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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.

Due Feb 15: Nominations for APSA Board of Director Offices

Participate in your association to the fullest extent possible by serving on the APSA Board of Directors. The nomination period for board positions up for election for the July 2021-July 2023 term is open through February 15, 2021. The following offices are open for nomination: President, Treasurer, Canadian Region Director, Central Region Director and Southeast Region Director.

Candidates for Region Director positions must reside in the region he or she is elected to represent. Nominations may be submitted online, by regular mail or email and addressed to the APSA Secretary. Please ensure nominations indicate the name of nominee, position for which the person is being nominated, and the person making the nomination. Both nominee and nominator must be current members and in good standing. Additionally, the person being nominated must be a member of APSA for at least one year.

Nominations must be received or postmarked no later than February 15, 2021. Submit your nominations here, or send them to Murray Maschmeyer, Secretary, Airborne Public Safety Association, 50 Carroll Creek Way, Suite 260, Frederick, MD 21701 or via email to mmaschmeyer@publicsafetyaviation.org. Additional information can be found here. 

Join APSA in Sunny Florida for First Safety Seminar of 2021

APSA’s first safety seminar of 2021 begins in less than three weeks! Hosted by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, this safety seminar is scheduled for February 23-25 in St. Augustine, FL. This event will take place at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort. A group rate $133 per night with discount code APSA is available until February 8, so don’t delay.

APSA safety seminars cover a wide range of topics through classes, roundtable discussions and a mini-tradeshow. Registration for both of these events in included in your APSA annual Individual Membership dues as a member benefit; a nominal fee for non-members applies.

Make your plans now to join us for some face-to-face training and networking, and to see the latest products and technology for public safety aviation, all while enjoying sunny Florida.

APSA Now Accepting 2021 Award Nominations & Scholarship Applications

For over 40 years, APSA has encouraged the highest standards of professionalism in public safety aviation by acknowledging outstanding performance within our specialized industry. Through the Awards & Scholarships Program, we recognize excellence by our members, their children and others whose actions have had a positive impact on our profession.

Annually, APSA presents seven awards for exceptional performance in or contributions to public safety aviation. And this year, APSA has 17 scholarships totaling $41,500 available to recognize the academic achievements of our members’ children. The submission deadline is May 1, 2021. Scholarship recipients and award winners will be announced during APSCON 2021 in New Orleans as part of the association’s 50th annual conference & exposition. The scholarships will be presented during the General Membership Meeting on Thursday, July 29, and the awards will be presented during the Awards Reception on Friday, July 30. For full details and to submit nominations and applications, click here. 

Virtual APSA Rescue Summit Scheduled for March 22nd

Due to the cancellation of HELI-EXPO 2021, APSA has decided to conduct Rescue Summit 2021 as a virtual event. So, while we can’t meet face-to-face in New Orleans in March, we will gather online for a day of dynamic vertical lift search and rescue training.

Rescue Summit 2021 will be conducted on Monday, March 22, 12:00 noon – 6:00 pm EDT, via a live, interactive webinar, and include various presentations pertaining to helicopter rescue operations including topics such as hoisting, safety and critical incident & accident reviews.

Rescue Summit 2021 is for all who use VTOL aircraft in search and rescue operations. Registration for Rescue Summit 2021 is included in your APSA individual membership dues; a nominal fee for non-members applies. Register here or call 301-631-2406 with any questions. All attendees must be registered to participate. 

If you are interested in joining our organization and avoiding the non-member fee, click here more information.

APSA To Conduct In-Person Remote Pilot-in-Command Course

APSA is pleased to offer our Remote Pilot-in-Command (RPIC) Course in person in Richmond Heights, MO, on March 16-17, 2021. Register here by February 23, as a minimum of 30 paid registrants by this date is required to conduct this course. 

