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APSA E-Newsletter : 2021 September

 

September 2021 Airborne Public Safety Association, Inc.
APSA E-Newsletter

APSA Logo transparent

In This Issue:

Next Month: Register for Public Safety Drone Expo 2021

10 Days Away: Secure Your Seat for APSA's Tactical Flight Officer Course in Alameda County, CA

APSA On-The-Road: NIST sUAS Train-the-Trainer Course

More to Learn This Year: Take Advantage of APSA Education at Upcoming Locations

Flight School Airplane Substantially Damaged By Police Drone

Dallas Man Fires Shots at Helicopter During Standoff

Dayton Man Charged With Hitting Aircraft With Laser

Add To Your Calendar: Upcoming Online Meeting Groups

Drones Are Indispensable Tool for Fargo's Law Enforcement & Fire

FAA Conducts National Drone Safety Awareness Week

Jennifer Homendy Becomes New NTSB Chair

Western Australian Police To Be Equipped With Advanced Helicopters

Vallejo Expands and Streamlines UAS Team

FAA Releases New Data on Reported Laser Strikes

Man Sentenced to Five Years for Shooting Tulsa Sheriff's Drone

Virginia Police Department Launches UAS Program

HAI Accepting Nominations for Annual Awards

Florida Man Posed as Police Officer, Arrested for Kidnapping and Rape

Man Indicted for Aiming Laser at Philadelphia Police Helicopter

Citrus County Sheriff's Office Expands Drone Program

Collins Aerospace Acquires FlightAware

NJSP Aircrew Visits Middle School Leadership Camp

NPD-1 Assists with Pursuit, Apprehension of Two Armed Males in Newark

BMS Launched 100-Mile Mobile Network Airborne Transceiver

Highlight Your Aviation Unit in Air Beat

APSA Welcomes New Members

E-Newsletter Sponsors:

Baldwin Aviation

Technisonic

COBHAM

STARTPAC

APSA Resources:

Get Your Organization's News Online

Advertise with APSA

APSA Membership Benefits

APSA Training and Education Events 

Welcome!

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.


Next Month: Register for Public Safety Drone Expo 2021

APSA’s Public Safety Drone Expo 2021 will take place Oct. 18-22 at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, NV. PSDE provides the only dedicated expo for public safety drone operators covering operations, management and safety. Expanded to 4.5 days this year, PSDE 2021 will offer a combination of interactive public safety specific UAS courses, classes and general sessions that will focus on law enforcement, fire and SAR applications.

Attendees will learn from top experts and public safety operators offering their insights into best practices, fundamentals and integration. The Expo Hall will provide access to industry service providers, manufacturers, advocates and thought leaders who bring together cutting-edge technology and applications.

Courses, scheduled for Oct. 18-20, include:

  • Public Safety Drone Unit Manager
  • Safety Management Systems & Human Factors for Drone Operations
  • Basic Public Safety Drone Operations
  • Advanced Public Safety Drone Operations
  • Tactical Drone Operators
  • Pix4D Forensic Mapping

Check out the APSA website for additional information and to register. Do it today! 

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10 Days Away: Secure Your Seat for APSA's Tactical Flight Officer Course in Alameda County, CA

APSA will offer a Tactical Flight Officer Course, Sept. 20-22 in Alameda County, CA. Hosted by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, the course will provide aircrew members the tactical skills and information necessary to safely and successfully support ground units engaged in a variety of law enforcement missions. Although specifically designed for tactical flight officers, the course is applicable to pilots, crewmembers and unit supervisors. Attendees will learn crew coordination, how to set up a perimeter, directing ground unit activities from the air, managing vehicle pursuits and conducting thermal imagery searches. Attendees will also learn about specialized equipment and how to use the most common TFO tools. The class meets one of the requirements for TFO training related to unit accreditation. Successful completion requires attendance at all 24 hours of classroom courses. Visit the APSA website to learn more.

