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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.

Join APSA On-The-Road for In-Person Training – Register Today

The Airborne Public Safety Association is pleased to offer two of our most sought-after APSCON courses in person at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, NV. Join us November 30-December 2, 2020, for either our Tactical Flight Officer Course or our Airborne Thermographer Certification Course. This will be the first and only time we are offering these courses in 2020, so don’t miss this opportunity.

The Peppermill Resort Spa Casino is offering an excellent room rate of $70 per night for a Deluxe King Room in their Peppermill Tower, which includes their resort fee. You may find a cheaper rate online or from a third-party service, but you will also be charged a $30 per night resort fee on top of it!

We must have 40 registrants by November 9th to conduct these courses, so register today!  Visit our website for detailed course agendas, lodging information, or to register and/or book your room.

APSA Announces Additions to Our Webinar Training Series

APSA’s live Webinar Training Series was created to bring many of the classes scheduled for this year’s APSCON and Public Safety Drone Expo directly to you. APSA is pleased to announce the addition of 4 more webinars, extending this series into mid-January 2021. These 90-minute webinars are offered at no charge as a benefit of membership; however, registration is required. If you know of someone who is not an APSA member and would like to access any of these webinars, they can easily join APSA here. 

The upcoming scheduled webinars are: 

• Nov. 6—Nutritional Supplements, Sports & Energy Drinks, Dudley Crosson, APSA Aeromedical Liaison, Delta P, Inc.
• Nov. 9 – Use of sUAS During Over Water Operations: Launching and Recovering Aircraft from a Maritime Asset, Mike Seligsohn, El Dorado (CA) Sheriff’s Office
• Nov. 13—Technical Hoisting, Bob Cockell, Air Rescue Systems, Inc.
• Nov. 16 – Manned and Unmanned Deconfliction Over Major Incidents, Mike Uleski, FlightSafety, Inc.
• Nov. 20 - Aviation Accident Trends: Mark Colborn, Dallas (TX) Police Department
• Dec. 11 – Aerial Firefighting Tactics, Mike Sagely, Los Angeles (CA) Fire Department
• Dec. 14 - Use of Drones on Firefighting Missions, Scott Mlakar, Willoughby Fire Department (OH)
• Dec. 18 - Emergancy Management Use of Drones, Darsham Divakaran, Airavat Technology Solutions
• Jan. 8 - Battery Care for Your Drone, Doug Daniels, Highland County Sheriff's Office
• Jan. 22 - Law Enforcement Response to Aircraft Accidents, Scott May, Lexington Police Department (Retired) and Bluegrass Airport (KY) Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Training Center

These webinars all begin at 1:00 pm EDT and each requires a separate registration. To register for any or all of the webinars, please visit our website. 

Tune In For Tech Talk Tuesdays

APSA is providing our Corporate Members with the opportunity to promote their products and services directly to our membership through our Tech Talk Tuesday Series. Currently scheduled to run on Mondays through Nov. 24th and beginning at 1:00 pm EDT, these 60-minute presentations are being offered at no charge as a benefit of membership; however, registration is required. For a current listing of Tech Talk Tuesday subjects and presenters and/or to register, visit our website.  

If you are not a member, but would like to join our association and access these presentations, visit our Membership page. 

Miami-Dade Fire Obtains First Leonardo AW139 of Four

Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue (MDFR) has taken delivery of its first Leonardo AW139 intermediate twin helicopter, one of four it ordered in December 2019. The remaining aircraft should be delivered by the end of the year. MDFR’s AW139s will be used for fire suppression, emergency medical services, and search and rescue missions. Each helicopter features a cargo hook, rescue hoist and Bambi bucket. “As a former firefighter, I’ve been very impressed with this search and rescue helicopter,” Mayor Carlos Giménez said. “The AW139s are vital additions to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s fleet. They will provide a heightened level of safety and security for our fire rescue workers and those whose lives they work to save.”

Miami-Dade is the most populous county in Florida with over 2.7 million people and more than 2,000 square miles (larger than the states of Rhode Island and Delaware). From the coral reefs to the Everglades, the unique subtropical environment of South Florida makes this area unlike any other in the United States. MDFR operates 71 fire-rescue stations within unincorporated Miami-Dade County and serves 29 municipalities. Miami-Dade Air Rescue frequently provides mutual aid support to neighboring counties, including Monroe, Collier, Broward and Lee.

SOURCE: www.ainonline.com 

LAPD Approved to Record, Store Aerial Footage

The Los Angeles (CA) Police Department received approval in late October to begin recording and storing aerial footage of protests and other large gatherings from its helicopters. The approval came via a unanimous Los Angeles Police Commission vote to accept a donation of $2,150 worth of recording equipment from the Los Angeles Police Foundation, a private philanthropic entity. The vote followed a brief discussion about the equipment, its intended uses and the privacy issues it could raise.

