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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. Bell Delivers First 429 with Multi-Mission Configuration
"The Bell 429 had exactly what we were looking for when we searched the market for a true multi-mission helicopter. Its spacious cabin allowed us to be creative in our design," said FCPD Chief Pilot Paul Schaaf. “We are very pleased with our new Bell 429 and know it will serve us well in the coming years,†he continued. "The Bell 429 was designed for this type of multi-role capability," said Larry Roberts, senior vice president for Bell Helicopter's Commercial Business. “Our customers like the speed, power and the advanced flight deck technology found in the Bell 429. Along with the largest cabin in its class, it offers a smooth, comfortable ride. It is reliable, conforming to the latest airworthiness standards, and is backed by Bell Helicopter's award-winning and industry-leading customer service and support,†Roberts said. The Bell 429 is the company's newest and most advanced light twin-engine helicopter. It has conducted extensive flight demonstrations on every continent, except Antarctica, and has been certified in more than 40 countries. SOURCE: http://rotor.com U.S. Congress Passes Bill Creating Six UAS Test Sites
H.R. 1540 requires submission of a report to Congress, within 90 days, on the progress being made to integrate UAS into the NAS. Within 180 days, the administrator of the FAA is to establish a program to integrate UAS into the NAS at six national test sites. In looking at test sites, the FAA must safely designate non-exclusionary airspace for manned and unmanned aircraft operations; develop certification standards and air traffic requirements for UAS; address both civil and public UAS; and ensure the program is coordinated with the FAA's Next Generation Air Transportation Systems (NextGen). SOURCE: UAVSI 2011 Was Deadly Year For Police Officers
The nonprofit group that tracks police deaths also reported that 68 federal, state and local officers were killed by gunfire in 2011, a 15 percent jump from last year when 59 were killed. It marks the first time in 14 years that firearms fatalities were higher than traffic-related deaths. The data shows that 64 officers died in traffic accidents, down from the 71 killed in 2010. Craig Floyd, the NLEOMF's chairman, blamed the rise on budget cuts to public safety departments. He cited surveys by police groups that showed many cut back on training and delayed upgrading equipment, and referenced a U.S. Department of Justice report issued in October 2011 that said an estimated 10,000 police officers and sheriff's deputies have been laid off within the past year. "I'm very troubled that these drastic budget cuts have put our officers at a grave risks," Floyd said. "Our officers are facing a more brazen cold-blooded element and fighting a war on terror, and we're giving them less training and less equipment they need to do their jobs safely." The number of firearms-related fatalities, which have risen 70 percent since 2008, was particularly alarming to analysts. Of the 68 deaths, 14 took place while the officer was attempting an arrest, nine occurred during a domestic disturbance call and five were ambushes, according to the data. SOURCE: www.officer.com California Agency Puts LSA Into Action
"As we've been training, we've been called out to a few missing persons searches, as well as some vehicle chases to monitor them from the air and to conduct aerial searches for stolen heavy equipment,†said sheriff's Lt. Marsh Carter, one of the pilots. Most of the aircraft's purchase price was paid for with a California Emergency Management Agency grant, and the remaining came from forfeited drug assets. Between fuel, insurance, maintenance and renting hangar space, Sheriff One will cost about $34 for every flight hour used, not counting the salaries of the deputies flying it. Tulare County is the first in the country to use this aircraft full time for air patrols, retired Capt. Dave Williams said. Some of the flight crewmembers are volunteers from the sheriff's Aero Squadron, a group of private and commercial pilots who provide their skill and, sometimes, their own aircraft to help in search and rescue and flight operations. SOURCE: www.visaliatimesdelta.com Montana Organization Formed To Help SAR Missions
