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APSA's E-Newsletter is designed to help keep you informed on the very latest information in the airborne law enforcement industry. The E-Newsletter may also be read online here at our website. Award Winners & Scholarship Recipients Announced During Annual Conference
Awards
Scholarships
See the September/October issue of Air Beat for a complete recap of the conference, award winners, and scholarship recipients. St. Louis Man Apologizes After Shining Laser
Special Agent in Charge Dennis L. Baker of the FBI St. Louis Division said, "If you've ever had another driver shine high beams on you at night, you know how blinding that can be when you're driving. The lasers are even more intense for pilots. We appreciate Mr. Stouder's courage to publicly speak about what he did so others will learn from his mistake." On the night of April 27, 2010, Stouder and his friend were in his front yard testing a laser pointer. Stouder was aiming the laser at a distant tower when the police helicopter appeared in the line of sight an estimated 1.5 miles away at approximately 1,500 feet in the air. St. Louis County Police Sgt. Dan Cunningham and St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer Doug Reinholz were piloting the helicopter on regular patrol. "People don't realize by the time the laser hits us, the beam of light has grown, it's no longer a pinpoint," said Officer Reinholz. "And the plexiglass on the helicopter disperses the light even more. It was very disorientating." Within minutes, officers converged on Stouder's home and arrested him. "The lesson I learned is that everything you do affects others. At the time, I didn't think it was a big deal. Now I know I could've caused the pilots to crash," said Stouder. This past January, the FAA announced there were more than 2,800 reports of lasers pointed at aircraft in 2010. Interfering with the operation of an aircraft is a felony. Persons can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. In addition, the FAA announced on June 1, it would begin to impose civil penalties (up to $11,000 per violation) against people who point a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft. SOURCE: http://www.ksdk.com/news Dallas May Be Forced To Reduce Fleet
The Helicopter Unit currently has three aircraft and flies an average of 2,000 to 2,200 hours each year. Last year, helicopters responded to about 5,200 calls. "Talk to any officer and they will tell you just how vital the helicopter is not only in helping catch the bad guys, of course, but for the safety of the officers on the ground," a Dallas police spokesman says in a short video posted on the department's website. "Consider it our patrol car in the sky." According to the news report, studies have shown that one police helicopter in the air is equivalent to six to 10 patrol cars. One study found that response time is reduced from four minutes to two for certain types of police incidents, such as a case in which someone is fleeing a crime scene. Another study concluded that that the odds of apprehension by officers increase by 65 percent if the helicopter responds within five minutes. SOURCE: http://www.dallasnews.com Partial FAA Shutdown Continues
FAA told contractors to stop work on construction projects to build and modernize control towers and other aviation infrastructure across the country. "I am making a simple and straightforward request to Congress: pass a clean FAA bill and immediately put thousands of FAA employees, construction workers, planners and engineers across America to work,†said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “In these tough economic times, we can ill afford to lay off hard-working Americans whose families depend on them.†"The real world implications of Congressional inaction are serious,†said Randy Babbitt, FAA Administrator. "People are out of work and the FAA cannot conduct necessary work to keep our aviation system competitive and moving forward." Source: www.aviationtoday.com UK Regional Partnership Starts
"The new arrangement for police helicopters in the northwest prepares us for the future of air support nationally, while offering a high-quality, flexible, cross border service," said Merseyside Police Superintendent Chris Markey. "It is with the ultimate aim of making the northwest a better and safer place," he added. Source: www.www.bbc.co.uk Congratulations To Air Beat Photo Contest Winner
Helicopter Plucks Teens From River
Deputies interviewed the two soaking wet teenagers who explained that their raft overturned and got tangled in some branches. The teens weren't wearing life vests. "Water's unpredictable. There's a lot of obstacles underneath the water that cause a lot of problems for people when they're trying to swim, currents that you can't see and a lot of force behind the water," said Sgt. Kevin Lokus. Source: http://abclocal.go.com San Diego Agency Reduces Flight Time
The police cutbacks, which went into effect July 1, are the police department's solution to keeping the unit running while trying to secure new funding — perhaps as early as October or November, during the city's midyear budget review. “To us, it's a needed and essential service,†said Assistant Chief Robert Kanaski. “We are going to get it back to where we need it to be.†Source: http://www.signonsandiego.com African Police Plan For Major Growth of Aviation Unit
The current Kenya Police Air Wing has 10 helicopter pilots, 13 fixed-wing pilots, 18 engineers and technicians, and seven cabin crewmembers. The unit is poorly equipped; out of eight helicopters, five are unserviceable and, of the seven Cessna fixed-wing aircraft, four are unserviceable. The fleet, expected to increase to 16 in four years, is expected to do 9,850 flight hours compared to 1,914 flight hours by the Air Wing last year. SOURCE: www.nation.co.ke Texas Congressman Takes Gyroplane Demo Flight
