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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. APSAC Accepts $10,000 Donation from American Eurocopter
The APSAC was founded in 2002 for the purpose of developing professional standards for all airborne law enforcement units including local, state and federal governmental agencies. These standards have been adopted by the APSA as guidelines for starting new aviation units and as recommended best practices for review and adoption by all law enforcement aviation units. Jim Di Giovanna, President of the APSAC, is a retired captain and former unit commander of the Los Angeles County (CA) Sheriff's Department's Aero Bureau. “With the help of industry leaders like American Eurocopter, and through our Accreditation Program, we hope to work with the law enforcement community to institute an accepted set of ‘best practices' that will be adopted by air units throughout the country and validated through our program of accreditation,” he explained. The intent of the Accreditation Program is to encourage safe, efficient and accident-free aviation operations in support of law enforcement missions. “We support the work that the APSAC is doing and their goals to improve operational standards and safety within the law enforcement community,” said Larry Roberts, American Eurocopter Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Customer Support. “Safety continues to be a top priority at American Eurocopter and we look forward to working with APSAC in our joint efforts to promote safety throughout the industry.” The Accreditation Program is designed to objectively evaluate and certify a law enforcement air unit's overall compliance with the standards for air units as developed and adopted by the APSAC and APSA. Airborne law enforcement units can apply for accreditation online through the APSA website. Once the application is received, the unit will be required to conduct a self-assessment of their operation as compared to the standards. A team of assessors will conduct on-site assessments, thoroughly evaluating all aspects of the unit's operation. The assessors' findings will be presented to the APSAC Board of Commissioners for final approval. Photo caption: APSA CFO Dan Schwarzbach, APSAC President Jim DiGiovanna, American Eurocopter Law Enforcement Market Manager Ed Van Winkle, and APSA President Martin L. Jackson. Man Sentenced to Three Years for Lasing Police Helicopter
This case is the product of an investigation by the Roseville Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Air Marshals Service. "These years in federal prison should give anyone pause when contemplating as reckless an act as potentially blinding a pilot who is operating an aircraft," stated U.S. Attorney Brown. The act occurred when the Sacramento (CA) Sheriff's Department Air Unit STAR 5 flew over the area and was hit by a high-powered green laser. While the laser remained on the helicopter, STAR 5 flew in the direction of the light, coming within a 1/4 mile of the source of the laser. STAR 5 identified Valladares's residence. He admitted that he had been shining the laser into the sky during the night and that he had shined the laser at the police helicopter. During a search of the residence, police found the laser in two pieces hidden in different parts of the defendant's room. The laser possessed by Valladares was seven times more powerful than the standards published by the Food and Drug Administration. High-powered lasers like the one used by the defendant have the potential to blind those who may look at it. As it concerns aircraft, the laser can cause problems during critical phases of an aircraft's operation. Source: http://media-newswire.com DNR Auction Follows Elimination of Aviation Unit
The opening bid for the helicopter, named “Natural One”, is $125,000. The helicopter comes with $65,000 worth of spare parts. There are about two dozen other aviation-related items up for auction. "The aircraft can be used for anything," said Major Chuck Santerre of the Natural Resources Police. "It's rigged and ready to roll for law enforcement, but it certainly could be used for other functions." When the aviation unit was active, police used their three helicopters and one airplane to enforce natural resources laws, including catching fish poachers and illegal hunters. The aircraft also were used for search and rescue and to help police officers in rural counties. Conservation and fishing groups tried to rally to save the aviation unit, but it was cut anyway. Check out the helicopter auction at www.dnr.state.md.us/auction. The airplane will be sold through the state's Department of General Services at GovDeals.com. Source: www.hometownannapolis.com Mature Pot Plants Seized After Pilot Spots Grow Area
Source: http://www.signonsandiego.com/ HAI “Salute To Excellence” Nominations Wanted
HAI is now accepting nominations for the 2010, and winners will be recognized on February 22 during HELI-EXPO 2010 in Houston, TX. By acknowledging exceptional individuals or organizations, the “Salute to Excellence” celebration encourages continued achievement in attaining the highest standards of professionalism in the helicopter industry. The simplest way to submit a nomination is to complete the online 2010 Nomination Form on HAI's Web site, www.rotor.com/salute. All nominations for the 2010 awards must be received by October 16, 2009. For more information on the “Salute to Excellence” awards, go to www.rotor.com and click on ‘Membership,' then ‘Salute to Excellence,' or contact HAI's Communications Department at 703-683-4646, or emailrotor@rotor.com. Lockheed Completes Gyrocam Acquisition