APSA’s RPIC course is designed to provide students with a review of the Federal Aviation Regulations Part 107 Remote Pilot Certification Process and prepare students to pass the FAA Pilot’s Exam. Successful completion requires attendance of all online sessions. In addition, three briefings specific to law enforcement use of UAS are conducted. The course is intended for public safety personnel, both sworn and non-sworn, interested in obtaining their FAA Remote Pilot Certificate. Registration and more information are available on the APSA website. 

Drone Operator Striking LAPD Helicopter Pleads Guilty

A Hollywood (CA) man pled guilty on Jan. 24 to a federal criminal charge that he recklessly operated an unmanned aircraft system that crashed into and damaged the fuselage of a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter last September. The 22-year-old pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft. According to his plea agreement, the man heard police vehicles driving near his residence and a police helicopter flying overhead and launched his drone to investigate the activity.

The LAPD helicopter, operated by two officers, was flying toward a reported emergency when the pilot saw the drone and attempted to evade it. The UAS struck the helicopter, forcing the pilot to initiate an emergency landing. According to an affidavit filed with a criminal complaint in this case, “if the drone had struck the helicopter’s main rotor instead of the fuselage, it could have brought the helicopter down.”

LAPD officers located parts of the UAS, as well as a vehicle damaged by the falling aircraft. Further investigation led to the drone operator’s identification, according to court documents. The suspect will face sentencing on April 12. He could serve up to one year in federal prison as well as a $250,000 fine. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and LAPD conducted the investigation, with Federal Aviation Administration assistance. The conviction is believed to be the nation’s first criminal conviction for the unsafe operation of an unmanned aircraft.

SOURCE: www.justice.gov 

HAI Cancels HELI-EXPO 2021

Responding to an increasing number of voices from across the vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) industry, Helicopter Association International (HAI) has made the difficult decision to cancel HAI HELI-EXPO 2021. HAI will not reschedule this year’s event. Instead, the association will redirect its efforts to producing HAI HELI-EXPO 2022, which will be held on March 7-10 in Dallas, TX.

“Please understand that we did not make this decision lightly,” says James Viola, president and CEO of HAI. “HAI is here to support our members and customers. Leading up to mid-January, the majority of industry voices who contacted us supported holding the event, as long as health and safety protocols were in place. We took extraordinary steps, working with our partners in New Orleans, to be able to conduct a safe event.”

As a mid-January deadline for exhibitors approached, the world also saw a spike in COVID-19 cases. “Pandemic conditions have changed, and the majority of our stakeholders have recently expressed discomfort with the logistics involved in business travel at this time,” Viola says. “In response, we concluded that we had to cancel HELI-EXPO 2021. We’re grateful for the honest feedback that we received from our members, exhibitors, attendees, and other stakeholders.”

“Like many others during this past year, we have had to adjust course in response to changing conditions,” says Viola. “HAI firmly believes that the flexibility that our industry has demonstrated throughout this pandemic will help our businesses and individuals persevere and strengthen.”

Source: HAI 

APSA's Tech Talk Tuesday Series Continues

APSA has extended its Tech Talk Tuesday Series through mid-March with Bell, Concorde, Digital Airware and Standard Aero scheduled to make presentations.

Fashioned after the Tech Talks offered in the exhibit hall each year during APSCON, these 60-minute online events allow corporate members to promote their products and services directly to membership. The presentations are available at no charge to attendees as a benefit of membership; however, registration is required. Visit the APSA website for a current listing of Tech Talk Tuesday subjects and presenters and/or to register for these informative presentations.

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

APSA Extends Its Webinar Training Series Through March 2021

APSA’s live Webinar Training Series was created last year to bring many of the classes scheduled for APSCON 2020 and Public Safety Drone Expo directly to you. Due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, APSA has extended this series through March 2021 to keep the training and education flowing. These 90-minute webinars are offered at no charge as a benefit of membership; however, registration is required.

Next up is “High-Rise Rescues” instructed by Ken Solosky on February 12 at 1300 EST. To view the full schedule and to register for any or all of these webinars, please visit our website.