The organization aims to be involved in avalanche response, train derailments, water rescues, tactical support, high-speed pursuits, body recoveries, first responder training and public education. The need for a dedicated aerial component hit home for White when he was the search and rescue coordinator for the Sheriff's Office, dealing with critical situations in remote Montana areas. “We identified very quickly that it took so long to get people into some areas to help,†White said. “We had injuries and even deaths because we couldn't get to them for hours, sometimes even days.†The organization's acronym, FEAR, is no coincidence. The name is based in the fear of the lost, missing and injured, the fear their families experience until they are found and the way fear works as a defense mechanism to keep people safe. “I think, in today's tight fiscal times, it's important to come up with some out-of-the-box ways to provide services, and I think this is one of them,†Sheriff Chuck Curry said. You can visit the organization's website at embracefear.com. SOURCE: www.dailyinterlake.com 
APSA Returns to Reno in July It's not too early to start making plans now to join us in Reno, NV, July 11-14, 2012, for our 42nd Annual Conference & Exposition. Better yet, plan to make an entire week of it and join us for a pre-conference course, July 9-11, too. All of the information you need to plan a week of the best tactical aviation training you'll ever experience will be available on our website soon. Axsys Enters New Year With New Name Axsys Technologies, a division of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, has been renamed General Dynamics Global Imaging Technologies. Following the acquisition of Axsys Technologies in September 2009, this completes the integration of Axsys Technologies, an APSA corporate member, into the General Dynamics family. General Dynamics Global Imaging Technologies will remain solely focused on high-performance electro-optical infrared (EO/IR) cameras, precision optical components, stabilized high-definition (HD) cameras and motion control products. The company will also continue its collaboration with other business areas within General Dynamics to introduce innovative new technologies integrated with their existing EO/IR and motion control products. SOURCE: General Dynamics Global Imaging Technologies CHP Receives First Of Two Outfitted Aircraft
To see a demonstration of Soloy's airborne observation package, go tohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrmPmDg7jb4&feature=youtu.be SOURCE: Soloy Aviation Solutions Effectiveness of Helicopter Use Shared in Statistics
North Midlands Helicopter Support Unit Executive Officer John Jameson said, "The helicopter brings a dimension to policing which can't be achieved by conventional means. Thanks to the crews, many suspects were caught who may have evaded capture if the helicopter had not attended an incident. In April, we will see the creation of a national police air service. The police helicopter will continue to operate from Ripley and a relief helicopter will be available when the regular aircraft is off-line." SOURCE: www.bakewelltoday.co.uk Police Helipad To Be Built in Northern Ireland
Chief Inspector Sue Steen said, "Helicopters are a valuable tool for police in our normal operations, including investigations, anti-crime operations, traffic management, search and rescue, public order situations, crime reduction initiatives and tackling terrorism. For some time, we have been looking at proposals that could extend the length of time that our helicopters can operate. We believe that the location at Enniskillen station provides us with the increased operational capability we need." SOURCE: www.bbc.co.uk UK Agency Helicopter Hit With Laser
Laser pens are sold as office equipment to point out details on presentations, but they were also potentially dangerous weapons. The aircrew posted on their official Twitter feed that people pointing the lasers did not realize that they also were giving away their location. "It's just like the bat signal. We can see exactly where they are and they get arrested," the crew said. There had been a significant rise in the number of incidents involving laser pointers in recent years. From just 30 incidents reported in the UK in 2007, there were more than 1,600 in the first nine months of 2011. SOURCE: www.bbc.co.uk/news Renewed Grant Funding Keeps Unit Flying
"We don't fly it unless it's absolutely necessary," Morgan said, adding that he makes the decision on a case-by-case basis. "I think the aircraft is a tremendous benefit to the Sheriff's Office and the community," Chief Deputy Larry Aiken said. "It's a great tool to help deputies on the street to catch the bad guys." SOURCE: www.pnj.com New Jersey Police Sells Fleet of Helicopters
The auction package also included aircraft spares and tooling, and each aircraft came with a set of standard utility seating for each helicopter: two aft facing and three forward facing seats. Bids were accepted on www.govdeals.com until December 15, and, as of press time, purchaser information was not available. SOURCE: www.corpjetfin.live.subhub.com Yamhill County Gives Up Surplus Aircraft