Lockheed CEO Robert J. Stevens described the acquisition as one that would strengthen the company's capabilities and increase sales. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, a unit of Lockheed Martin's Electronic Systems division, will manage Gyrocam. That division's revenue was $3.07 billion in the second quarter, slightly lower than the year-ago period. Source: http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/ Grounded Unit Gets New Life
Source: www.tbo.com
SRT Helicopters Makes History with M-1 Visa
According to Christian Gadbois, President and CEO of SRT Helicopters, “SRT has worked hard to distinguish our training from that of all other flight schools in the country. Following an extensive evaluation and an on-site visit from representatives from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, and Department of Immigration and Customs, we achieved a significant milestone in flight training. We see the M-1 Visa approval as a significant accomplishment and a validation of our training program.” Ohio Agency Accepts Newest Aircraft
The Columbus Police Helicopter Division now operates six MD500Es and compiles 800-900 hours annually per aircraft. The division patrols 275 square miles during a planned 16-hour daily schedule. Since the Helicopter Division was formed in 1972, it has logged more than 180,000 hours of flight time. On hand to accept the aircraft (pictured above) were Officer/Pilot David Weirick and Officer/Pilot David Eubanks as well as Vic Speroni, Vice President Helicopter Minit-Men, the MDHI Service Center that has a maintenance contract with the City of Columbus. “In my opinion it is the best helicopter we could possibly have to accomplish the mission we set out to do,” said Officer Weirick. “I have flown several different makes of helicopter and this one is the best for maneuverability, flying low and slow, for quick turns and quick acceleration. The cost per hour is manageable for the city to budget and it is just a really enjoyable aircraft to fly.” Source: MD Helicopters, Inc. Eurocopter UK Signs Deal For Replacement Aircraft
Heroism Award Presented to MSP Helicopter Crew
The rescue operation occurred in December 2008 after a water main break in Bethesda, MD trapped numerous vehicles in fast-flowing water that was 3-4 feet deep. The Maryland State Police Aviation Command's Trooper 2 helicopter with MacKay and Wheelock aboard was dispatched. The rushing water stranded at least seven cars, and Trooper 2 was asked by Fire Command to hoist all survivors because of the amount of time they had been exposed to the frigid water and air temperatures. While MacKay hovered the AS365 within feet of wires and tall trees that partially obstructed the roadway from above, Sgt. Wheelock began the hoist rescues. First rescued was a woman who freed herself from her car and climbed into the basket. From an altitude more than 100 feet, she was hoisted into the helicopter. Working as a team to keep the helicopter's rotor blades clear of nearby trees, MacKay repositioned the AS365 forward approximately 20 feet so that Wheelock could lower the basket next to the open front passenger door of a survivor's vehicle. Despite the challenges, the basket was accurately placed the second time and two more survivors, a mother and her 9-year-old son, climbed in. Wheelock once again guided the cable and basket up past wires and trees. Unable to detach the basket because of a thick coating of ice on the cable hook, MacKay flew the helicopter to an open field and touched down, enabling them to be moved into the aircraft's cabin. The Dauphin then departed with its three survivors for the nearest trauma center, where they were treated for hypothermia. Source: www.aopa.org Thai Police To Acquire Three New Aircraft
Source: http://www.defpro.com/news/details/9651/ Copter Aids Rescue of Bride-to-Be
County rescuers reached the woman by climbing nearly 100 feet to her from a boat on the Potomac River. They then stabilized her on a backboard. With the helicopter hovering about 50 feet above the cliff, pilot Sgt. Kevin Chittick, using the chopper's hoist system, lowered a cable that rescuers on the ground attached to the rescue basket. In less than five minutes, the crew was on its way to the hospital with the bride-to-be. "There's some degree of risk with the maneuver, obviously, because you're, A, flying and, B, lifting a human being on a cable, but it's well practiced," said co-pilot Sgt. Ken Burchell. "It literally was about a three-minute flight." Source: www.washingtonpost.com Crown 1 Up For Sale
The decision to sell the helicopter ends the city's 7-year-old airborne program and means more officer hours and slower response times for some incidents, said Sgt. Neil Reynolds. "It's a valuable tool that we've had and we're losing it," Reynolds said. "It's almost doing the work of many units at once." The four officers in the helicopter program have since been assigned other duties. Source: www.pe.com
Netherlands Police Agency Signs Deal With Pratt & Whitney Canada
Source: www.marketwire.com
Texas-Style Safety Seminar Next Month!