The Tactical Flight Officer Course will also be offered in Tampa, FL from Dec. 8-10, 2021. Registration is opening soon, check our website for details. https://publicsafetyaviation.org/extension-courses

SOURCE: APSA

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APSA On-The-Road: NIST sUAS Train-the-Trainer Course

APSA is offering the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) sUAS Standard Test Methods Train-the-Trainer Course. The NIST sUAS Standard Test Methods are an excellent way to add a sUAS pilot flight skills credentialing component to your sUAS program. These On-the-Road events will feature 24 hours of classroom and hands-on flight instruction and evaluation at a cost of $275. Courses currently scheduled are:

  • Niceville, FL - October 14-16, 2021
  • Glendale, CA - November 5-7, 2021
  • Grand Forks, ND - December 18-20, 2021

Location details, course and registration information, and a listing of local hotels can be found here.  A minimum of 30 paid registrants per course at least 21 days in advance is required to conduct these courses, so register today!

Attendees should be experienced sUAS pilots who want to hone their skills, evaluate sensor systems and/or have a desire to train and evaluate other sUAS pilots. Attendees must bring their own quadcopter style sUAS, capable of at least 15 minutes of flight time, equipped with a camera. Additional sUAS batteries and a battery charging station are also required. A laptop computer is highly desirable.

NIST has created a download for its comprehensive user guide, scoring forms, and apparatus targets that can be printed and placed in the test apparatus buckets. Attendees will learn how to fabricate apparatuses, conduct trials, and embed them into their own training and credentialing programs. The NIST sUAS Test Methods have been adopted, or are under consideration for adoption, by the Airborne Public Safety Accreditation Commission, National Fire Protection Association, and ASTM International.

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More to Learn This Year: Take Advantage of APSA Education at Upcoming Locations

Registration to APSA's Safety Seminars and Safety Stand-Tos is included as a benefit for all active individual members (a fee applies for non-members) and covers a wide range of topics through informative training classes, as well as round-table discussions. See the latest aviation products and technology displayed in our mini-tradeshow, as well as networking with peers. Registration for these upcoming locations can be found on our website:

  • Safety Stand-To in Spokane, WA: Oct. 6, 2021 from 0800-1600 PDT (8-hour training) at the Spokane County Sheriff's Office Air Support Unit Hangar. Sessions will include aircrew coordination, crew resource management, advanced hoisting during mass SAR operations, and how leadership style impacts your aviation unit. Details can be found here.
  • Safety Stand-To for Canadian Region: Held virtually on Oct. 8, 2021 from 1200-1700 EDT (5-hour training), to accommodate members and non-members from across Canada. This seminar is open to both members and non-members; however, registration is required. A Zoom link will be emailed to you just prior to the event. 
  • Safety Stand-To in Nashville, TN: Oct. 13 from 0800-1600 CDT (8-hour training) at the Nashville Metro Police Department Madison Police Precinct. Details and educational agenda can be found here
  • Safety Seminar in Palm Desert, CA: Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2021 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa. Registration and the educational agenda can be found here.  Water egress and survival training will also be offered and conducted by Survival Systems USA. Students will learn from a team of experts how to egress after ditching in water and how to use emergency equipment. There is a $295 charge for this training; email Survival Systems direct registrar@survivalsystemsinc.com to register.

If you have any questions, please contact APSA Training Program Manager Don Roby at droby@publicsafetyaviation.org or call 301-631-2406.

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Flight School Airplane Substantially Damaged By Police Drone

Canadian authorities are investigating a midair collision that occurred on Aug. 10 of a flight school Cessna 172N and a police-operated drone that could have ended a lot worse than it did. The drone, which was destroyed, caused major damage to the small plane and put its pilot and an aviation student in danger.

The Cessna's flight instructor and student had just turned final for the airport and were set up for landing when they felt a substantial jolt that moved them in their seats. They were about 500 AGL and a mile from the threshold. The landing was normal. "When exiting the aircraft, they were shocked to see a major dent on the left underside of the engine cowling. The airbox was also bent," said a report from Transport Canada's Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System (CADORS). "A few hours later, a police detective confirmed a York Regional Police drone had struck their aircraft."

The CADORS report classifies the accident as "unauthorized entry" to controlled airspace. It also noted that Nav Canada, the air traffic control provider, was not aware of drone activity in the area. In Canada, drones are banned within three nautical miles of uncontrolled airports and restricted to 400 feet AGL without special authorization. To fly in the controlled airspace the drone and aircraft were in, Nav Canada has to approve it and the drone pilot must be in radio contact with controllers. The police department has not commented any further on the mishap except to say the drone was part of a police operation in the area.