The commission voted unanimously to officially turn “N991YC†over to the Sacramento Police Department after repeated attempts to make the chopper available to other agencies in Oregon resulted in no takers. SOURCE: www.newsyamhillcounty.com Officers In Clear for Arrest Made in Sniper Case A military-trained marksman was defeated in his efforts to sue investigators who arrested him after a sniper shot down an Albuquerque police helicopter in 2005 and the evidence initially pointed his way. The man, who served as a military helicopter mechanic and marksmanship instructor, said he witnessed the aircraft when it crashed from his backyard and made a series of suspicious statements. He said he had been "annoyed" by the helicopter and that it would have been "no problem" to "make that shot," adding that the way the helicopter was backlit made it "a great target." When detectives tried to follow him in an unmarked car, he led them on 100 mph chase, later claiming that post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) triggered his reaction. The Bernalillo County (NM) Sheriff's Department later executed a warrant to search his home and persuaded a veteran's hospital to voluntarily release his psychiatric records. The U.S. Attorney prosecuting the case dropped all charges against him after an independent expert found that the police relied on a faulty ballistic report and trajectory analysis. The man responded with three lawsuits against the officers who searched his home, the sheriff who obtained his psychiatric records and other officials for false arrest. All the defendants moved to dismiss the suits on the basis of qualified immunity, but a federal judge denied relief. They fared better on appeal. The man had said there was no probable cause, but the judge ruled that "the fact remains, at the end of the process, enough truthful information existed in the arrest warrant and grand jury proceedings to establish probably cause. And because of that, we remain obliged by law to extend qualified immunity." SOURCE: www.courthousenews.com Sheriff's Alternative To Keep Chopper Flying
"We (police) have put up with donut jokes for our entire existence. I think we can tolerate jokes about the Price Chopper chopper or the Wegmans whirlybird showing up," Walsh said, referring to two supermarket chains. "I don't like the idea of our having to fund public services with private donations, but the option is not to have that public service." While hawking naming rights for municipal stadiums, parks, mass-transit stations and other public entities is nothing new for cash-strapped cities, sponsorship deals with police agencies are much less common. Walsh has appealed for private donations, started a non-profit foundation and hopes to secure federal grants to help pay for Air-1's four-pilot roster. Getting a commercial operator's license from the Federal Aviation Administration to allow him to charge fees for medical flights might come through soon too, potentially raising $125,000 to $200,000 a year. Selling naming rights could prove vital in filling the gap needed to keep Air-1 in operation. SOURCE: www.star-telegram.com APSA Safety Training Alert; Seminar Next Week in Savannah, GA
Go to http://archives.alea.org/events/detail.aspx?i=122&p=1&d=01/10/2012 to register or contact Southeast Region Director Kevin Vislocky atkvislocky@PublicSafetyAviation.org with any questions. |
Bell Helicopter delivered the first of two Bell 429s with a multi-mission configuration to Fairfax County (VA) Police Department (FCPD) last month. The unit's second Bell 429 is expected to deliver in the second quarter of 2012. This multi-role Bell 429 is capable of completing missions for airborne law enforcement, helicopter emergency medical services and search and rescue.
The U.S. Congress passed a $662 billion defense bill (H.R. 1540) last month, which included important language on the integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the national airspace system (NAS). This is the first time Congress has passed legislation on the integration of UAS, and President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law.
The number of fatalities from police departments across the country caused by firearms made 2011 one of the deadliest years in recent history for U.S. law enforcement. Across the nation, 173 officers died in the line of duty (up 13 percent from 153 the year before), according to a year-end report compiled by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF).
The Tulare County (CA) Sheriff's Department's publically debuted their new light sport aircraft, called Sheriff One, at a hangar at the Visalia Municipal Airport last month. The sheriff's department has had the CTLE-model plane since August, after taking possession from its manufacturer, Flight Design. Since then, a team of sheriff's deputies and volunteers have done flight training on the new aircraft, worked out technical glitches and developed policies and procedures for the department's aircrews.