Ten LAPD helicopters, about half the department's fleet, are currently equipped with technology to transmit video to commanders on the ground, who can watch the feeds in real time. However, the feeds could not previously be recorded or stored. The new equipment—two recorders, two mobile hard drives and two video encoders—will change that. An LAPD spokesperson said no explicit policies dictate what events can be filmed, and footage will likely be held indefinitely.

SOURCE: www.officer.com 

Continue Networking in APSA’s Meeting Groups

APSA conducts regularly scheduled online meetings for safety officers, maintenance technicians, SAR personnel, and UAS operators you can join using your computer, mobile device or phone. These 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.

The schedule for upcoming APSA online meetings is as follows:
SAR: Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020 from 1:00–2:00 PM EST (1800 UTC)
UAS: Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020 from 1:00-2:00 PM EST (1800 UTC)
Maintenance: Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020 from 1:00-2:00 PM EST (1800 UTC)
Safety Officers: Friday, Dec. 11, 2020 from 1:00-2:00 PM EST (1800 UTC)

Ohio State Aviation to Join Traffic Enforcement Effort

The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Ohio State Highway Patrol Aviation Section are joining forces to make the state’s roadways safer. According to ODOT, Ohio saw more than 6,553 work zone crashes in 2019 and 3,145 in 2020. The joint enforcement effort will begin targeting traffic violations in work zones in nearly a dozen locations around the state, watching for speed, following other vehicles too closely and failure to move over. ODOT selected the locations based on number of crashes, speeding issues and barriers used to separate workers from traffic.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol Aviation Section routinely enforces speed violations across the state, measuring speed by how long it takes a vehicle to pass between a series of lines painted on the roadway. The violation time and speed information are then relayed to a trooper on the ground, who makes the traffic stop.

“This year, we have seen an alarming spike in crashes on our roadways and construction zones,” Governor Mike DeWine said. "It's important that we implement partnerships and technology like this to decrease roadway crashes, ensuring both motorists and construction employees make it home safely.” ODOT said the pilot project will be evaluated and could be expanded next year based on its results.

SOURCE: www.wfmj.com 

Tasmania Police Receives $400,000 Commitment to UAS Program

The Tasmania Police in Australia recently obtained several unmanned aircraft and expects to use them in a variety of situations. Acting Assistant Commissioner Robert Blackwood said the new technology adds to the force’s fight against crime. “We now have a statewide coverage of drones…with 20 trained pilots and another five to be trained,” he said. "Over the last couple of weeks, we've seen the drones used really effectively, particularly in relation to officer safety and solving crime.”

Blackwood said the new UAS have been used in burglaries, suspect searches and stolen vehicle investigations. The department has also deployed UAS across Tasmania in search and rescue efforts and to help officers efficiently investigate crash scenes.

Police Minister Mark Shelton said the Tasmanian government has made a $400,000 commitment over four years to the UAS program. The money will also go toward UAS training. “There are three types of new drones out there,” he said. “They will be spread around the three policing districts.”

SOURCE: www.examiner.com.au 

FAA Conducts 2nd Annual Drone Safety Awareness Week

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will hold its second annual National Drone Safety Awareness Week, Nov. 16 to 22, 2020. The FAA is committed to ensuring the safety of the National Airspace System as we continue to integrate drones and other new technologies. Drone Safety Awareness Week is an opportunity for others to share their commitment to drone safety.

During this virtual campaign, the FAA and stakeholders will highlight important drone safety educational topics:

Monday: LEARN – What do you need to know before you fly?
Tuesday: IMPROVE – How can you improve your flying skills?
Wednesday: PASSION TO PROFESSION – How to go from recreational flyer to commercial drone pilot.
Thursday: START A PROGRAM – Learn about starting a public safety program.
Friday: IN THE CLASSROOM – How can you use drones in STEM education?
Saturday and Sunday: HAVING FUN – Why do you fly?

Use #DroneWeek to share your safety story.

For additional information, visit faa.gov   

Washington Man Arrested for Striking Police Aircraft With Laser

A suspect was arrested in mid-October for allegedly shining a laser at a Washington State Patrol aircraft over Tumwater. A local media outlet reported the aircraft was helping locate an elderly man who had wandered away from caregivers at the time. The man was found the next morning.

