December 2005

Airborne Law Enforcement Association, Inc.

ALEA  E-Newsletter

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ALEA Recommits to New Orleans
A Message From The President

As you know, this past hurricane season was the most active on record, with many areas affected by storms. While we are concerned about all of these areas, our attention has been directed to New Orleans, the contracted site for our 2006 Annual Conference & Exposition. Executive Director Sherry Hadley and I have closely monitored the situation and been in close contact with representatives of the convention center, hotels, and the Convention & Visitors Bureau. We have also made inquiries into possible alternatives. I have advised the ALEA Executive Committee of our findings via email, phone calls and teleconferences. During an October 25th teleconference, the consensus was, pending the results of a follow-up site visit, to conduct our July 2006 Conference & Exposition as planned.

To this end, Vice President Kevin Caffery and I traveled to New Orleans October 31 - November 2, and met local representatives and toured the city. We provided a good contrast in viewpoints in that Kevin had never before been to New Orleans and I have been there many times over the last 20 years, even managing a business there in the past.

We were encouraged by what we saw. The amount of progress, from the images that we all saw immediately following landfall to just 9 weeks later, was remarkable. What we found was that the areas frequented by visitors, the Central Business District, the French Quarter, and the Garden District, had largely escaped flooding and that essential services had been fully restored to these areas. We found the airport fully operational with flights being added weekly. The convention center and hotels were centers of activity as workmen went about the business of the restoration of these properties. Some of the hotels and many other businesses, including restaurants, were fully restored and open. As far as health issues are concerned, all of these facilities must pass EPA and FEMA inspections prior to opening.

Kevin and I met with officials from the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Morial Convention Center, and the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, as well as local business owners. We perceived a sense of optimism and a spirit of commitment to the success of the restoration of New Orleans from everyone we spoke with. They are also very committed to the success of our 2006 Conference & Exposition and the safety and enjoyment of our attendees, assuring us that they will be ready.

At least 25 other groups have reconfirmed their events in New Orleans from January through September, with 17 of those occurring before ours. Of note is the American Library Association (20,000 attendees) and the Air and Waste Management Conference and Exhibition (4,800 attendees), both in June. Others of note reconfirmed close to ours are the Louisiana Restaurant Association (16,000 attendees) in early August, and the International Homicide Investigators Association (600 attendees) in late August.

Upon our return, an email poll of potential exhibitors was conducted in order to gauge their feelings on going to New Orleans in 2006 versus swapping New Orleans with Orlando (2007) or Houston (2008) and then going to New Orleans in either 2007 or 2008. 70% of the respondents indicated that they supported ALEA's decision to recommit to New Orleans.

Based on the information gathered before and, especially, during our on-site assessment, combined with the results of an email poll of exhibitors, the ALEA Executive Committee has recommitted to New Orleans as the site of our Annual Conference & Exposition for 2006. We believe that they are committed and able to provide a safe and fun environment for all of our members, and that all of the reasons that we originally selected New Orleans are still valid. We also believe that this is another way our members can help in the revitalization of this area.

Dan

Daniel B. Schwarzbach
ALEA President

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Anaheim Flight Crew Spots Boy On Railroad Tracks

The Anaheim (CA) Police Air Support Unit was recently called to search for a missing 13-year-old boy in Fullerton. The child, who was autistic, had the mental age of a 5-year-old. It was almost 10:30 PM when the first units arrived on scene. Ground officers relayed to the flight crew that the child had an infatuation with trains.

Realizing that the Union Pacific and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad lines met very close by, the crew elected to begin searching there. "26-Angel", crewed by ALEA member Pilot William Cowhey and TFO Dietrich Miessner, spotted the boy walking on the railroad tracks almost 3-miles away from the original call.

To their collective dread, the flight crew also saw a train coming down the same tracks at the boy from behind! They radioed ground officers, who raced to the location. Fullerton Officer Chris Bradley jumped a barbed-wire fence, dashed onto the tracks and grabbed the child before the train hit him. Bradley was treated at a local hospital for cuts on his hands, and the child was returned to his parents unharmed.

Source: The Orange County Register
Photo:  Glen Grossman

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ALEA Teams With Defense Logistics Agency

ALEA is pleased to announce a project with the a target="_blank" href="http://www.dla.mil/">Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to compile an anticipatory needs list for parts for Law Enforcement agencies operating OH-58 and UH-1H helicopters. The project will allow agencies needing parts through the DOD 1122 Program to anticipate their needs over several fiscal years. This will allow the DLA to include these parts in their budget and pre-order them.