TPD received $40,000 of direct funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Aviation Technology Program as part of a service agreement in doing a one-year evaluation and research program on the gyroplane's use in civilian law enforcement. TPD Chief Robert Hauck said the gyroplane allows officers to do air surveillance, which would otherwise take multiple officers on the streets. Learn more about the Aviation Technology Program, by visiting http://www.justnet.org/pages/Aviation.aspx. You'll find an article about TPD's gyroplane and other light sport aircraft in the July-August edition of Air Beat Magazine. Click here for the digital edition http://archives.alea.org/Publications. Source: http://www.yourhoustonnews.com New Web Resource To Mitigate Risks of Lasers
Reports indicate that the number of incidences of laser strikes into cockpits in recent years continues to increase as do the level of sophistication of lasers readily available to the general public. Government and medical studies also confirm the growing severity of the laser strike threat, revealing that the exposure of aircrews to laser illumination can cause hazardous effects (e.g. distraction, glare, flash blindness and even persistent or permanent visual impairment), which can adversely affect the ability of aircrews to carry out responsibilities and safely handle an aircraft. LaserStrikeProtection.com is a centralized online resource for educational information about laser strike threats, incidences, protective equipment, training options and operational procedures to help organizations improve safety programs and night flight operations. Source: Night Flight Concepts Fayette County Sheriff's Office Updates Aviation Unit
"Our previous aircraft was in service with the U.S. Army long before it served the citizens of Fayette County, and we were running into high maintenance costs and downtime issues," explained Captain Greg Craft, Fayette County Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit. "We selected the AS350 B2 because it provides performance and durability that has been proven throughout the U.S. law enforcement community." The new aircraft will be known as Hawk 1. Source: American Eurocopter ASU Honors Aircrews with NVG Awards
Alachua County (FL) Joint Aviation Unit was presented the 5-year service award. “The Joint Aviation Unit is privileged to be honored with this award,†said Chief Pilot Richard Bray. “All of our pilots and TFOs feel that NVGs have increased our safety and effectiveness during night operations.†The San Diego (CA) Police Department Air Support Unit was presented both the 10-year service award and the Community Awareness Award. “It is an honor to be recognized with these awards,†said San Diego Police Department Sergeant Paul J. Connelly. “We first used NVG after borrowing goggles from the Border Patrol before obtaining our own and after seeing the tactical advantage they offer. Last year alone, we helped with the capture of 2,300 suspects that were attempting to evade police. It is great to see ASU take time to honor agencies and recognize how important our missions are. It means a lot to all of us in law enforcement.†The Mark of Excellence Award was presented to the Fairfax County (VA) Police Helicopter Division. Fairfax County Commander Andrew P. Hill said, “The importance of being recognized amongst our peers at the APSA conference cannot be overstated as we continue our commitment to enhancing both mission capability and, most importantly, the safety of our flight crews. There is no doubt that the utilization of NVGs by all of our crew members has aided in achieving these goals." Source: Aviation Specialties Unlimited Calgary Police Use Helicopter to Fly Father to See His Dying Son
The boy's father was not with the family; he was about 150 miles southeast of the lake in Calgary. Rather than have the father drive frantically for two hours to the hospital to be with his son, Calgary police and city officials okay'd the use of a helicopter to transport the father to his son's bedside. “I believe it was the right thing to do given the circumstances and the fact that we were already airborne and we had that resource available to us,†police spokesman Kevin Brookwell said. “What we did not want is a distraught father travelling northbound on Hwy. 2 at a high rate of speed, not really in the right mindset given the circumstances with the son. So I think this was a very prudent thing to do and a safe thing to do and the resource was there and we could get him to Red Deer as quickly as possible.†Officials insist the move wasn't to set a precedent, but that it was a unique situation of factors that led to the decision to fly the father to see his son. Suspect Aims At Sheriff's Helicopter
SOURCE: http://www.pe.com/localnews LASD Receives NVG-Modified A-Stars
SOURCE: Aero Dynamix Western Region Members: Safety Education Headed Your Way!
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During the recently completed Annual Conference & Exposition in New Orleans, APSA announced our 2011 awards winners and scholarship recipients. The Association has six awards to recognize deserving individuals for outstanding acts of valor or meritorious service and 13 scholarships totaling $29,500 to recognize the academic achievements of our member's children. This year's honorees are:
On July 1, Justin Stouder completed a one-year pre-trial diversion program for pointing a laser at a St. Louis (MO) Metropolitan Police Air Support helicopter. A pre-trial diversion is offered to eligible offenders who agree to follow terms and conditions of supervision and probation. After successful completion, the U.S. Attorney's Office agrees to not pursue charges. He shared his story during an FBI press conference last month in hopes of preventing others from possibly putting pilots in danger.
