| September 2020 | Airborne Public Safety Association, Inc. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| APSA E-Newsletter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
In This Issue: APSA’s Public Safety Drone Expo 2020 Shifts to Online Courses & Webinars More UAS Training: APSA Offers Remote Pilot-in-Command and Pix4D Courses APSA Announces 2020 General Membership Meeting Free Education Fridays: Live Webinar Series Continues Tune In For Tech Talk Tuesdays Watch Video: Sonoma Sheriff’s Helicopter Crew Saves California Firefighters Alameda County Air Support Begins Operating Jet Ranger X First of CBP Advanced Law Enforcement H125 Helicopters Delivered Continue Networking in APSA’s Meeting Groups Connecticut Department Unveils New Aircraft for SAR Ops Victoria Police Acquires New King Air 350ER Man Arrested for Pointing Laser at San Bernardino Helicopter Pima County Acquiring Two New Aircraft Santa Maria Police Makes First-Ever UAS Arrest Korea National Police Orders Two New Helicopters Florida County Acquires UAS for SAR Operations Bell Opens New Support Facility in Wichita Pilot Dead in Oregon Crash Flew for Sheriff’s Office Pilot Says She Was Forced Out of New Mexico State Police Abu Dhabi Police Aviation Reports Significant Year-to-Date Operations New York State Aviation Helps Recover Missing Swimmer’s Body NPAS Filling Seven Police Pilot Vacancies VSP Helicopter Mechanic Avoids Jail for False Records Baltimore County Man Charged With Pointing Laser at Police Helicopter Wisconsin Police Department Implements Drone Technology E-Newsletter Sponsors: COBHAM Aerospace Communications APSA Resources: |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Get Your Organization's News Online Send your press releases, company logos and photos to: Lisa Wright Join Our Mailing List APSA's Monthly E-Newsletters are designed to help keep you informed on the very latest information in the airborne law enforcement industry. Our E-Newsletters are distributed by email, as an additional benefit to our membership. To join our mailing list, you must be a member. If you are not a member of APSA, sign up today! Advertise in APSA's E-Newsletter For rates and availability, contact: Emily Tarr |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This newsletter is published monthly by the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA), a public benefit, California corporation. APSA is comprised of air crew and air support personnel in public safety and others who support, promote, and advance the safe and effective use of manned and unmanned aircraft by governmental agencies in support of public safety operations. © Copyright 2020 by the Airborne Public Safety Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this newsletter in whole or in part without written permission from the Editor is prohibited. Product and corporate names mentioned in this newsletter are the trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA), its Board of Directors, staff or membership; nor shall their publication imply endorsement on the part of APSA of any content or claims made therein. APSA disclaims all warranties, express or implied, and makes no judgment regarding the accuracy of posted information. In no event will APSA be liable to any party for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages resulting from the publication or any subsequent public distribution thereof. Airborne Public Safety Association, Inc. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
With the hopes of conducting our 4th Annual Public Safety Drone Expo (PSDE) as an in-person event dashed by COVID-19, we have developed a plan to provide as much of the training scheduled to take place during this event as possible online. This plan consists of three major components.
APSA’s 2020 Annual General Membership Meeting will be held virtually on Monday, Nov. 2 at 4:00 pm EST. Please join us. During the meeting, APSA board and staff members will provide an update on operations and a financial status report; recognize the 2020 APSA Scholarship recipients, the 2020 Air Beat Photo Contest winner, the 2020 Ace Recruiter of the Year, and longtime APSA members (25 years and up); and recap this year's Board of Directors elections. Participating members will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide suggestions. For establishment of a quorum, registration is required. Click 
APSA’s live Webinar Training Series, created to bring many of the classes scheduled for APSCON 2020 directly to you, is continuing to run every Friday through November 20. 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 
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 through October 27 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, 
The Sonoma County (CA) Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit rescued two firefighters battling the Woodward Fire in a nighttime helicopter operation on Aug. 21. Two firefighters with the Marin County Fire Department had become trapped on a ridgeline with flames advancing. “Henry 1 is the only helicopter in the region capable of conducting a vertical reference long line rescue at night. When our fire counterparts call for help, Henry 1 comes flying,” the sheriff’s office update read. “Once on scene, Henry 1 located the two firefighters, who were trapped approximately 75 yards from the advancing fire. To complicate the situation further, the fire was creating strong, gusting winds that intensified as Henry 1 flew closer to the head of the fire.”