Disrupting a pilot is a felony in Washington, and the Federal Aviation Administration can fine violators up to $11,000 per incident. Washington State Patrol spokesperson Trooper Darren Wright said the latest strike was the sixth involving the patrol’s aircraft in the previous month. Most of the incidents have resulted in arrests.

SOURCE: www.thenewstribune.com 

CHP Helps Crack Down on Illegal Street Racing

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) deployed helicopters in mid-October to help stop illegal street racing in Visalia. The Visalia Police Department had responded to numerous calls for service at several locations throughout the city overrun by street racers and was eventually “successful in keeping the intersections clear,” a spokesperson said. Visalia police worked alongside the Visalia Area CHP to patrol the city and its outlying areas.

Although street racing happens from time to time, local police said it isn’t a regular issue in Visalia. “Last night, based on our intel, it was mostly due to a big group from the Bay Area hooking up with [another] big group,” the Visalia Police Department said. No traffic collisions or property damage was reported.

SOURCE: www.visaliatimesdelta.com      

Bell Delivers Helicopter to Help Fight Australian Fires

The New South Wales Rural Fire Service in Australia recently received a Bell 412 from Canada, where it was reconstructed and completed for firefighting operations. The Bell 412 is expected to be ready to combat bushfires this summer. It was the first time an Australian crew had transported a 3 metric ton Bell 412. To prepare for its journey to Australia, the helicopter’s rotor blades were stored in wooden crates and its entire fuselage was covered in protective plastic. Wheels were attached to the Bell 412’s landing skids, and the helicopter was winched into a C-17A along purpose-built wooden ramps.

SOURCE: www.sldinfo.com 

HAI Extends Deadline for Salute to Excellence Awards

Helicopter Association International (HAI) is extending the deadline to submit nominations for its annual Salute to Excellence awards that recognize superior achievement across nine categories, including airborne law enforcement. Salute nomination packages must be submitted to HAI by Nov. 20, 2020, to be considered.

Membership in HAI is not a requirement; any person can nominate anyone. Have you or someone you know accomplished significant achievements using helicopters or unmanned aircraft systems? If so, take time and submit a nomination to these awards, which now also recognize UAS professionals and operations. “HAI has long recognized individuals and teams in the rotorcraft industry,” stated HAI President and CEO Jim Viola. “This year, we also wanted to recognize the efforts of those who are expanding the field of rotorcraft to include UAS. These industry professionals are producing meaningful work, and we are excited to include them in our awards program.”

More information about submitting nominations is available at www.rotor.org/salute. Award recipients are acknowledged for their efforts each year at HAI HELI-EXPO, which will be held in 2021 in New Orleans, March 22–25.

FLIR Develops Sensor for Detecting Methane Gas

FLIR Systems has developed a drone-integrated sensor capable of quickly detecting odorless and colorless methane gas. Methane gas leaks are not only toxic at some concentrations, the gas is also flammable and can cause explosions. FLIR’s MUVE C360 can be deployed when a possible leak is reported to police or fire personnel, who traditionally would be suited in protective gear before entering the scene with a hand-held gas monitor.

The small MUVE C360 can be attached to a commercial drone equipped with a visual camera for situational awareness. Using a drone equipped with the MUVE C360, firefighters can determine gas leaks at an incident from a safe distance and engage armed with the right equipment and an accurate understanding of the situation. The MUVE C360 provides faster response times and detection of multiple gasses.

SOURCE: www.dronelife.com 

Fireball-Dropping UAS Among New Technology Helping Fight Fires

Firefighters have begun using an array of technologies, including fireball dropping unmanned aircraft and repurposed passenger jets, to enhance their ground-based techniques as unprecedented wildfires ravage California and much of the U.S. West. While firefighters still depend on cutting firebreaks, setting backfires and spraying water, they must be quicker, safer and cover greater ground in an age of more and bigger fires consuming millions of acres in a single season.

Because of their size and maneuverability, drones can access places fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters cannot. At least 30 pilots guiding some two dozen drones are fighting wildfires in Oregon, California, Colorado and elsewhere. That’s twice as many as last year, when the U.S. Wildfire Management Technology Act was signed into law to allow more drones to be used to fight wildfires. “We’re getting a significant increase in requests this year,” said Joe Suarez, a drone specialist with the National Park Service and superintendent. “We don’t have the pilots or aircraft to meet the needs.”