If you know of someone who is not an APSA member and would like access to this webinar, they can easily join APSA here.

Expert Training with APSA’s UAS Tactical Operators Course; May 11-13

Instructed by Tactical Drone Concepts, the Tactical sUAS Operators Course is three days of intensive training designed to increase piloting skills and provide students with the ability to operate in non-traditional sUAS environments. Students will be exposed to the equipment, tools, and techniques necessary to expand their sUAS program for the tactical environment. Each day will consist of four hours of classroom instruction and four hours of flight instruction, applying sUAS capabilities to real world scenarios.

Hosted by the Spokane County (WA) Sheriff’s Office, the course will take place May 11-13 at the Spokane County Sheriff’s Training Center from 0800-1700 daily. The cost is $795.

Students will:

• Understand and apply techniques for interior operations
• Develop teaming concepts for use with other units or capabilities
• Utilize the sUAS as point and overwatch during tactical scenarios
• Understand Weight & Balance and Center of Gravity considerations for sUAS
• Identify issues associated with working in controlled airspace
• Operate as direct support for tactical team or SWAT operations

Don’t miss this fantastic learning opportunity, register here. 

EDMO Distributors Celebrates Golden Anniversary

EDMO Distributors, Inc. is celebrating 50 years of being a global leader in the distribution of test equipment, avionics, and installation supplies. "EDMO has enjoyed an incredible half-century of supporting the aviation community," said EDMO's president Mike Schmidt. "There's no question that our longevity is possible solely through the contributions of the many talented individuals we've been fortunate enough to call teammates. We also appreciate the rich relationships we have with our vendor partners—some of whom have been with us from the very beginning."

From the company's inception, the underlying principles driving the business emphasized quality products and exceptional service. Today, EDMO maintains that vision while representing more than 300 manufacturers and serving commercial, corporate, military, and general aviation customers in the fixed-wing and rotor markets.

EDMO's core values define the company's culture of dazzling its customers, remaining positive, taking ownership, doing the right thing, and insisting on the higher standard—all while enjoying the ride. This focus creates an environment where the team is able to build lasting value for both customers and vendors by nurturing customer relationships, developing innovative services, and delivering top-quality products and service.

"It's amazing to be part of the aviation industry from the days where avionics systems were a conglomeration of multiple components made by several different manufacturers and then witness the evolution to today's comprehensive and fully integrated solutions," says Schmidt.

Source: EDMO Distributors Inc. 

SABLE Announces Uptick in Usage, New Helicopter Navigation Systems

The Wilmington (NC) Police Department recently announced its Southeastern Air-Borne Law Enforcement (SABLE) Aviation Unit has received a grant to upgrade the navigation system in its helicopters, allowing the unit to more accurately pinpoint road names while in the air. The department said the Aviation Unit flew a total of 264 hours in 2020, a slight increase from the previous year.

The department expects to add the new helicopter navigation systems over a roughly six-week period, and SABLE will operate only one aircraft during that time. SABLE is also training a second aircraft mechanic. The unit expects the technician to save it about $25,000 per year in maintenance. SABLE recently received an FAA Certificate of Authorization to operate unmanned aircraft systems.

The SABLE Aviation Unit consists of the Wilmington and Leland Police Departments and the New Hanover County and Pender County Sheriffs’ Offices. The team has two full-time pilots and two full-time tactical flight officers. SABLE operates two 1970s model helicopters. Between June and December last year, the unit flew drones in response to 34 calls. The drone unit has five licensed and mission-qualified operators.

SOURCE: www.portcitydaily.com and www.wwaytv3.com 

Pasadena Police Helicopter Fitted With New Camera

The Pasadena (CA) Police Department’s helicopter recently was fitted with a new high-tech camera, officials said. One of the department’s five helicopters was equipped with the Wescam USA MX-10 system, vastly improving image resolution over the previous camera, which had been installed in the early-2000s.