Source: www.avweb.com

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Dallas Man Fires Shots at Helicopter During Standoff

A man is in custody after shooting at a Dallas Police Department's helicopter during a standoff last month. Police said a male suspect was shoplifting when a security officer approached him. The suspect pointed a gun at the security officer before fleeing on foot. When officers arrived, the suspect pointed the gun at his own head and continued walking. Officers requested additional units and Air 1 responded.

Police said when Air 1 arrived, the suspect pointed his gun at Air 1 and fired multiple shots, but he did not strike the aircraft. Officers notified SWAT, and the suspect eventually surrendered without incident. The suspect, a 43-year-old male, was charged with aggravated robbery, assault on a public servant, and attempted destruction of an aircraft.

Source: www.nbcdfw.com

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Dayton Man Charged With Hitting Aircraft With Laser

Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers were assisting local police during a gun reduction operation last month when a green laser hit the OSHP Aviation Unit helicopter. "The pilot and crew located an area and vehicle where the laser beam had come from," an affidavit read. Police then located the vehicle, and a green laser pointer was spotted by officers in the front cup holder of the vehicle.

The man was charged with interfering with operation of aircraft with a laser. The 33-year-old suspect admitted in an interview "to buying the laser pointer to stop aircraft from following him, and admitted to pointing the laser beam at the helicopter more than a handful of times prior to being stopped by police."

Source: www.whio.com/news

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Add To Your Calendar: Upcoming Online Meeting Groups

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

Safety Officers: Friday, September 24, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)

Natural Resources: Wednesday, October 6, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 pm EDT (1700 UTC)

Maintenance: Wednesday, October 13, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 pm EDT (1700 UTC)

SAR: Wednesday, November 3, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 PM EDT (1700 UTC)

UAS: Wednesday, November 10, 2021 from 1:00-2:00 pm EST (1800 UTC)

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Drones Are Indispensable Tool for Fargo’s Law Enforcement & Fire

In July, a resident called for help from the Cass County (ND) Sheriff's Office after a suspicious person entered a trailer on the caller's property and later fled into a cornfield. Upon arriving, the first thing deputies did was set up a perimeter around the field and launch a drone with thermal-imaging capability to quickly pinpoint the suspect, who was then taken into custody without incident. Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner said the cornfield situation underscores the growing value of drones in helping law enforcement officers do their jobs. "That (drone) makes it safer for everyone," Jahner said.

"I'm not only talking about law enforcement, but all of the residents around that area and the suspects themselves," added Jahner, who said drones provide officers with an early warning system when confronted with potentially dangerous situations, including when answering alarm calls, or dealing with someone barricaded in a residence. In the case of the cornfield arrest, Jahner said the drone made quick work of something that could have otherwise taken a large amount of time and personnel to resolve. But the biggest benefit of using a drone, Jahner said, is that it increases the likelihood a situation will be resolved peacefully.

The sheriff's office began its drone program in 2017 and its drone team has logged a combined total of 1,130 flights for a total of 180 flight hours. "It provides a huge aerial picture for us to have good situational awareness of what's going on," Fargo Fire Chief Steve Dirksen said, adding that the more drones are used, the more they become an indispensable tool in fighting fires.

"The guys are finding out how incredibly valuable that is, especially for the incident commanders in making decisions," Dirksen said. With fire departments and law enforcement agencies becoming more versed in drone flying, Dirksen said they have come to depend on each other when major incidents occur. For example, he said, when law enforcement officers require a drone for a serious situation it is often a firefighter who operates the craft and the reverse is true when a major fire requires all hands on deck.

Source: www.grandforksherald.com

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FAA Conducts National Drone Safety Awareness Week


The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is encouraging the drone community to participate in its third annual National Drone Safety Awareness Week, Sept. 13-19. Part of the FAA's work to safely integrate UAS in the National Airspace System is to ensure drone pilots understand their responsibility and to increase public awareness of the capabilities of drones.

