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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. Co-pilot of Attacked SJ Police Helicopter Dies of Shot Wounds
The co-pilot, Jesús Fernando Quiñones Santiago, was injured Tuesday night along with Municipal Police officer Eduardo Meléndez Alvelo, when gunmen fired at least 31 shots at the helicopter they were riding during a high-speed chase over the San José sector of Río Piedras. Doctors had to remove a bullet lodged in Quiñones Santiago, who was shot in the back. Meléndez Alvelo, who police said had bullet fragments near his armpit, was reportedly in stable condition and recovering at the hospital as of Wednesday afternoon. The 11 people who were arrested by municipal police in connection with the incident, however, were set free after a San Juan prosecutor found that there was insufficient evidence to charge them. The FBI as well as state and municipal police are investigating the incident. Police spokesman Damaris Pereira said the co-pilot and the police officer were hit when they helped pursue a driver after running a traffic stop on Blanes Street in Barriada Israel around 9:21 p.m. Tuesday. Pereira said that as the suspect, José Gutiérrez Santana, was arrested and found with ammunition in his 2008 red Toyota Yaris vehicle, a group of men nearby began firing at the helicopter. Quiñones Santiago and Meléndez Alvelo were wounded by the shots. The pilot, José Rivera, who was unhurt in the incident, was forced to land in the San José baseball field. Municipal Police officer Shakira Báez, who gave chase and arrested Gutiérrez Santana, was unhurt. Police Homicide Director Lt. José Rivera Alicea told the Daily Sun that municipal police found 33 bullet casings from a 223 caliber rifle on Aranjuez Street, from where police said the shots had come. He said that police found munitions in vehicles in the area and detained 11 people as a result. Police Spokesman Eduardo Rodríguez said three were suspected of having fired the shots. A San Juan prosecutor determined Wednesday that there was insufficient evidence to charge the 11 people, who were set free, said Rivera Alicea, adding that the FBI is investigating the incident because attempting to destroy an aircraft is a federal crime. He said that FBI agents and officials from the Federal Aviation Administration had questioned area residents on Wednesday. He said that the joint investigation had turned up some leads on the suspected shooters. “It could have been much worse had the helicopter lost control and crashed,” said Rivera Alicea, who added that a softball game was taking place at the San José baseball field where the helicopter made the emergency landing. Gov. Fortuño said during a press conference earlier in the day that “this type of act is unacceptable in Puerto Rico.” “There already are 11 individuals in custody at this time, who we believe are responsible for this act. To these and others who believe they can have their way, we want to them to know that we will not permit this,” the governor said of the helicopter incident, unaware that no charges would be filed against any of them in connection with the incident. In fact, the governor did not explain how law enforcement officials would prevent a similar incident from happening. “As far as I know [something like this] has not happened before, but it may have and I did not know about it. We are simply not going to permit this level of violence,” Fortuño said. Source: Puerto Rico Daily Sun
Ash from Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano continues to trigger shutdowns of European airspace, paralyzing airports and travelers as well as police and emergency medical flight operators. It is estimated that last month more than 100,000 flights were cancelled and airlines estimated they lost more than $2 billion in business. The majority of air ambulances were grounded for long periods of time as opinions were sought on the advisability of flight. Police aviation operations were affected, but flights were still made depending on the level of urgency. Above is a photo from London's Heathrow Airport on April 16, 2010. Source: Police Aviation News Maryland Trooper Pilot Earns Commander's Award
In the late evening hours of December 21, 2009, Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 7 was requested to assist in locating a father and daughter who were following the trail of a wounded deer when they became lost in the woods. During their trek, they crossed through a swampy area and were soaked from the waist down. The pair had been in the woods for nearly seven hours and they were poorly dressed for the 20-degree temperatures. In spite of darkness and mobility limited by high-tension power lines, TFC Mattingly and Pilot James MacKay located the father and daughter. The flight crew identified a wide creek to the south of the lost subjects, the very direction from which ground search crews were approaching. Because of tree cover and the power lines, landing at the scene or hoisting the victims were not feasible. Realizing that ground rescuers would not reach the victims for a significant period of time, the crew of Trooper 7 decided the best available option was to land at a nearby farm. TFC Mattingly and MacKay landed, hiked about a half-mile into the woods and were the first rescuers to locate the victims. Having been wet and in the woods for so long, the daughter was in moderate to severe hypothermia. She could no longer feel either of her legs and was not alert. As the flight crew made their way out of the woods with the victims, ground rescuers arrived with a four-wheel drive vehicle along with the property owner with his tractor. The victims were loaded into a vehicle and taken directly to an awaiting ambulance. The men and women of the Maryland State Police Aviation Command performed 410 similar rescue operations in 2009 in addition to over 6,300 medevac, law enforcement, homeland security and other operational missions for the citizens of Maryland. Source: Maryland State Police Aviation Command UK Agency Replaces Destroyed Helicopter
Motorized doors, reinforced steel pedestrian access, a comprehensive alarm system and a CCTV monitoring capability have been installed to ensure the helicopter's safe keeping. The arson attack represented a major security breach for both the police and the airport. The arsonist had cut through the fence around the airport before racing across the grass on a motorbike, setting fire to the aircraft on its landing pad. The fragments of the burnt-out trail bike were found next to the hole. No one has ever been charged over the blaze. Source: www.birminghammail.net FLIR Gives Needed Gift To Aviation Unit