The response from flight crews has been overwhelmingly positive, Pasadena Police Lieutenant William Grisafe said. “They love it. They absolutely love it,” he said. “The cameras on the helicopters—and all of the police department’s technological advances—are used to assist in the apprehension of individuals involved in criminal activity…The intent is to use technology to be a better police department so we can quickly and effectively solve crime. This approach ultimately makes the City of Pasadena a safer place to live and work.”

All of the department’s airships were previously equipped with FLIR 8000/8500 analog IR camera systems. The cameras cost the Pasadena Police Department about $40,000 in annual maintenance, a department report stated. The new MX-10 system offers increased zoom digital imaging capabilities. The city purchased the camera system for $420,000.

SOURCE: www.pasadenanow.com 

Upcoming Online Meeting Groups; Join Us!

APSA conducts regularly scheduled online meetings for safety officers, maintenance technicians, SAR personnel, and UAS operators that you can join using your computer, mobile device or phone. And new for 2021, we are adding a Natural Resources Meeting Group. To facilitate this, the UAS, Safety Officer and Maintenance Technician Meeting Groups will meet once every two months, and the SAR Personnel and Natural Resources Meeting Groups will meet quarterly.

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, Feb. 10, 2021 from 1:00–2:00 PM EST (1800 UTC)
Maintenance: Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 PM EST (1800 UTC)
UAS: Wednesday, March 3, 2021 from 1:00–2:00 PM EST (1800 UTC)
Safety Officers: Friday, March 19, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)
Natural Resources: Wednesday, March 31, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)

U.K. Man Jailed for Police Helicopter Laser Attack

A 29-year-old man has been sentenced for pointing a laser pen at a U.K. National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter that was searching for a missing person on September 2, 2020. The man told police he had been using the laser pen to point at stars when the helicopter moved into its path. The NPAS helicopter pilot reported he was momentarily blinded in the attack, posing a grave risk to the helicopter crew.

The assailant, who has 30 previous convictions for offenses ranging from public order to possession of a knife and criminal damage to theft, admitted to the charge in court. The presiding judge said the offense was so serious it warranted an immediate custodial sentence and gave the man 30 weeks in prison. The judge also activated a two-month suspended sentence from a previous offense.

SOURCE: www.ukaviation.news 

California Department Embarks on UAS Program

The Healdsburg (CA) Police Department is currently in the training and practice phase of launching an unmanned aircraft systems program. The department expects the program to serve in public safety and life preservation situations, search and rescue scenarios, crime scene investigations, disaster response, and fire response and prevention. Healdsburg Police Chief Kevin Burke said the program is still in its infancy. The department is in the process of obtaining an FAA certificate of authorization, as well as completing training and developing a UAS safety plan. Burke said the program would likely be operational by this summer.

According to Burke, the department has been working with the Healdsburg city manager and Healdsburg Fire Chief Jason Boaz to implement the UAS program for some time. “Initially, when the city council adopted the city’s strategic plan about a year ago, one of the stated goals for public safety, police and fire was to seek technological enhancements that would benefit public safety and would allow the police department to do its job a bit better,” Burke said. “In keeping with that, we looked for different methods to move forward with that goal, and we’ve been having the drone conversation for several years.”

SOURCE: www.sonomawest.com 

Minnesota Police Department Acquires UAS

The Bloomington (MN) Police Department has acquired an unmanned aircraft system and plans to deploy the device for searches and other law enforcement applications. The department has developed its internal policy governing how the drone will be used. The police department’s UAS is also available for use by the local fire department, and state legislation outlines the aircraft’s regulatory limitations, according to Jeff Potts, who recently retired from his position as Bloomington’s police chief.