SOURCE: www.nationalgeographic.co.uk 

California Sheriff’s Helicopters Help Confiscate Illegal Marijuana

The Ventura County (CA) Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Bureau, in partnership with the department’s SWAT team and aviation unit, has completed 18 illegal marijuana cultivation investigations on public or private land in and around the Los Padres National Forest in Northern Ventura County. The investigations yielded 74,600 marijuana plants and 1,500 pounds of harvested marijuana. Eleven suspects were arrested, and 84 firearms were seized at the grow sites. The confiscations represent a significant increase in plants, processed marijuana, firearms and arrests from previous years.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has worked with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California National Guard Counter Drug Task Force, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Campaign Against Marijuana Planting program to eradicate illicit marijuana cultivations. The sheriff’s office receives grant funding from the Forest Service and Drug Enforcement Administration to locate, investigate and remove the illegal plants, sometimes with the use of helicopter hoists.

SOURCE: www.edhat.com 

Cobham Granted FAA Authorization for RT-7000

Cobham Aerospace Connectivity’s RT-7000 Airborne Tactical Radio has received technical standard order authorization (TSOA) from the Federal Aviation Administration. TSOAs set performance standards for specified materials, parts and appliances used on civil aircraft and represent both design and production approval. Cobham’s RT-7000 radio suite for airborne tactical communications can supply P25, Tetra and LTE-based technology for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft engaged in law enforcement, commercial and government air medical transport, SAR operations, military applications and border security missions.

SOURCE: Cobham Aerospace Connectivity

Connecticut Fire Department Receives Donated Drone

The East Great Plain (CT) Volunteer Fire Department received a donation of a new unmanned aircraft in late October. Autel Robotics and FoxFury Lighting gifted the UAS and its lights to the National Public Safety Drone Donation Program, which then donated the equipment to the fire department. The national program has donated 22 UAS to fire and police departments and search and rescue groups across the country, according to its founder, Marc Langley. In Connecticut, the program has also donated UAS to public safety operators in West Hartford and soon plans to give one to West Haven.

East Great Plain Fire Chief Keith Milton said he heard about the donation program through an email from the Connecticut Fire Academy and applied for a drone in November 2018. He said the UAS will be helpful in responding to brush fires, seeing portions of buildings firefighters have difficulty accessing, assisting with search and rescue incidents and addressing water-based incidents. The drone will be available to any of East Great Plain’s fire departments, as well as police, Milton said. East Great Plain Assistant Fire Chief Joseph Jackson and Firefighter Matthew Madore have received Federal Aviation Administration UAS pilot’s licenses, and they will help train other department members to operate the aircraft.

SOURCE: www.firehouse.com 

Man Sentenced Seven Months for Shining Laser at NPAS Helicopter

A man who shined a laser pen at a U.K. National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter in a deliberate and sustained attack has been jailed for seven months. The 33-year-old admitted shining or directing a laser beam toward a police helicopter on March 17, as the NPAS crew helped local police hunt for burglars. The man pointed the laser pen at the helicopter for 15 minutes, forcing the pilot and crew to don laser protective goggles and abandon their mission. They were able to pinpoint the source of the attack, and the man was arrested despite claiming he was using the laser to find a cigarette he had dropped.

“It was a reckless act. There was a significant risk of an accident in a built-up area,” Judge Michael Fitton said in his decision. “The consequences would have been devastating for those on board had they lost control. The initial account you gave to the police was nonsense. You are 33 and old enough to know better.”

SOURCE: www.ukaviation.news 

Video: Broward Aviation Unit Helps Make Armed Carjacking Arrest

A Broward County (FL) Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit crew helped locate a carjacked vehicle and directed Miami-Dade Police Department officers to its location in late September. Police eventually arrested two armed suspects. The suspects reportedly stole a white Mercedes-Benz at gunpoint before fleeing across Pompano Beach.

The aviation unit tracked the stolen car into Fort Lauderdale, where the two suspects bailed out of the vehicle. Using information supplied by the aircrew, a Broward Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit searched for the suspects and found them hiding in the backyard of a home. The man and woman were taken into custody without incident; watch the video here. The man was held on charges of grand theft auto, resisting an officer without violence, and fleeing and eluding; the woman faces charges of grand theft auto and resisting an officer without violence.

SOURCE: www.publishedreporter.com 

Alabama Man Prosecuted for Pointing Lights at Military, Police Aircraft

A Dale County (AL) man is accused of obstructing government operations and pointing a laser at police aircraft, according to the Dale County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). DCSO learned someone was shining lasers and high-powered spotlights at military aircraft around Cairns Army Airfield in early October. The department dispatched its own aircraft to find the suspect.

Once it had arrived on-scene, the sheriff’s aircraft was hit with a spotlight, and the crew tracked the source to a home near the airfield, landing near it while the suspect tried to run on foot. The aircrew’s tactical flight officer chased the 44-year-old into a wooded area and took him into custody. The Federal Aviation Administration and FBI will handle further prosecution.

