February 2006

Airborne Law Enforcement Association, Inc.

ALEA  E-Newsletter

[Advertisement]

Orange County Pilot Receives Medal of Valor

On February 7th, California Governor Schwarzenegger awarded the 2004 Governor's Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor, the state's highest award to a public safety officer, to Deputy/Pilot David Tilstra of the Orange County Sheriff's Department and three other honorees. 

"This award honors the bravest of the brave in our public safety professions including law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency service officers. Each of these four men has shown incredible character and bravery going beyond the call of duty to protect the lives of their fellow officers and members of the public," said Governor Schwarzenegger.

On June 12, 2004, Deputy Tilstra was the pilot of the helicopter being used to help officers on the ground locate an armed suspect in Black Star Canyon in rural eastern Orange County. He displayed exceptional valor by continuing to pilot the helicopter after he had been shot by the armed suspect.

Tilstra and his partner, Deputy Jeff Crowley, received the 2005 ALEA Captain "Gus" Crawford Memorial Air Crew of the Year Award for the same incident.  This award identifies and recognizes a pilot or crew whose flying efforts and professionalism epitomize what the Airborne Law Enforcement Association stands for – "To serve and protect from the air."

Source: California Governor's Office

[TOP]

[Advertisement]

Chicago Police Return To The Sky

The Chicago Police Department is back in the business of supporting its officers from the air. After financial woes grounded its air support unit over 25-years ago, new life has found its way in the form of one helicopter acquired from the Chicago Fire Department. Under a federal homeland security grant, a second helicopter should be in service before year's end.

Holding bragging rights to one of the nation's first helicopter units, the past 20-years have seen Chicago become the only department in the country's 10 largest cities to be without its own police helicopter. All that behind them now, the Department is eager to utilize its new asset in the air.

The new 3-man unit will work out of the city hangar at Iroquois Landing but hopes to see heliports open at the station level in the future. Equipped with thermal imaging cameras, "moving map navigation", and video downlink technology, the new helicopters are sure to play a big part in improving safety throughout Chicago.

Source: Chicago Tribune

[TOP]

[Advertisement]

Sacramento Deputy's Condition Continues To Improve

The sole survivor of a July 13, 2005 crash of a Sacramento County (CA) Sheriff's helicopter that killed pilot Deputy Joe Kievernagel and TFO Deputy Kevin Blount, is showing amazing progress in his recovery. Deputy Eric Henrikson was ejected from the rear seat of the EC120 while riding as a TFO trainee. Comatose and on life support for over a month, 24 surgical procedures and 9 weeks of physical therapy now have him walking with only the help of a cane. With the memory of his colleagues driving him, he continues his therapy in hopes of returning to duty.

Source: Sacramento Bee

[TOP]

[Advertisement]

Study Looks At EMS Aviation Accident Factors

The Bloomberg School of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management Center recently concluded a study on the topic of EMS helicopter accidents. I believe the results of this study have similar application to law enforcement operations. According to professor Susan P. Baker, MPS, "Our study found that darkness triples the risk of fatalities when EMS helicopters crash, and that bad weather increases the risk eight-fold."

The study's authors examined National Transportation Safety Board records for EMS helicopters between January 1, 1983, and April 30, 2005. During the 22-year study period, 184 occupants died in 182 EMS helicopter accidents. Seventy-seven percent occurred in weather conditions when pilots were required to fly primarily by reference to instruments. In darkness, 56 percent of the accidents were fatal, compared to 24 percent of the accidents not in darkness. And, the death rate for EMS flight crewmembers is 20 times the rate for all U.S. workers.

You may download the complete study via the ALEA website.

Keith Johnson, ALEA Safety Coordinator

[TOP]

2006 ALEA Pre-Conference Professional Course Line-up

Each year, ALEA presents specialized Pre-Conference Courses (ranging from 16 – 24 contact hours) taught by subject matter experts, offering the most up-to-date information on a variety of operational and safety procedures.

The Pre-Conference Courses will be offered Monday, July 17th through Wednesday, July 19th, and will require separate registration forms and additional payment. Pre-Conference Courses are not included in your Conference Registration fees. You may not enroll in more than one Pre-Conference Course as they all overlap.