Potts said a search warrant would be required in most cases in which the drone is used as an investigative tool. In SAR scenarios, a warrant is not required. “That’s the type of use that the community can expect from this piece of equipment,” Potts said. The department may also deploy the UAS for emergency response, public event overwatch or to conduct threat assessments. Potts said the UAS is capable of preventing loss of life and property as a result of disasters and facilitating post-recovery efforts. Bloomington’s fire department may use the aircraft for infrastructure inspections, according to Potts.

SOURCE: www.hometownsource.com 

Highlight Your Aviation Unit in Air Beat

Most articles you read in APSA’s Air Beat magazine come from members like you. With the help of our editorial staff, it’s easy to spotlight the great work of your aviation unit with an article in Air Beat. (It’s our editor’s job to make you look good, so don’t worry if you’re not a writer.) Whether your missions involve law enforcement, emergency medical transport, natural resource conservation, firefighting, or search and rescue, or if you operate helicopters, fixed-wing or unmanned platforms, we’d love to hear from you. Email Lisa Wright at airbeat@publicsafetyaviation.org for information.

New Zealand Eagle Helicopter Finds Auckland Meth Lab

A New Zealand Police Eagle helicopter followed a man who was “acting suspiciously” to what turned out to be a laboratory producing methamphetamines on January 11. The helicopter crew and a ground unit were investigating an unrelated matter in the Auckland suburb of New Windsor early that morning when they spotted the man behind nearby properties. Footage shows the helicopter directing officers on the ground to the suspect’s location, where he attempted to evade arrest. Ground officers detained the man and found a bag containing a firearm.

Police also found a large quantity of methamphetamines near the man and eventually located the nearby suspected meth lab. The man was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession for supply of methamphetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine and unlawfully being in an enclosed yard.

SOURCE: news.yahoo.com   

New York Fire Department Follows Neighbors Into Unmanned Aviation

The West Elmira (NY) Fire Department has purchased a $5,000 unmanned aircraft system to help it identify hot spots in structure fires, locate missing people, and perform other tasks during emergency situations. West Elmira is the first volunteer fire department in the county to have its own drone. The nearby Elmira Police Department recently added a UAS to its toolkit.

Fire Commissioner Fred Loomis said the new UAS could instantly offer a bird's-eye view of scenes otherwise requiring a helicopter. “Lots of fire departments around the country are adding this technology,” he said. “It's a valuable tool to guide the incident commander at the scene of a fire.” Funding for the drone, a DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual, came from an annual payment made to Chemung County by Casella Waste Management, which operates the Chemung County Landfill. The county shares some of the money with its towns.

SOURCE: www.stargazette.com 

Bell Receives Certification for New Communications Unit

Bell Textron has received a supplemental type certificate for its new aircraft communications unit, QuantiFLY. QuantiFLY offers a low-cost, lightweight, automatic flight data monitoring solution currently available for the Bell 407GXi and 429. Bell developed the solution along with electronics manufacturer Appareo Systems. “The introduction of Bell’s QuantiFLY will offer greater visibility into flight operations, while integrating seamlessly with Bell’s current connected fleet offerings for our commercial aircraft,” said Michael Thacker, the company’s executive vice president of innovation and commercial business.

Bell selected Appareo to develop QuantiFLY’s connectivity hardware based on the company’s track record for worldwide cellular telematics and aircraft data monitoring. QuantiFLY uses cellular on-the-ground data transmission to off board aircraft fight parameter and maintenance data via the cloud for processing and analytics. Bell worked with Microsoft to build on its Azure cloud infrastructure to route data securely around the world. The new solution is retrofittable for legacy aircraft, in addition to being available for new builds.