SOURCE: www.dothanfirst.com 

Arson Suspect Trapped By Fire, Rescued by Sheriff's Helicopter and Arrested

An arson suspect became trapped above a vegetation fire in the Jurupa Hills area of Fontana on Nov. 1 and was rescued by a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department helicopter before being arrested, authorities said.

The suspect was identified as Luis Mondragon, a 34-year-old man from Colton.

The crew of 40King6 responded to the location and searched for stranded hikers near the fire. The crew located a man, later identified as Mondragon, standing on a large boulder surrounded by heavy smoke and fire. The crew learned from officers on the scene that Mondragon was suspected of arson. The crew determined his life was in immediate jeopardy and a rescue must be completed.

The crew's flight officer transitioned to the back seat while in flight and prepared for a hover step rescue. The flight officer stepped out onto the helicopter skid and directed the pilot into position over Mondragon. The pilot hovered the helicopter into position and Mondragon was pulled into the helicopter. The crew flew away from the fire, landed in a field nearby, and detained Mondragon until officers arrived to take custody of him.

SOURCE: https://www.fontanaheraldnews.com/ 

Michigan State Aviation Team Helps Locate Missing Hunter

A Michigan State Police Aviation crew helped guide rescue teams to a missing hunter in mid-October. The effort required coordination among air and ground units as crews sought the 70-year-old man in Missaukee County. The man was reported missing when he failed to return from his hunting trip as expected. According to officials, Michigan State Police Troopers and K-9 teams, as well as Missaukee County Sheriff's deputies, worked through thick terrain on the ground to reach the man, who was found and given medical treatment.

SOURCE: www.upnorthlive.com 

APSA Welcomes New Members

APSA would like to welcome the following corporate and individual members who joined during October 2020:

Corporate Members:

SEI Industries, Ltd.

Fargo Jet Center

Individual Members:

HSteve Aloysius-Quinn, Riverside (CA) Police Department Aviation Unit
Gerald Austin, Guilford County (NC) Sheriff's Office
David Eckersley, Spokane (WA) City Police Department
Joshua Emhovick, Nebraska State Patrol Aviation Support Division
Einar Espeland, Snohomish County (WA) Sheriff's Office
Jessica Estrada, Stanislaus County (CA) Sheriff's Department Air Support Unit
Kristoffer Eszlinger, El Segundo (CA) Police Department
Brian Fee, San Jose (CA) Police Department
Sara Felty, Bremerton (WA) Sheriff's Office
Steven Forbragd, Bremerton (WA) Sheriff's Office
Falk Grossman, Wildlife Conservation Society
Jerad Hanson, Overland Park Kansas Police Dept
Melissa Hardy, Stanislaus County (CA) Sheriff's Department Air Support Unit
Lauren Henry, Overland Park Kansas Police Dept
Christopher Howard, Maricopa County (AZ) Sheriff's Office
David Humphrey, Palm Beach County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit
Jason Johns, Dallas (TX) Police Department
Dale Johnson, Kootenai County (ID) Sheriff's Office
Grant Komoda, California Highway Patrol
David Koo, Seminole County (FL) Sheriff's Office
Scott Lanier, Alaska State Troopers
Brian LeMay, Alaska Wildlife Troopers
Robert Lindewall, Riverside (CA) Police Department Aviation Unit
Rosario Lopez, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office
Azusena Martin, Stanislaus County (CA) Sheriff's Department Air Support Unit
John Merchant, Okaloosa County (FL) Sheriff's Office
Joseph Mills, Charlotte County (FL) Sheriff's Office
Emanuel Otero, Tampa (FL) Police Department Aviation Unit
William Outlaw, Riverside (CA) Police Department Aviation Unit
Sanjay Prasad, Stanislaus County (CA) Sheriff's Department Air Support Unit
Jeremy Prosch, Kootenai County (ID) Sheriff's Office
Gabriel Ramirez, Stanislaus County (CA) Sheriff's Department Air Support Unit
Roberto Ramos, Stanislaus County (CA) Sheriff's Department Air Support Unit
Chad Ruff, Spokane County (WA) Sheriff's Office
Matthew Scales, Hoover (AL) Police Department
Travis Sears, Sumter County (FL) Sheriff
Paul Shafer, Edmonton (AB) Police Service Flight Operations Unit
Brian Shrier, Spokane (WA) City Police Department
Tyler Stoikes, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Paul Taylor, Spokane (WA) City Police Department
Greg Thompson, Spokane (WA) City Police Department
Ryan Welch, San Diego (CA) Police Department
Timothy Wester, Stanislaus County (CA) Sheriff's Department Air Support Unit