The Alameda County (CA) Sheriff’s Office Air Support Unit has officially put the first public safety-configured Bell 505 Jet Ranger X into service. “Bell is proud to deliver [the] Alameda County Sheriff’s Office…one of the most technologically equipped short light single aircraft on the market today,” said Doug Schoen, Bell’s North American Managing Director. “With more than 250 Bell 505s in service and 45,000 fleet flight hours, the aircraft continues to showcase mission capability, exceptional performance and unmatched direct operating cost.”
Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first of 16 new H125 helicopters uniquely configured for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO). AMO collaborated with Airbus as part of a long-term fleet upgrade initiative, and the resulting configuration has led to one of the most advanced, high-tech law enforcement helicopters ever developed.
The New Milford (CT) Police Department, which launched its Aviation Unit only about one year ago, has purchased a new helicopter, Eagle 2. New Milford is the largest community in the area in the state of Connecticut, and officials said the Aviation Unit has proven indispensable. The city includes waterways like the Housatonic River and Candlewood Lake, making over-water operations, including search and rescue, a priority. The department initially launched its Aviation Unit in collaboration with the Stratford Police Department. The department gave residents a chance to see its new helicopter on Aug. 25.
Australia’s Victoria Police has received a Beechcraft King Air 350ER from Textron Aviation. Aviation service company Skytraders will operate and maintain the aircraft on behalf of the police department. The 350ER is an extended range version of the King Air 350i twin-engine turboprop. The aircraft will primarily support the Victoria Police Air Wing and its TFOs, who lead airborne law enforcement, training, search and rescue, and extended offshore marine safety missions throughout the State of Victoria.
The San Bernardino County (CA) Sheriff's Department arrested a man for allegedly pointing a laser at a department helicopter on Aug. 4. The helicopter was conducting an area check for a stolen vehicle when it was struck several times with the high-powered green laser beam. One of the laser strikes directly affected the helicopter pilot.
The Pima County (AZ) Sheriff’s Department plans to spend more than $7 million to buy two new airplanes and surveillance equipment. The department expects to fly the planes, both Cessna Caravans, almost every night. The airplanes will join a twin-engine plane used by Pima County for prisoner extraditions and a helicopter primarily used for search and rescue operations. The aircraft will replace two single-engine Cessnas, which cost less to operate than the helicopter but are growing old and difficult to maintain.
The Santa Maria (CA) Police Department used an unmanned aircraft for the first time in department history to find a suspect in early August. Use of the drone resulted in a stabbing suspect’s arrest, according to Lieutenant Terry Flaa, who oversees the department’s drone program, which was developed over a period of about three years.
The South Korean government has signed a $39.7 million contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for two KUH-1P Chamsuri helicopters to be operated by the Korea National Police Agency. The two rotorcraft are para-public variants of the Surion military helicopter and will be delivered by February 2023, according to KAI. The Korea National Police Agency will then have 10 KUH-1P Chamsuri’s in service. The two new helicopters will be equipped with EO/IR imaging systems, searchlights and medical equipment. In addition to the 10 police helicopters, South Korea operates three other Surion-type rotorcraft.
The Gulf County (FL) Sheriff’s Office recently acquired a heavy-duty drone using surplus funds from the Florida Sheriff’s Association. Gulf County Sheriff Mike Harrison said the UAS is equipped with a high-intensity camera and IR sensor. The camera is expected to make the aircraft ideal for search and rescue operations, as well as fugitive pursuits. “The infrared will be huge when someone is lying down and maybe concealing themselves—we can maybe pick up on that heat temperature that the naked eye couldn’t see,” Harrison said. FAA-certified deputies can fly the $36,000 drone up to 400 feet in altitude.