SOURCE: www.airmedandrescue.com 

Houston Police Department Dedicates New H125 to Fallen Officer

The Houston (TX) Police Department recently dedicated its new Airbus 125 helicopter to Officer Jason Knox, who died at age 35 in a crash on May 2, 2020. Knox's badge number is written in black letters on the new helicopter as its FAA registration number: N2374F. The Houston Police Department dedicated the aircraft to Knox in a ceremony on Jan. 27 with the support of the local community and teams from Airbus Helicopters, Davenport Aviation, and Metro Aviation, all of which worked together to deliver the unit’s new H125 the month before. “Jason loved policing, and he loved this community. He believed in being an ambassador for his profession and worked tirelessly to build relationships,” Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said. “We lost an officer, friend, family member, colleague, public servant and guardian of the peace. He is sorely missed.”

Knox, a tactical flight officer, had served with the Houston Police Department for eight years and was preparing to train as a pilot. Colleagues remembered him as a dedicated husband, father and officer, who frequently showed off his restored police cars at community parades and other events. Many in the airborne law enforcement community offered their condolences after Knox's death.

The H125 will be the first of its type for the Houston Police Department, which operates one of the largest air units in the country. The department needed an aircraft that could meet its versatile mission needs, including surveillance, search and rescue, port patrol and firefighting support. The H125 checked all the boxes, Acevedo said. “We’ve got the right bird with the right capabilities,” he said. “I’m so proud that this aircraft will not only enhance and strengthen our crime fighting capabilities, but also honor a truly fine officer taken from us too soon.”

SOURCE: www.verticalmag.com 

West Australia Expands UAS Program

The Western Australia Police Force recently launched the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Expansion Project, a program designed to train officers across the region to fly drones. The department hopes the program will bolster regional police responses to incidents ranging from road crashes to ocean searches. The Albany police will be the first regional officers trained to use unmanned aircraft systems. The one-week program will eventually be offered to each of Western Australia’s seven police districts.

The Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems Expansion Project will lead to 14 drones and 28 trained pilots being based permanently at the regional stations. Through the program, the Western Australia Police Force will train four officers from each regional district. The selected officers will be trained to Australia Civil Aviation Safety Authority standards in the Great Southern, South West, Wheatbelt, Goldfields-Esperance, Mid West-Gascoyne, Pilbara and Kimberley regions.

Each region will receive a large drone with a price tag of approximately $8,000 and a smaller UAS. The devices will be equipped with infrared cameras and GPS markers for use in land and sea searches. Great Southern Police District Acting Superintendent Glenn Spencer said the region would also use its UAS when responding to road incidents.

SOURCE: www.abc.net.au   

Virginia Man Pleads Guilty to Pointing Laser at Police Aircraft

A man accused of aiming a laser pointer at a Virginia State Police helicopter pleaded guilty to the crime on Jan. 12, 2021. The man attended a demonstration at the Robert E. Lee Memorial in Richmond on June 25, 2020, and struck the cockpit of the aircraft while he was concealed in the crowd. The man reportedly struck the aircraft with the laser multiple times, causing the pilot to experience temporary blindness. The U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General conducted the investigation, with assistance from the FBI, Richmond Police Department and Henrico County Police Division. The offender entered his plea in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

SOURCE: www.hstoday.us 

UAE’s Sharjah Police Has First Female Pilot

Nada Al Shamsi, 32, has become the United Arab Emirates Sharjah Police’s first female pilot. “Emiratis are probably the luckiest citizens to be part of this great nation,” Al Shamsi said. “Our leaders are way ahead in their vision in support of gender equality.”

Al Shamsi recently completed the requisite ground school and flight training to join the police department and now operates the A6-XRK helicopter. She became a member of the Al Jazirah Aviation Club in November 2018 and obtained her pilot’s license one year later. She is an employee in the Sharjah Police Media and Public Relations Department and presents morning traffic broadcasts in English on the department’s social media platform. In addition to her work with the police department, Al Shamsi is a well-known poet.

SOURCE: www.gulfnews.com 

Kenya Merges Troubled Police Air Wing Into New Department

The Kenya Police Air Wing has been dissolved and incorporated into the Kenya Air Force. The former airborne law enforcement unit will now operate under Kenya’s new National Air Support Department (NASD). The multi-agency department will coordinate Kenya’s air response services nationwide. The NASD will operate a fleet of 36 aircraft and incorporate the National Police Air Wing, Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Electricity Transmission Company and Kenya Forest Service, among other agencies.