Each day of that week is dedicated to a specific educational theme, and Sept.18 will focus on public safety and public awareness. If you’re a remote public safety pilot and have a positive drone story, best practice or safety information to share on social media, tag with #DroneWeek. Graphics and resources are available for use at www.faa.gov/go/droneweek or www.dronesafetyawarenessweek.com. Also, expand your knowledge and attend APSA’s Public Safety Drone Expo in Reno, NV next month, details can be found here.

Source: FAA

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Jennifer Homendy Becomes New NTSB Chair

The U.S. Senate confirmed Jennifer Homendy as the new chair of the National Transportation Safety Board on Aug. 9. Homendy, who has served as an NTSB member since August 2018, takes over for acting chair Bruce Landsberg. She succeeds Robert Sumwalt, who served as NTSB chair from August 2017 until retiring in June.

Senators had emphasized her experience in transportation safety policy. "I am a strong advocate for safety," Homendy said, "and I have spent nearly two decades supporting the critical safety mission of the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate crashes in all modes of transportation, determine the probable causes, and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future tragedies and injuries and saving lives." NTSB investigates high-profile transportation accidents, and also publishes a series of recommendations meant to expand safety programs and guide federal regulators and policymakers.

Source: www.ttnews.com

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Western Australian Police To Be Equipped With Advanced Helicopters

Western Australia Police Air Wing will soon have a second new helicopter. As part of the 2021-22 budget, $27.5 million will be spent to purchase and operate a new police helicopter, which is in addition to the new helicopter already being built for WA Police. The announcement means WA Police will become the first law enforcement jurisdiction in the southern hemisphere to operate two new state-of-the-art Airbus 5-bladed H145 helicopters. The delivery of the first new police helicopter is scheduled for next year.

The upgraded aerial capability will strengthen community safety by allowing WA Police to provide critical air support to emergency police responses. Maintaining a fleet of two identical helicopters will also generate operational efficiencies and result in a greater number of annual flight hours available.

Premier Mark McGowan said, "Our police helicopters provide vital support to police operations across the State. The new helicopters will boost police capability to respond to emergencies and crime. Our police do a terrific job right across the State, and my Government is committed to providing the best and latest equipment to help keep Western Australians safe."

Source: www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au

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Vallejo Expands and Streamlines UAS Team

The Vallejo (CA) Police Department expanded its Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Tech Team to help streamline public safety efforts and provide officers with an efficient tool for solving and reducing crime. The department's UAS program began in September 2017 when five FAA trained and certified officers were selected to operate the department’s drones. "As our program evolves, our priority remains streamlining the program and policies to increase transparency and provide our community with a better understanding of drone technology and public safety benefits," a news release stated. "The expansion of the VPD’s program will include outreach to community stakeholders, advisory boards and privacy groups like the ALCU to ensure privacy and civil liberty concerns are addressed."

In public safety operations and life preservation missions, UAS may be used in a variety of capacities that include but are not limited to: barricade situations, active shooter incidents, apprehension of armed and dangerous feeling suspects, high-risk search warrants, investigative scenes (fatal vehicle accidents, homicides, other aggravated incidents), missing person incidents, search and rescue operations, disaster scene incidents, hazmat incidents (suspected explosive devices, pursuant to a warrant), special events, outside public agency assists, training missions and mutual aid support.

Recently, UAS deployment resulted in the capture of an armed suspect involved in a domestic violence incident. On July 13, VPD officers responded to a domestic violence call with reports of a man with a gun. When they arrived, officers were advised that the suspect was seen running toward apartments in the area. Officers parked at a neighboring location to launch the drone and were able to locate and guide responding units to the armed suspect. A gun was ultimately recovered from the suspect, who was arrested and booked. The drone provided a bird's eye view, allowing officers to prepare, act with more precision, and safely take the suspect into custody.

Source: www.govtech.com

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FAA Releases New Data on Reported Laser Strikes

Shining a laser at an aircraft poses a serious safety threat and can result in large fines and criminal penalties. Working to identify trends in laser strikes, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has developed a visualization tool that analyzes laser strike data from 2010 to 2020.