The overall goal is to assure that parts are available for law enforcement agencies when they need them. This was a big topic in Reno at the Annual Conference. Several of us have worked very hard to get this through the DLA. Please take advantage of it!

Agencies operating OH-58's and UH-1H's are asked to compile a needs list of components and parts for the upcoming fiscal years. The list should be formatted as follows:

FY 06 07 08 09
NSN #
xxxxxxxxxxx 2 0 1 0

This will allow me to provide DLA with a needs list by NSN Number for the upcoming fiscal years.

Please forward your lists to me at: droby0087@verizon.net.

ALEA members may also participate in an ongoing discussion related to this issue in our discussion area.

Thanks,

Don Roby
Captain
Baltimore County Police Department

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Don Roby Awarded MD Helicopters Law Enforcement Award

ALEA Member Captain Don Roby, Baltimore County Police Department, is the recipient of the 2005 MD Helicopters Law Enforcement Award.

Roby has been a member of the Baltimore County Police Department for the past 25 years. From 1993 to 2001, Roby served as the Aviation Unit Commander. He led the unit through its transition from the Hughes TH-55A helicopter to the turbine-powered Bell OH-58. Under Roby’s leadership, the unit increased its operating hours from 500 hours per year to over 2,000 hours per year, and its number of personnel, equipment, and aircraft. Currently, Roby is a Captain and precinct commander for the North Point Precinct.

After being transferred from the Aviation Unit Commander post, Roby continued to stay involved in many aviation organizations, doing so on his own time and at his own expense. He is currently the Secretary of the Airborne Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission, a member of ALEA’s Public Aircraft Issues Committee, Vice-Chairman of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Aviation Committee, a member of HAI’s Government Services Committee and is President of the Mid-Atlantic Helicopter Association. Roby has also actively represented law enforcement at the Defense Logistics Agency, Law Enforcement Support Office, regarding military excess aircraft, parts, aircraft disposal issues and continued airworthiness matters.

Roby has represented law enforcement aviation on issues concerning public aircraft at the national and international levels. He has frequently presented at various conferences and seminars, on public aircraft issues and airborne law enforcement issues. He has been an instructor for the ALEA for the past seven years. He instructs students in the Unit Manager’s Course and various other topics. In addition, he has presented at the International Association of Chiefs of Police International Conference and Exposition.

Roby is truly deserving of the MD Helicopters Law Enforcement Award, because of his dedication and contributions to the aviation law enforcement field.

The "Salute to Excellence" awards banquet will take place February 27, 2006, during HELI-EXPO 2006, at the Wyndham Anatole Hotel, in Dallas, Texas.

Source: Rotorhub

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Central Region Safety Seminar - A Hit In Dallas

On November 9th, 10th and 11th, Central Region members had another successful safety seminar in Dallas, Texas. A special thanks goes out to the 31 Affiliate Members who exhibited in Dallas and for their continued support of our missions. Thank you for continuing to make these training seminars meaningful, enjoyable and affordable for our members.

The ALEA Safety First Program set the tone of our training. ALEA Safety Program Manager Keith Johnson discussed the program as it relates to aviation risk management.  We reviewed case studies of police related accidents, as Faye Makarsky, an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector, talked about several avoidable mishaps in our profession.

Other training blocks included night vision goggles, fixed-wing operations, thermal imagery operations, a legal update and swift water rescue tactics.

One-hundred thirteen members received top notch training coordinated by ALEA Education Program Manager Jim Di Giovanna. We all enjoyed the evening social events to kindle and renew old friendships and welcome new members, introducing them to our very own meaning of esprit de corps.

The only Texas Department of Public Safety pilot not in attendance was Tim Ochsner, who is currently deployed overseas  on active-duty military assignment. Tim’s spirit was alive and well with his comrades. During the dinner at Dallas Love Field’s "Frontiers of Flight Museum," the TDPS Aircraft Section took a team photo with an empty chair in place for Tim. This gesture not only reminded us that our armed forces are standing "the wall" on the front lines in harms way, but also reinforced that we are all waiting for Tim’s safe return. Please keep Tim, and all the men and woman of our military in your thoughts and prayers.