President Uhuru Kenyatta said bringing together all government air assets would enhance efficiency. “This reform initiative was necessitated by the compelling need to foster effectiveness in the management of the national aviation assets, with a view to optimize on safety, efficiency and improved availability of aircraft,” he said. “The capabilities and wealth of experience within [the] National Air Support Department will not only benefit government, but by providing aircraft and equipment maintenance services to private sector aircraft operators, NASD will promote aviation safety and reliability across Kenya and the region, with the added benefit of generating revenue.”

The Kenya Police Air Wing has had a troubled past marked by numerous crashes in recent years. Kenyatta said lack of proper maintenance led to the tragedies, which claimed the lives of citizens and prominent leaders. “In the past, utilization of national air assets has been managed in an uncoordinated manner, leading to inefficient training, un-optimal utilization and maintenance of air assets and air related facilities,” Kenyatta said.

SOURCE: www.defenceweb.co.za 

Maryland State Police Helicopter Rescues Injured Logger

Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 5 completed a hoist rescue in late January. State police rescue and medical personnel were called to Morgan County on Jan. 18 to assist a person injured by a falling tree. According to Lieutenant Nathan Wheelock, commander of helicopter field operations, Trooper 5 responded to the call because the victim was stuck in an area difficult to access.

Reports indicated the injured man had been logging in the area when the tree hit him, causing multiple injuries. “Due to the multiple sustained injuries, steep terrain and the extended extrication time by ground, Trooper 5 was requested to perform an aerial hoist rescue,” state police said in a press release. “The helicopter crew configured Trooper 5 for an aerial hoist operation and arrived overhead. The pilots maneuvered the AW-139 helicopter into a steady hover position 180 feet above the rescue crews due to terrain and obstacles. A trooper/rescue technician with medical equipment was lowered to the scene.”

Wind gusts complicated the extraction, but a crew member on the ground and EMS personnel were able to secure the victim, move him to a clearing and send him up to the helicopter, where troopers immediately started medical treatment. Four crewmembers were onboard Trooper 5 and took the man to a nearby medical center 25 minutes after arriving on the scene.

SOURCE: www.morganmessenger.com 

Turkish Law Enforcement Agency Obtains New Helicopter

The Republic of Turkey General Directorate of Security has procured the first T129 ATAK helicopter for use in a law enforcement capacity. The AgustaWestland helicopter, developed by the Turkish Aviation and Space Industry and now owned by the Turkey General Directorate, is expected to be delivered in 2021. The agency is expected to use the platform in an anti-terrorist function. The Turkey General Directorate law enforcement organization is known to operated jointly with the Turkish Armed Forces and Gendarmerie General Command to fight terrorist activities.

SOURCE: www.raillynews.com 

India Police Department Opens New Headquarters With Aviation Asset

The Patna Police in New Dheli, India, has opened a new headquarters and hopes to open access to a rooftop helipad soon. The department has requested permission from the country’s Ministry of Civil Aviation to operate the helipad.

The new police headquarters building spans nearly 600,000 square feet and cost about $500,000 to construct. The seven-story building is equipped with a 10-day power backup and is earthquake resistant. The roof of the building was constructed with the helipad in place; the department is in the process of making preparations to approach and take off from the location.

SOURCE: english.newstracklive.com  

CNC Technologies Hires Police Pilot as New Director of Training

CNC Technologies, an aviation technology and wireless communications company serving the law enforcement, military and government markets, announced it has hired law enforcement veteran Mark Costa as its new director of training. Costa joins the company following a 27-year career with the Massachusetts State Police, where he served as the executive officer of the agency’s aviation unit, retiring with the rank of lieutenant. At CNC, Costa is expected to lead and expand the company’s training division, assisting clients in optimizing their airborne law enforcement systems.