Using the Tableau software platform, the tool identifies trends that include geographic area, per capita data, time of day and year. The FAA is sharing the information in the new format to draw attention to the dangerously high rate of laser strikes on airplanes. Laser strikes increased in 2020 despite the decrease in flights due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Pilots reported 6,852 laser strikes to the FAA last year, up from 6,136 in 2019. The number of incidents reported in 2020 was the highest annual total since 2016.

People who shine lasers at aircraft face FAA fines of up to $11,000 per violation and up to $30,800 for multiple laser incidents. The FAA has issued $600,000 in fines since 2016, which includes $120,000 in 2021. Violators can also face criminal penalties from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Source: Federal Aviation Administration

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Man Sentenced to Five Years for Shooting Tulsa Sheriff’s Drone

A Tulsa County man has been sentenced to five years in prison last month after he pleaded guilty to shooting a drone owned by the Tulsa County (OK) Sheriff's Office. Deputies were using that drone in June while searching for stolen vehicles near a home when the man shot at it. The man pled guilty to having a gun as a felon. No more information is available at press time.

Source: www.uasvision.com

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Virginia Police Department Launches UAS Program

The Prince William County (VA) Police Department will soon launch a new sUAS program. Nearing the operational deployment phase, the program in Prince William County will consist of a part-time unit of five officers who have completed the FAA Part-107 pilot certification course and other rigorous training to demonstrate proficiency in the system use. Any new members to the unit will be required to complete the same training and certification prior to any incident deployment.

This advanced, cutting-edge technology is expected to prove to be yet another useful and lifesaving tool that the police department can deploy in certain situations. It will deploy sUAS on search and rescue missions, locating missing and endangered persons, hostage or barricade situations, complex motor vehicle crash scene reconstruction, and crime scene documentation. The department said it will never utilize this equipment on routine patrol, random surveillance, immobilizing vehicles or suspects, or as a weapon or equipped with a weapon.

Source: www.pwcva.gov/news

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HAI Accepting Nominations for Annual Awards

Within vertical aviation, there are pilots, mechanics/engineers, safety professionals, and others who go above and beyond to pursue professional excellence. Their dedication is an inspiration to us all. The Helicopter Association International (HAI) is accepting nominations for its annual Salute to Excellence Awards program, which recognizes outstanding achievement in all forms of vertical aviation, including unmanned aircraft systems (UASs, or drones). Nominations can be submitted at rotor.org/salute before Sept. 30, 2021.

HAI has added the Matthew S. Zuccaro Land & LIVE Award beginning in 2022. The new award honors the former HAI president and CEO, who died in February 2020, for his steadfast advocacy for rotorcraft safety. The new award recognizes outstanding aeronautical decision-making (ADM), crew resource management (CRM), or coordinated actions performed by a helicopter pilot(s), flight crew member(s), or maintenance personnel during the year. Depending on nominations received, the Matthew S. Zuccaro Land & LIVE Award may be presented to three recipients each year: one each for pilots, flight crews, and maintenance personnel.

To submit a nomination for the 2022 HAI Salute to Excellence Awards, go to www.rotor.org/salute and nominate an exceptional individual or organization. Award descriptions and criteria are available on the website, as well as additional information about the awards process. Anyone may submit a nomination, and anyone may be nominated. HAI membership is not required. The Salute to Excellence winners will be honored at HAI HELI-EXPO 2022 in Dallas, TX next March.

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Florida Man Posed as Police Officer, Arrested for Kidnapping and Rape

A Florida man was taken into custody in August as law enforcement officials say he impersonated a police officer as part of a ruse to pull over, kidnap and rape a woman. The Hillsborough County (FL) Sheriff's Office arrested the 35-year-old last month and he was booked on six charges, which include impersonating a public officer, sexual battery on a victim over 18, kidnapping, third-degree grand theft, and false imprisonment, according to the sheriff's office.

The HCSO Aviation Unit recorded the arrest. "It’s extremely upsetting and concerning to think that someone was taking advantage of the trust our citizens have in law enforcement by pretending to be a law enforcement officer," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement.