Bell Textron had the official opening of its new Bell facility in Wichita, KS, where the company will support multiple Bell programs and business areas. Bell held an opening ceremony on Aug. 6 at the facility with employees and executive leadership to commemorate the occasion. The company also celebrated the great Textron partnerships throughout Kansas. “The new Bell facility in Wichita is a great addition to the Air Capital of the World and will continue Kansas’ leadership in aerospace manufacturing,” said U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). “I look forward to seeing Bell contribute to our strong aviation industry as a defense and commercial leader.”
A helicopter pilot who died on Aug. 24 while fighting a wildfire in Oregon's Mount Hood National Forest had flown for the Gallatin County (MT) Sheriff's Office and worked for a private company based in Bozeman under contract for aerial firefighting with the U.S. Forest Service, authorities said. The pilot, Tom Duffy, performed search and rescue flights for the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, the department said in a Facebook post.
LeAnne Gomez, who became the first female pilot with the New Mexico State Police Air Unit in 2015, said in a lawsuit filed in mid-August she was “harassed, demeaned, belittled and discriminated against” on the job until she quit in March 2019. Gomez’s lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount. She also is asking the court to order the New Mexico Department of Public Safety to change policies and improve training and monitor the agency’s compliance with the changes for three years.
The Abu Dhabi Police (ADP) Aviation Department carried out 520 aerial sorties in the emirate in the first half of 2020, according to a recent department report. The missions included training and aerial ambulance services in addition to police operations. Brigadier Pilot Ibrahim Hassan Al Baloushi, department director, highlighted ADP’s willingness to respond to humanitarian calls and arrive on time in response to reports, save lives and provide humanitarian support in hard-to-reach areas. The department also organized 25 training courses, including 13 flight simulations benefitting 26 pilots, as well as seven courses on transformational leadership, during the first half of 2020.
A New York State Police Aviation crew spotted the body of a missing swimmer in the Hudson River following an extensive search in mid-August. The aircrew then directed rescue teams to the 36-year-old man, who had been swimming with family and friends before he went missing. He was pronounced dead at the scene after being pulled from the water by members of the Fort Edward Fire Department. The two-day search was led by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Personnel from the Fort Edward Fire Department, Corinth Fire Department, South Glens Falls Fire Department, New York State Police and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation all participated in the effort.
The U.K.’s National Police Air Service (NPAS) has vacancies for seven police helicopter pilots, a job that pays almost $80,000 a year. The service accepted applications through Aug. 16 and is in the process of going through them. The job description, posted by West Yorkshire Police, reads: “Flying to more than 20,000 tasks every year, crews provide effective aerial support to ground-based officers and in doing so improve operational response to incidents within the highest safety standards...Pilots also fly to pre-planned tasks. This can include support for large public events such as the London Marathon, Heads of State visits and large demonstrations. On occasion, pilots are called upon to land so the crew can assist people in distress.” NPAS requires applicants to have a commercial pilot's helicopter license and radio license, pass a Class 1 medical examination and have a minimum of 1,500 helicopter flight hours.
A former Virginia State Police helicopter maintenance technician was ordered to pay a $100 assessment in late July but given no additional punishment for falsifying a maintenance log last year. The 55-year-old mechanic pleaded guilty to the felony charge of “making a false writing or document” last December. He admitted falsely attesting in a maintenance logbook in April 2019 that he had properly tested the tension of a belt on a helicopter air conditioning system. No mishap resulted, but failing to perform the test could have resulted in a crash, authorities said.
A 31-year-old Baltimore County (MD) man has been charged with pointing a laser at a police helicopter in late July. A Baltimore County Police Department spokesperson said the incident happened on July 26, when the suspect stood in front of his home and allegedly pointed a laser through the cockpit of the police helicopter. At the time, the county aviation unit was assisting ground officers with an unrelated investigation. Officers flying the helicopter located the suspect and directed ground troops to him. He was quickly arrested and was held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on no-bail status.
The Linn (WI) Police Department recently made the move to purchase drone technology to ensure public safety; the agency has three DJI models in its arsenal to help out in various ways. The UAS has reduced the manpower needed to respond in situations by as much as 50%, according to the department. The drones assist during SAR operations and provide aerial images of buildings and infrastructure for maintenance and repairs to be completed. During the COVID pandemic, the department has also been using the drones to patrol without extra manpower on the ground, which allows social distancing to be better followed and reduces the risk of police officers getting the virus.