Costa has experience creating comprehensive training programs for pilots and tactical flight officers for the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, where he oversaw more than 1,500 airborne missions per year. As the unit’s training officer, Costa instructed line pilots in law enforcement helicopter operations and TFOs in aircraft recovery procedures. He is an instrument-rated commercial rotorcraft pilot and certified flight instructor. “Mark has a phenomenally well-rounded understanding of all aspects of airborne law enforcement and great experience implementing and running effective, large-scale training programs,” said Alex Giuffrida, CNC Technologies founding partner and CEO.

SOURCE: www.verticalmag.com 

Deputies Use Thermal Imaging Drone to Rescue Man From Embankment

Alexander County (NC) Sheriff’s Office used a thermal imaging drone to rescue a missing 78-year-old man from down an embankment last month. Family members reported that the man had left the residence alone on an ATV and had not returned home. A search effort was coordinated by local first responders to begin looking for the missing man due to temperatures in the 30’s and the rains at the time, as well as the missing person’s age and medical problems, Alexander County Sheriff’s said. Deputies began the search effort by utilizing a recently purchased drone. The drone has thermal-imaging capabilities. Deputies said the drone’s thermal imaging indicated a heat source down an embankment in a wooded area on the property. The Alexander County Rescue Squad ATV Team was dispatched to the area, where they rescued the man and began providing first aid. The victim was taken to the hospital.

Source: www.wcnc.com 

APSA Welcomes New Members

APSA’s networking, education and training opportunities are unique and specialized for public safety aviation. Let your colleagues and friends know about APSA. Thank you for your membership and helping APSA continue to grow. We would like to welcome the following corporate and individual members who joined during January 2021:

Corporate Members:

HeliSafe
Equipment Solutions & Personnel, LLC.
Airborne Commander Software

Individual Members:

Jacob Blackstone, Chambers County (AL) Sheriff’s Office
Robert Boyd, San Bernardino County (CA) Sheriff's Department Aviation Unit
Anthony Byrnes, City of Hawthorne (CA) Police Department
Justin Dietrich San Antonio (TX) Police Department Helicopter Detail
Albert Dupre, Embry-Riddle Aeronatical University
Matthew Evans, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Junius Frederick, United Rotorcraft
Andres Frentzel, California Highway Patrol | Valley Division
Andrew Grabus, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Headquarters - Lakeland
Percy Griffin, Leon County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit
James Hamann, Federal Aviation Administration
Derek Harger, San Antonio (TX) Police Department Helicopter Detail
Geoff Harris, Queensland Police
Jack Harvey, Houston (TX) Police Department Air Support Division
Jarrett Ivey, Tuscaloosa (AL) Police Department Aviation Unit
John Jackley, Advanced Technology Communications
Larrs Johnson, Ventura County (CA) Sheriff's Office
Steven Kalz, Embry-Riddle Aeronatical University
Barry Krohn, Prince William County (VA) Police Department
Brandon Massey, Independent Member
Jacob McCullough, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
James McQuaig, Leon County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit
Kumi Miner, St. Johns County (FL) Sheriff's Office
Mike Murray, Michigan State Police Aviation Section
Marco Nava, Houston (TX) Police Department Air Support Division
Christian Ortega, University of North Dakota Police Department
Joseph Peavy, Spalding County (GA) Sheriff's Department
Daryl Plude, Virginia Beach (VA) Police Department
Raul Ramos, St. Johns County (FL) Sheriff Office
Christopher Salazar, San Antonio (TX) Police Department Helicopter Detail
Anthony Sandoval, Salt River (AZ) Police Department
Lucas Tavares, Florida Highway Patrol
Joshua White, Ventura County (CA) Sheriff's Office
William Wynn, USARMY
Linda Zomora, Houston (TX) Police Department Air Support Division