Source: www.lawofficer.com

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Man Indicted for Aiming Laser at Philadelphia Police Helicopter

On August 10, Raji Yusuf was indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. The indictment alleges that on June 26, 2021, Yusuf knowingly aimed the beam of a laser pointer at a Philadelphia Police Department helicopter while it was in flight. The Office of Inspector General at the Department of Transportation is conducting this investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Philadelphia Police Department and the Federal Aviation Administration.

Source: https://www.hstoday.us/federal-pages

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Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Expands Drone Program

The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) has added drones to its aviation assets. The Florida agency's drone fleet is currently made up of four quadcopters and eight drone operators that are FAA-certified as remote pilots. CCSO purchased its EVO II Pro drones last year and expanded the program this year. With videos so crisp, Lt. Lee Carey said, the drones can help deputies determine before an encounter if someone has either a weapon or something much less lethal in their hands.

Two of the drones are equipped with thermal-imaging cameras, making it easier for hiding or lost people to be found amongst foliage or the night. "It's very similar to the quality of our helicopter," Carey said, adding he was able to spot the outline of a squirrel’s tail in a tree while he was using a drone to find a missing person. "It's pretty fascinating, phenomenal stuff we have," he said. Images can also be mirrored to TV screens that CCSO lieutenants have in the back of their patrol SUVs. This allows scene commanders to watch what is unfolding without crowding a drone pilot and their small cellphone screen. CCSO drones can also automatically follow and hover behind a tracked target.

"This program is intended to complement the other aviation assets in the agency, not to replace those assets," Sheriff Mike Prendergast said. "There are a lot of things you can not do with a drone you can certainly do with a helicopter."

Source: www.chronicleonline.com

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Collins Aerospace Acquires FlightAware

Collins Aerospace is acquiring FlightAware, a leading digital aviation company providing global flight tracking solutions, predictive technology, analytics and decision-making tools. "Global connectivity now shapes and impacts every segment of aviation. FlightAware is the recognized leader in data collection, analytics and customer experience, which will help Collins unlock the full power of the connected ecosystem for our customers," said Dave Nieuwsma, Collins Aerospace's head of avionics. "FlightAware's flight tracking and data platform, the largest in the world, has the potential to deliver new capabilities and innovations across our entire business."

"The world's aerospace companies and aircraft operators are looking to digital aviation to provide the next revolution in aviation efficiency and reliability," said Daniel Baker, CEO of FlightAware, "and we are excited to join Collins Aerospace and Raytheon Technologies at this pivotal time to continue to lead that revolution at an even broader scale."

Source: businesswire.com

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NJSP Aircrew Visits Middle School Leadership Camp

A helicopter from the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) landed in the parking lot of Lincoln Middle School last month as part of the Leadership Camp program being held for incoming sixth graders. When the helicopter landed, two groups of students were brought out at a time to limit the overall amount of physical presence at a given time, given coronavirus protocols. The NJSP aircrew, Officers Paul Ciervo and Christopher Campana, spoke with the students, taking questions and showing off the helicopter. "It's good to be able to get out into the community, talk about the state police, and be with the students," Ciervo said. "I think it's great to touch base with the kids and let them know who we are and what we do, maybe inspire them," Campana said.

Source: www.tapinto.net/towns

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NPD-1 Assists with Pursuit, Apprehension of Two Armed Males in Newark

The Newark Police Department Aviation Unit's NPD-1 assisted in a pursuit last month that resulted in police taking down two suspects who were armed with guns. When officers attempted to question the suspects, both males sprinted away from cops and led them on a pursuit.NPD-1 assisted the officers with overhead tracking of the suspects who continued to run from police. Police caught up with the males, placed them under arrest, and found two loaded pistols.

Source: www.rlsmedia.com

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BMS Launched 100-Mile Mobile Network Airborne Transceiver

Broadcast Microwave Services debuted its new bidirectional communication system, named BMTS-M, at the AUVSI Xponential trade show last month. The end-to-end solution begins with an aircraft mounted transceiver (BMTS-MA), which contains everything needed for high quality, reliable and secure streaming of high-definition mission critical video and data across long distances within the mesh network. The system is powered by a Persistent Systems 3X3 MIMO radio which operates on the Wave Relay® network. The transceiver communicates with a ground based outdoor transceiver (BMTS-ME) and an indoor communications and control unit (BMTS-MI), completing the end-to-end solution.