Wuthipong "Tank" Tantaksinanukij
Central Region Co-Director
Austin Police Department

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Southeast Region Safety Seminar Heads to Savannah

We are pleased to announce this year's ALEA Southeast Region Safety Seminar will be held in historic Savannah, Georgia, hosted by the Savannah - Chatham Metro Police Department. The seminar will take place Wednesday through Friday, 4-6 January, 2006 at the Savannah Marriot Riverfront Hotel, 100 General McIntosh Blvd, Savannah, GA 31401. Lieutenant Scott Simpkins, Savannah-Chatham Metro Police Aviation Unit and his co-workers have been working hard to make this a great event.

ALEA Education Program Manager Jim Di Giovanna has put together a great agenda that will address local, state, and federal aviation response to the recent hurricanes. Jim has lined up a variety of speakers to include the Operations Officer from the Florida Department of Emergency Management and an Operational Brief from the U.S. Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment. This seminar promises to be on target for issues important to our region and airborne law enforcement.

Please register as soon as possible to assist coordinators in getting a good head count. Cut off date for the ALEA hotel rate is 20 December.  There is no charge for the seminar to ALEA members. Non-members or delinquent members will be charged $30. You may register easily on the ALEA website.

Ralph Groover
ALEA Southeast Regional Director

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Virginia Beach Police to Buy New Bell 407

Virginia Beach Police have received the "go" from their city council to purchase a new Bell 407 and expand their hangar to accommodate the new craft. The air unit, one of only two local law enforcement agencies in the state of Virginia that operate aircraft, will spend approximately $3 million dollars on the combined project. That money will come from drug asset seizure funds and the sale of one of the agency’s existing aircraft.

The new 407 will replace a JetRanger that was purchased used 25-years ago from Portsmouth. In addition to law enforcement duties, the department plans to equip the aircraft for firefighting and medivac missions.

The hangar facility will receive a new "addition" that will increase the overall facility to 4,550 square feet.

The six-member air unit currently flies about 80-hours each month handling about 100 calls for service.

Source: The Virginian-Pilot

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San Diego Replaces Police Helicopter Fleet

The San Diego City Council unanimously approved a contract for four new American Eurocopter AStar B3s. After a lengthy evaluation process, the helicopter was chosen to replace the Department’s current fleet of three Bell 206B3s and one Bell 206L4.  The two oldest Bells are 1967 and 1974 JetRangers that were seized during a narcotics investigation in 1986.  The other two aircraft were purchased with drug seizure monies in 1994.

The new AStar B3s will be completed at Jet Source Avionics in Carlsbad, California. They will be equipped with FLIR Systems 8500XRs, Aero Computers ULTICHART LE 5000s, dual monitors (including an Avalex Technologies LCD "touch screen") to allow simultaneous display of FLIR images and moving street maps, Avidyne  TCAD 9900BX TAS, Garmin GNS530s, Wulfsberg Electronics C-5000s, rear command communications suites, 400 pound capacity hoist, dual sliding rear doors, full-length pilot and TFO windows, cargo hooks and a fully-NVG-compatible cockpit by REB Technologies.

This first aircraft is expected to be in-service by early summer 2006. 

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Texas Aviation Services delivers second JetRanger to Tucson PD

Texas Aviation Services (TAS) delivered the second Bell JetRanger helicopter in the past 30 days to the Tucson Police Department. This helicopter joins a long list of deliveries to Tucson dating back to 1994. Both helicopters received the latest law enforcement mission equipment to include a Spectrolab SX-16 searchlight, FLIR Systems U8000LP, Flexcomm II System (PAR 25 compliant), Motorola Integrated Data 911 Dispatch System and a custom TAS law enforcement panel with articulating monitor.

Source: Texas Aviation Services

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Special Applications Group Trains FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team

Special Applications Group, based in Tampa, FL is now delivering its Training Readiness Management System (TRMS) to the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team in Quantico, VA. As a result of the Bureau's satisfaction with the capability the software program provides, an additional contract has been awarded to Special Applications Group to develop an integrated system for the FBI’s SWAT Operations Unit (SOU) and Field SWAT Program.  This program ultimately provides single-source visibility of national-level Federal law enforcement for training, readiness, real-world mission analysis and budgeting. A key component of the system is the seamless integration of air – ground and maritime elements with dynamic, layered Command Control Communications Computers Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR).