“This newer generation camera will allow us to see even farther at night than before,” said Senior Deputy George DeLuca, one of the department's helicopter pilots. “It will definitely have an impact on our lifesaving abilities when we work with the sheriff's volunteer search and rescue team to find people who are lost or missing in Santa Barbara's front and back country, not to mention our deputies on the ground when they are searching for a suspect fleeing in the cover of night.” The gift comes as the sheriff's department faces the possibility of significant budget cuts. “FLIR has stepped up in a time when money is tight and we are looking for creative ways to fulfill our mission to protect the public with fewer government resources,” Sheriff Bill Brown said. “We appreciate their generosity.” Source: noozhawk.com Another Laser Arrest; Growing FAA Concern
Upon arrest, the man admitted to pointing a laser at the helicopter. Authorities seized an 8-to-10-inch long laser pointer. The Federal Aviation Administration says laser pointers have become a growing problem for aircraft. In 2009, there were 1,476 reports nationwide of lasers being pointed at aircraft. There have been 611 incidents so far this year (through April 23, 2010), according to the FAA. Source: www.stltoday.com Serbian Helicopter Unit Combats Crime & Helps Citizens
Minister Dacic said that Serbia's police helicopter unit is “a significant element in opposing all forms of crime, as well as being of assistance to citizens in case of disaster”. He said that the Ministry wants to create strong, modern, professional, technically equipped and trained police personnel ready to protect every citizen from any form of threat. The Minister also said the government's top goals are the fight against organized crime and corruption, the preservation of security, and a speedy European Union integration process. Source: Government of Serbia Police Helicopter Sold at Auction
The proceeds are being deposited in the city's general fund but will be earmarked for the police department's equipment fund, which is used for purchasing vehicles and equipment for ground patrols. The helicopter, which had 9,220 hours of flying time, made its last flight the evening of December 31, 2009. Source: http://cjonline.com New Technology for Locating Avalanche Victims Donated To Air Unit
A separate hand-held locating receiver can be used by one person in the helicopter to locate “Recco” chips. These reflective chips are sewn into ski gear and outdoor gear and are used extensively by ski resorts. This additional technology allows rescuers to search for avalanche victims who are not wearing avalanche beacons. Manuel Genswein, electrical engineer and developer of the helicopter antenna, recently conducted three days of training with the Snohomish County Sheriff's Air Support Unit. Source: www.heraldnet.com New FAA Information System For Pilots Launched
“The new notification system delivers the information digitally to pilots and others who need up-to-the minute data on varying conditions at airports,” said Director Tom Rafter of the Atlantic City International Airport. “For example, one of the items would be letting a pilot and crew know if there is a snow removal crew working at a particular airport that could restrict runway or taxiway accessibility. There are potentially hundreds of other information items that would be useful to pilots and their support personnel, both in preparation and while actually in flight,” Rafter added. In the past, all of the information was sent to the FAA for redistribution. Now, the information will be reported directly to the FAA's Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) system for direct delivery to pilots quicker and more accurately. The FAA said the direct entry system would be demonstrated over the next 12 months at 12 different airports. NOTAMS plays a crucial role in aviation safety by providing information on airport conditions or hazards that may affect flight. Source: South Jersey Transportation Authority Accessory Kits Approved for Cessna Law Enforcement Package
Although the kits can be purchased and installed separately in both piston and turbine powered aircraft, the Observation Seat Kit is designed to be used in conjunction with the Observation Window Kit and Headliner modifications. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transport Canada (TC) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approved all three aerial observation accessories for the Cessna 206. Source: Soloy Aviation Solutions
Source: DART Helicopter Services Bulgarian Police Beef Up Fleet
An additional two AW109 Power helicopters, recently ordered by the Ministries of Finance and Interior of Bulgaria for the Bulgarian Border Police will follow, further expanding the helicopter fleet of the Service. The Bulgarian Border Police also bought an AW139 medium twin helicopter in late 2009. The AW109 Power is equipped with an impressive range of state-of-the-art avionics and mission-dedicated equipment including a NVG-compatible cockpit, moving map display, weather radar, searchlight, external loudspeaker, provision for FLIR, digital video downlink, video recorder and mission console. The AW109 Power is designed to perform a wide range of security duties to meet the changing demands of law enforcement: patrol, surveillance and tactical operations, state border control, counter-terrorism, search and rescue, armed interdiction and other homeland security missions. Source: AgustaWestland
Europe's Police Aviation Conference
The keynote speaker on the first day will be Thomas Helbig, German Federal Police Aviation Commander. Speakers will include APSA's own Kenneth Solosky, Glenn Daley and Jose Mendizabel. Other presenters are from the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Belgium. Access to the conference is restricted to airborne emergency services personnel and associated professionals. For more information, please visitwww.pavcon.org. APSA Hosts 40th Annual Conference & Exposition
All of these provide significant value and efficiency that you can take home and use all year long! If you haven't already, make plans now to attend APSA's 40th Annual Conference & Exposition on July 14-17, 2010, in Tucson, AZ. Click here for online information and registration http://archives.alea.org/public/seminars/index.aspx. |
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The civilian co-pilot of a San Juan municipal police helicopter attacked by gunmen Tuesday night died of his wounds Wednesday afternoon at the Río Piedras Medical Center, a Daily Sun source said.