"We are excited to launch this new product, which is built to serve the needs of our global customers including federal, state and local law enforcement agencies who require robust and secure video and data transmission," stated Harry Davoody, CEO of BMS. "The footprint of the new transceiver is the same as our current HC4 transmitter, which offers customers an easy path to upgrade to resilient bi-directional communications." The BMTS-M is an ultra long-range system optimized for air-to-ground, ship-to-ship, or ship-to-shore broadcasts of mission critical information. The DO-160 certified bi-directional broadband system is highly scalable and uses very efficient H.265 compression with secure encryption. Multiple live airborne tests of the system in Southern California have consistently achieved HD video over 100-mile distances.

Source: www.businesswire.com

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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.

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APSA Welcomes New Members

APSA would like to welcome the following corporate and individual members who joined during August 2021:

Corporate Members:
APSA CorpLogo
ATP
First Aviation Services, Inc.
SKYTRAC Systems

Individual Members:

Jeff Alexy, San Bernardino County (CA) Fire Department | EMS DivisionAPSA Individual
Steve Borders, Fulton County (GA) Sheriff's Office (VIPER UNIT)
James Cartier, Austin (TX) Police Department | Air Support Unit
Joseph Conley, Massachusetts State Police Airwing | Lawrence Air Base
Kenneth Czarnecki, Marshall County (AL) Sheriff's Office
William Dorshkind, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | Air Operations
James Dozier, Fulton County (GA) Sheriff's Office
Craig Drew, Massachusetts State Police Airwing | Plymouth Air Base
Kevin Estep, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | Air Operations
Michael Gallardo, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | Air Operations
Robert Galletta , Beaumont (CA) Police Department
Jacques Giard, Royal Canadian Mounted Police | Ottawa (ON)
Mike Greenhill, California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Joel Hassna, Alameda County (CA) Sheriff's Office | Air Operations
Allahno Hughes, Oakland (CA) Police Department
Davis Irl, Columbia Gorge Community College (OR)
Stanley Jhagroo, Individual Member       
Robert Katzer, San Bernardino County (CA) Sheriff
Bryan Lombardi, California Highway Patrol | Office of Air Operations
David McCabe, Information Elevated (OR)
Brandon McDonnell, Seminole County (FL) Sheriff's Office
Lawrence McIntosh III, Austin (TX) Police Department | Headquarters
Jason McKinlay, Massachusetts State Police Airwing | Plymouth Air Base
Eric Morris, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Abraham Pena-Vega, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Police Department (CA)
Evan Peters, East Bay Regional Park (CA) District Police (Hayward)
Jeff Pricher, Scappoose (OR) Fire District
Miguel  Radillo   California Highway Patrol
Joseph Rubalcava, Hayward (CA) Police Department
Carlos Sanchez, Alameda County (CA) Probation
J.J. Schmidt, Austin (TX) Police Department | Air Support Unit
James Strickler, US Marine Corps (FL)
Anthony Vega, California Highway Patrol | Office of Air Operations
David Worth, Orange County (FL) Sheriff's Office
Robert Wright, Leon County (FL) Sheriff's Office

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Get Your Organization's News Online

Send your press releases, company logos and photos to:

Lisa Wright
Editorial Director
airbeat@PublicSafetyAviation.org


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(205) 563-9313 office
etarr@PublicSafetyAviation.org
http://www.publicsafetyaviation.org

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APSA E-Newsletter Staff  
Dan Schwarzbach, Editor dschwarzbach@PublicSafetyAviation.org
Lisa Wright, Editorial Director airbeat@PublicSafetyAviation.org
APSA, Publisher webmaster@PublicSafetyAviation.org
Emily Tarr, Sales Representative etarr@PublicSafetyAviation.org

This newsletter is published monthly by the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA), a non-profit Delaware 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 aircraft by governmental agencies in support of public safety operations.

© Copyright 2021 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.APSA Wings only transparent
50 Carroll Creek Way
Suite 260
Frederick, MD 21701
Phone (301) 631-2406
Fax (301) 631-2466

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