The Special Applications Group team, that includes CALIBRE Systems Inc., has produced a 360° analytical process that determines and prioritizes the tasks that departments, units and individuals are expected to perform.

TRMS is a unique solution to objectively and empirically measure operational effectiveness based on a proven Department of Defense Mission Essential Task List (METL) process. By developing an organization’s METL and dynamically integrating it in an automated IT support system, Special Applications Group has successfully developed a highly flexible and powerful response to the demands of managing training and corresponding budgets and linking both directly to mission readiness. TRMS is the science of the organization’s training system. It enables supervisors and leaders at all levels to combine this science with the art of leadership to train their units to perform their assigned operational missions.

Source: Special Applications Group

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San Diego County Sheriff Builds New Helitac Base

The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department recently broke ground on a permanent helitac firefighting base in the north county. One of the agency’s two newly acquired Bell 205 helicopters will be permanently based at the new facility, which is being constructed at Fallbrook Airpark (L18). The half million dollar base will include a landing pad, quarters for crews assigned to the base, a fuel tanker truck to service the aircraft and security upgrades. The other 205 is permanently based in the south county at the Sheriff’s ASTREA Headquarters at Gillespie Field (KSEE) in El Cajon.

Source: North County Times

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DARPA Picks Groen Brothers-Led Team For Next Rotorcraft Combat SAR Concept

The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has selected a GBA-led team to design a proof of concept high speed, long range, vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft designed for use in combat search and rescue roles. Phase one of this potentially multi-year $40 million, four-phase program, begins with a fifteen month $6.4 million award to develop the preliminary design and perform key technology demonstrations. This modern rotorcraft, named by DARPA as the "Heliplane," is designed to exploit GBA’s gyrodyne technology, offering the VTOL capability of a helicopter, the fast forward flight of an airplane, and the safety, simplicity and reliability of a GBA gyroplane.

DARPA is the central research and development organization for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). It manages and directs select basic and applied research for DoD, emphasizing technology development projects.

"Our Team," said Jay Groen, GBA’s Chairman of the Board, "includes The Georgia Institute of Technology, Adam Aircraft Industries, Williams International and a highly renowned team of aerospace consultants."

Source: Groen Brothers Aviation

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South African Police Take Delivery of the 3,000th Single-Engine Ecureuil

On November 28th, the 3000th single-engine Ecureuil to come off the Marignane production lines was handed over to the South African National Police Authority. The Ecureuil, an AS350 B3, will be employed in fighting crime and aiding the population. The Police Service already operates 6 helicopters of this type.

The AS350 B3 made its maiden flight on March 3, 1997. It is now powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 2B engine developing 847 HP and controlled by a dual channel FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control). A total of 432 AS350 B3 Ecureuils are currently in operational service worldwide, where they mainly perform missions requiring high performance.

The Ecureuil B3 holds several climb records in its category. It is also the only helicopter to have landed at an altitude of 8,850 meters (29,035 ft) on top of Mount Everest.

Source: Eurocopter

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MD Helicopters has delivered two MD 600N Helicopters to the Turkish National Police
(TNP).

The two aircraft are the third and fourth of 10 ordered by the TNP. The new aircraft initially will be based near Ankara, Turkey. TNP bases its existing MD 600Ns at Ankara and Istanbul, utilizing them for general law enforcement missions in various regions of the country.  The remaining aircraft are scheduled for delivery over the next year.

Source: MD Helicopters

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For rates and availability, contact:

Jennifer Thornton
ALEA Marketing Manager
Phone (918) 599-0705
Fax (918) 583-2353
E-mail: jthornton@alea.org

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ALEA’s Monthly E-Newsletters are designed to help keep you informed on the very latest information in the airborne law enforcement industry.  Our E-Newsletters are distributed by email, as an additional benefit to our membership. Anyone may join our mailing list.
 

This newsletter is published monthly by the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA), a public benefit, non-profit California corporation. The ALEA is comprised of air crew and air support personnel in law enforcement and others who support, promote, and advance the safe and effective use of aircraft by law enforcement agencies.

© Copyright 2005 by the Airborne Law Enforcement 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. Opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the ALEA.

Airborne Law Enforcement Association, Inc.
411 Aviation Way
Suite 200
Frederick, MD 21701
Phone (301) 631-2406
Fax (301) 631-2466