Trooper First Class Tabitha Mattingly received a Commander's Award last month for her role in locating and rescuing a father and daughter who were lost in a wooded area in December 2009. In a ceremony at Maryland State Police Aviation Command Headquarters, Major A.J. McAndrew said, “TFC Mattingly executed this mission in an exemplary fashion.”
A lot of money has been spent upgrading security to protect West Midlands (UK) Police Authority's new helicopter after the last one was destroyed in an arson attack in June 2009. The cabin of the EC135 P2i was extensively damaged and two of the rotors were broken. The new helicopter, an identical replacement, is due to be in service in July 2010.
The Santa Barbara County (CA) Sheriff's Department's Aviation Unit received a gift of an airborne camera system from FLIR Systems last month. The equipment, valued at more than $100,000, features a dual sensor camera with thermal imaging technology, an improvement over the department's current infrared camera mounted on Copter-1.
A 24-year-old St. Louis man was arrested on suspicion of interfering with an aircraft after he pointed a green laser light at St. Louis County (MO) Police Department's Metro Air Support helicopter last month. The pilots were patrolling about 700 feet above when the laser flashed them.
Serbian Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic attended the Helicopter Unit Day at Nikola Tesla Airport last month. Members of the country's Helicopter Unit, founded in 1967, are tasked with combating all forms of crime and helping its citizens in emergency situations and natural disasters. The current unit was formed in 2002 and its base (with 13 helicopters) is located at Nikola Tesla Airport.
The sale of the Topeka (KS) Police Department's former helicopter brought in $167,500 to the city's general fund last month. City spokesman David Bevens said an online auction for the 1994 Schweizer 300C police helicopter ended with the winning bid of $102,500 coming from a private individual. Related aircraft tools, parts and police equipment were auctioned separately, bringing in $65,000.
The Snohomish County (WA) Sheriff's Office Air Support Unit recently acquired equipment that will aid in locating victims trapped in an avalanche. A “Barryvox” avalanche beacon transceiver is coupled with an antenna that is mounted below the helicopter to conduct the search. The helicopter can cover a large avalanche debris field and search for buried personnel equipped with avalanche beacons much more quickly than a team on foot. This special helicopter antenna was purchased through donations made to Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue organization.
A new Federal Aviation Administration system of updating pilots and other aviation personnel about flight route conditions was launched last month at Atlantic City (NJ) International Airport.
Soloy Aviation Solutions recently received approval for three accessory kits, which comprise Soloy's Cessna 206 Law Enforcement Package and are designed to bring significant surveillance improvements. Specifically, the kits include a headliner modification and four-point restraint harnesses for pilot and co-pilot, a large-area observation window installation, and a middle row articulated observation seat installation.
Tyler Technologies Inc. has received Federal Aviation Administration and Transport Canada approval of its new A-Star Straight Tube, which is a line of frameworks to support popular video gimbal camera systems such as FLIR Ultramedia®, Axsys/Cineflex V14, Polytech and Wescam.
The Bulgarian Border Police has taken delivery of its first AW109 Power light twin helicopter during an official ceremony last month. This helicopter will provide a reliable air surveillance capability on the outer European Union borders, since Bulgaria is expected to be a Schengen Zone Member starting March 2011.
Awarded by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and its Aviation Committee, the annual ‘Excellence in Police Aviation Award' nominations are now open.
PAvCon 2010 will take place in the Conference Centre at Pribram Airfield in Prague, Czech Republic on May 28-29, 2010. PAvCon will be held in conjunction with the AeroExpo Europe, which is Europe's Festival of Aviation.
In a challenging economy, it is more important than ever to stay educated, keep up-to-date with industry trends, see new products and services, and maintain and build relationships in the airborne law enforcement profession.