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During the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) convention in Denver, CO this month, the Airborne Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (APSAC) accepted a very generous $10,000 donation from American Eurocopter. The donation will be used to offset the cost of law enforcement air unit accreditation and will be presented to the first three qualifying agencies that successfully complete the accreditation process. The first agency to complete the process will receive a $5,000 rebate towards the cost of accreditation, the second agency will receive $3,000 and the third will receive $2,000.
United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown announced last month that 30-year-old Balltazar Valladares of Roseville, CA was sentenced to three years and one month in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for interfering with the safe operation of an aircraft. Valladares pleaded guilty on June 8, 2009.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is auctioning a Bell 206 BII JetRanger, one of four aircraft in the unit, which was disbanded amid budget cuts this year.
A San Diego (CA) Sheriff's Office helicopter pilot with the county's Narcotics Task Force spotted approximately 8,000 marijuana plants last month. Agents hiked into the remote, hilly area and discovered plants that were about six feet tall. The haul has an estimated street value of $24 million, said Amy Roderick, spokeswoman for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Sheriff's helicopters flew the plants out in a sling because there was no vehicle access.
For nearly 50 years, the Helicopter Association International (HAI) has celebrated the outstanding achievements and exceptional merits of individuals and organizations through the “Salute to Excellence” Awards program. HAI will present nine “Salute to Excellence” awards recognizing contributions made to advance the international helicopter community, including airborne law enforcement.
At a time when the military is relying on more sophisticated surveillance techniques, Lockheed Martin Corp. is adding to its expertise in the field, completing the acquisition of Gyrocam Systems last month, a surveillance systems manufacturer and APSA corporate member.
The Pasco County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit will return to service next year. According to a news report, commissioners agreed to set aside $145,000 in next year's budget to restore the grounded helicopter to action. "Policing a half a million people without an aerial platform is very difficult," Sheriff Bob White told commissioners last month.
As a provider of high risk operational services and training for rotorcraft users and aviation organizations, SRT Helicopters became the first non-141 flight training school in the U.S. to be approved for the M-1 Visa Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
MD Helicopters, Inc (MDHI) held a special delivery ceremony at its Mesa, AZ completion facility on August 31 to turn over the keys to a brand new MD 500E helicopter to the City of Columbus (OH) Police Department Helicopter Division. It is the sixth MD 500E in the Columbus fleet and it is the twelfth MD 500E Helicopter they have purchased since 1997, as part of their planned replacement program.
Eurocopter UK recently announced the order for a new EC135 for West Midlands Police Air Support Unit. Eurocopter will provide, at short notice, a fully equipped EC135 police helicopter, featuring the well-known mission pod, to take over the duties of the West Midlands EC135 that was destroyed by fire in a recent arson attack. The new aircraft will be delivered in the summer 2010.
Rotor & Wing magazine's Helicopter Heroism Award was presented to aircrew members of the Maryland State Police Aviation Command. The public service award was presented to pilot Jim MacKay and trooper flight paramedic Nate Wheelock during the Rotor & Wing 2009 Search and Rescue summit in Reston, VA last month.
Royal Thai Police (RTP) has signed a contract with Eurocopter for three EC 155 helicopters. These medium weight twin-engine helicopters will be delivered in 2011 and will be dedicated to VIP missions. Captain Chesda Indrasthitya, Aviation Commander of Royal Thai Police said, "This is not the first time that we are buying the EC155 helicopter. There are already two EC155s in our current fleet, and our past experiences have shown that it is a truly versatile helicopter which fully meets our mission requirements."
Last month, a man took his girlfriend hiking in national parkland near Great Falls, MD. At some point, he popped the question. She said yes. The woman apparently slipped, fell down a rock face and was injured. With no way to reach her easily, emergency responders used a U.S. Park Police helicopter to pluck her off the path.
Corona (CA) Police Department is selling its helicopter, Crown 1, for $900,000 to help offset budget shortfalls. About half of the money is slated to pay off the loan for the 1997 Bell 407, while about $300,000 will be set aside for the department.
Pratt & Whitney Canada has signed a new 10-year fleet management program agreement with the Netherlands Police Agency (KLPD, Korps landelijke politiediensten) to provide comprehensive maintenance support for engines installed on its fleet of six Eurocopter EC135s and two AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters. The KLPD, which ordered the two new AW139 helicopters last year, is responsible for law enforcement and homeland security in the Netherlands.
The 2009 Central Region Safety Seminar will take place in Galveston, TX on November 11-13, 2009 and be hosted by the Jamaica Beach Police Department. You may book your rooms now at the host hotel, the San Luis Resort. To view the educational lineup or for more detailed information, please visit the APSA website at 
