Technologies
Ryan Petersen, Las Vegas (NV) Metro Police Department Air Support Section
John Petschelt, Fox Lake (IL) Police Department
Tyson Pogue, Madera County (CA) Sheriff's Office
Corey Ray, Arkansas State Police
Mark Rivero, Southern Illinois University
Ivan Rodriguez, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Headquarters
Donald Ruberio, Las Vegas (NV) Metro Police Department Air Support Section
Steve Rugg, Utah Department of Public Safety Aero Bureau
Travis Sailor, Ft. Worth Beach (FL) Police Department
Mike Salber, Sanford (FL) Fire Rescue
Steve Sampson, St. Paul (MN) Fire Department
Kyle Schrage, Missouri State Highway Patrol
Charles Smart, Washoe County (NV) Sheriff's Office Aviation Operations
Timothy Smith, San Bernardino County (CA) Fire Department
Mike Smith, Las Vegas (NV) Metro Police Department Air Support Section
Courtney Smith, Collier County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Bureau
Michael Snyder, Arizona DPS Aviation Bureau Headquarters
Isaac Titcomb, Volusia County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Section
Matthew Wenner, Pennsylvania State Police
Adam Whalen, US Coast Guard
John Wilson, Orange County (CA) Fire Authority
John Winovich, Orange County (CA) Sheriff's Department Air Support Unit
Lance Wood, Maryland State Police Aviation Command
John Wood, San Diego (CA) Fire-Rescue Department
Bryan Woolard, Las Vegas (NV) Metro Police Department Air Support Section
Aaron York, California Highway Patrol Coastal Division
Michael Zazwirsky, Lee County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Division
Douglas Zych, Independent Member
Marcio Bailosa, GRAESP
Flavio da Costa Portela, Brasilia Fire Brigade Aviation Unit (Brazil)
Ned Dawson, HeliOps Magazine
Jose Marcio De Souza Lopes Batista Franco, Militar Police Federal District (Brazil)