Flathead County (MT) Sheriff's Office deputies received helicopter training with Flathead Emergency Aviation Resources last month, a recently-formed nonprofit volunteer organization designed to give air support to search and rescue efforts and emergency service providers. The organization's goal is to save time and money in aviation endeavors of law enforcement and search and rescue groups by providing easier, cheaper access to aircraft and pilots, according to one of the main organizers, Flathead County Undersheriff Jordan White.
The California Highway Patrol received the first of two Cessna 206 aircraft, outfitted with a complete tactical officer station, from Soloy Aviation Solutions last month. Utilizing the C-206's high-wing configuration, Soloy's STC wing-mounted hardpoint is readily adaptable for forward-looking infrared cameras. The wing mount location is ideal for surveillance and patrol, allowing for a 360°view and better operational awareness for the camera operator.
Derbyshire Constabulary and Nottinghamshire (UK) Police Department jointly own the North Midlands Helicopter Support Unit. The unit carries out vital work to help officers on the ground in numerous ways. For instance, the police aircrews helped to find 214 crime suspects, searched for 126 missing people, found 26 stolen or suspect vehicles and airlifted three casualties to the hospital between January 1 and December 1, 2011.
The Police Service of North Ireland (PSNI) has plans build a helipad at its Enniskillen police station. The police currently use three helicopters in Northern Ireland, which are all based at Aldergrove. The aircraft are used for search operations, tracking stolen vehicles and emergency response. Having the new helipad will mean the aircraft can be refueled without having to return to its base. Two other remote landing pads are in operation. If approved, it is estimated that the new helipad will take 12 weeks to complete.
The United Kingdom's Central Counties Air Support police helicopter (which covers Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire counties) was targeted by a laser last month. The EC135 aircraft was supporting officers on the ground in stopping a vehicle when a laser was shone at the pilot. It was also later targeted while investigating a store robbery. Police said that it did not affect the result of the operations.
Two months after Escambia County (FL) Sheriff David Morgan took office in 2008, he grounded the two Sheriff's Office helicopters during budget cuts. But since the summer of 2010, one of the helicopters has been flying thanks to a $198,300 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. And when that grant expires in February 2012, another $173,718 renewal of the grant has been lined up to keep the chopper aloft through September.
As the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit takes delivery of their new fleet of AgustaWestland AW139s, the unit's retiring fleet of Sikorsky S76B helicopters went up for auction last month as a single lot. All of the aircraft were EMS configured with dual litter capability, four attendant/cabin seats, suction system, LOX, shore power, plug-type sliding cabin doors, and sealed blood-dam type flooring. The five aircraft had an average of 8,400 airframe hours each.
Yamhill County (OR) Sheriff's Office surplus Bell OH-58 was turned over to Sacramento (CA) Police Department last month. The county discovered that getting one of these aircraft for free is one thing, but keeping them maintained and certified is quite expensive. And, in these recessionary times, the Yamhill County commission determined those expenses were too much.
For over a decade, a Bell 407 helicopter has helped Onondaga County (NY) Sheriff's Office chase down fugitives, airlift accident victims and spearhead search and rescue missions in central New York. In 2012, however, Air-1 could be grounded by budget cuts. Sheriff Kevin Walsh is trying to sell a corporate logo on the aircraft to raise ad revenue and keep it flying. A county legislature resolution to auction off Air-1 was voted down 18-1 on December 6. Walsh will likely renew his funding request when the legislature returns this month with seven new members.
Fulfill that resolution to get more mission-specific training this year by attending the APSA Southeast Region Safety Seminar in Savannah, GA. Hosted by the Savannah Chatham Metro Police Department Aviation Unit, this event takes place January 10-12, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Savannah Hotel. You will learn about tactical video downlink, flight risk assessments, emergency response plans, saving your unit through marketing, TFO selection, night vision goggle techniques, and more. A unit commander's forum will take place, as well as workshops for pilots and TFOs.