The Dallas (TX) Police Department Helicopter Unit may soon be operating with one less aircraft. The Dallas City Council will decide on August 10 if the unit's Bell 407 will be sold for $1.48 million in order to save jobs within the police department. Police Chief David Brown said in a written statement that the Helicopter Unit's "public safety responsibility will not be negatively affected by the sale." Budget cuts are never easy, he continued, but when faced with the chance to save jobs in the current economy, the police department will choose men and women over the machines.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) furloughed more than 4,000 employees last month after Congress failed to pass the FAA's reauthorization bill. Congressional inaction has halted dozens of major projects ranging from long-term runway safety initiatives to the Next Generation (NextGen) air traffic control research and testing, according to the FAA.
Five police forces in northwest England and North Wales have launched a new joint air support service. The North West Air Operations Group will operate four helicopters from a regional command post to incidents across Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside and North Wales. It is aimed at both savings and better service. The new arrangement is also seen as preparation for the National Police Air Service, which is set to launch in 2012.
APSA's Air Beat Magazine conducted its first-ever photo cover contest. Pilot Ty Hagenson of the Anaheim (CA) Police Department Air Support Unit was presented the grand prize of an Apple iPad2 by Editor-In-Chief Dan Schwarzbach (pictured). Congratulations Ty! We appreciate everyone who took the time to enter the contest. If you would like to share photography with Air Beat, feel free to send to 
A Fresno County (CA) Sheriff's Office Air Support helicopter crew lifted two male teenagers to safety after they had been stuck in the San Joaquin River for almost an hour last month. The water was so swift; it ripped the teen's bathing suits off.
San Diego (CA) Police Department Air Support Unit helicopters cut their flying hours last month after losing $1.5 million in state and federal funds, officials reported. The aviation unit, known as ABLE, typically flies about 10 hours each day, but will be cut back to six hours to save money on fuel and maintenance costs that were funded through the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) federal grant and state inmate booking fees. The two sergeants and 11 officers that make up the aviation unit will continue to work their regular hours even when they are grounded so they are available to fly during emergency incidents.
The Kenya Police Air Wing has appropriated approximately $176 million for new aircraft, operations and salaries during the next four years. The Air Wing will become a rapid deployment anti-crime unit that can be quickly sent in the air to pursue criminals and cattle rustlers.
Congressman Michael McCaul visited the Tomball (TX) Police Department (TPD) last month to experience firsthand the TPD and Harris County Sherriff's Office Air Support Unit's new gyroplane. McCaul took to the passenger seat as Donnie Plant, Chief Pilot for the Harris County (TX) Sherriff's Office, piloted. McCaul is a chairman on the Homeland Security Committee that oversees all operations by the Department of Homeland Security. Following the flight demonstration, McCaul said he believes this technology can be very effective for both small and large police departments.
APSA corporate members, Night Flight Concepts and Delta P, unveiled a new educational website, LaserStrikeProtection.com, last month. The site is dedicated to helping aviation organizations understand and mitigate the impact of unauthorized illumination of cockpits by lasers.
The Fayette County (GA) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit selected an AS350 B2 helicopter to replace its aging military surplus helicopter last month. The Aviation Unit performs a wide variety of missions that include daily patrols and traffic enforcement. The unit is also available to support emergency calls, manhunts, vehicle chases and drug interdiction.
Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) honored recipients of its Night Vision Awards at an awards ceremony at last month's APSA conference in New Orleans. “Every time the nominations come in, I am reminded of what a great industry we are in,†said ASU founder and president Mike Atwood. “There are so many organizations that deserve recognition. We are thankful that we can take time to honor them with the Night Vision Awards for their commitment to safety and night vision operations.â€
A five-year-old Calgary boy was with his mother on vacation, and like all tragedies, this one happened very quickly: One minute the boy was standing on the edge of a lake, the next he was under the water and being rushed to the hospital. A sure drowning victim, the boy's life was in peril.
A Riverside County (CA) Sheriff's Office deputy fired a round that missed a burglary suspect last month after the man pointed a rifle at a sheriff's helicopter. The 49-year-old suspect, who fought deputies after being missed by the gunshot, was eventually subdued with a Taser dart and arrested for burglary, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, and parole violation.
Aero Dynamix Inc. delivered the eighth NVG-modified AS350 to the Los Angeles County (CA) Sheriff's Department (LASD) last month. David Oglesbee, Business Development Manager for Aero Dynamix and a retired law enforcement chief pilot, understands the environment that these aircraft are being operated in. “The law enforcement cockpit can be a very busy place any time and under the best of conditions. It is certainly not a place for unnecessary distractions. That is the true beauty of the cockpit modified by Aero Dynamix. It is there, it does its job so the cockpit lighting, the effects on the goggles, the daytime readability are not things you think about. You can simply fly your mission. You have plenty of other things to be thinking about,†said Oglesbee.
APSA's Western Region Safety Seminar will take place September 6-8, 2011, in Universal City, CA. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Aero Bureau and Los Angeles Police Department Aviation Section will co-host this year's safety seminar. A special hotel rate of $139 is available for attendees at the Sheraton Universal Hotel (call 866-716-8130 for reservations). For details on the educational lineup and to register for the seminar, visit