This year's Pre-Conference Courses include:

• Airborne Thermal Imaging

• Aircraft Accident Investigation

• Aviation Safety Management

• Aviation Unit Managers

• CFI Refresher

• Maintenance IA Renewal

• NVG Ground School

• Tactical Flight Officers

You can view an outline of each course and complete your online conference registration via the ALEA website.

[TOP]

Captain Jim Di Giovanna Retires From LASD After 34-Years of Service

The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department Aero Bureau family invites you to a retirement celebration "fly-in" to honor their captain, Jim Di Giovanna. Jim is retiring after more than 34-years with the Sheriff's Department, the last 17 years spent at Aero Bureau.

The event will be held Wednesday, April 5, 2006, from 11:30am - 2:30pm at the Aero Bureau's west hangar, 3235 Lakewood Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90808. 

Cost: $15.00 per person (make checks payable to Aero Bureau Retirement Fund).

For tickets, please contact Lisa Moore or Terri Davis at (562) 421-2701.  Deadline for ticket purchase is March 22, 2006.

For fly-in information, please contact Sgt. Mike Griffin at (562) 421-2701 or e-mail at magriffi@lasd.org.

[TOP]

ALEA Affiliate Council To Meet In Dallas

The next meeting of the ALEA Affiliate Council will be held in Dallas, Texas in conjunction with Heli-Expo.

• Monday, February 27, 2006

• Dallas Convention Center, Room D171

• Time: 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.

We have many important items to discuss at this meeting and we need our Affiliate members' input.  For more information contact Barbara J. Tweedt, Affiliate Council Representative.

[TOP]

UK Pilots Fly NVGs Under New CAA Rules

East Midlands Air Support Unit pilots have become the first in Great Britain to use night vision goggles under new Civil Aviation Authority regulations. In the past, TFOs were allowed to use NVGs, but pilots could not. The new CAA regulations allow for cockpit lighting modification and pilot use of NVGs. Mick Dunn, Executive Officer of the East Midlands Air Support Unit, said: "We are thrilled that the whole crew is now able to use the night vision goggles, which has taken us two years to achieve under Civil Aviation Authority and international aviation rules because of the fact that we are the first police operation in the UK to use the technology under the new rules and regulations."

The unit operates out of Husbands Bosworth, and covers Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire, which are relatively non-urban areas with little cultural lighting.

The introduction of the night vision system has cost a total of £160,000, which includes nearly £50,000 for the three sets of Fenns NG2000 NVGs and the remainder spent on converting the aircraft lighting.

Source:  Warwickshire Police

CHP May Relocate Base To Auburn

The Auburn Municipal Airport is closer to having the California Highway Patrol’s Valley Division Air Operations calling its facilities home again after an absence of over 2 years. Operational efficiency, homeland security, and cost reductions closed the Auburn base in October 2003. The driving force behind returning to the base is its better availability in bad weather, due to its location above the region's fog line. With support for the move going all the way up to Governor Schwarzenegger’s office, signing the month-to-month lease for two helo-pads seems inevitable.

Source: Auburn Journal

[TOP]

Tucson Auctions-Off Retired Police JetRanger

It's not quite EBay, but if a used helicopter is on your wish list, this might be your lucky day. The city of Tucson has put one of their Police Department’s Bell 206B3s on the auction block with bids starting at $200,000. The JetRanger was completed for police duty by Texas Aviation of Fort Worth in 1994. Just like buying a used car, the winning bidder will be able to take it for a test-flight, but don’t forget to bring your FAA pilot's certificate, proof of insurance, and log book showing you know the ropes with a Bell 206B series aircraft. For more information, you can log on to www.citysurplus.org. Bids will be accepted until March 8, 2006.

Source: Arizona Daily Star

[TOP]

Hawthorne City Council Cuts Police Air Unit

Barely avoiding the budget ax last year, the Hawthorne (CA) Police Department’s helicopter was quietly grounded by city leaders in early January. Although "Air-55" dons the Hawthorne badge, it was the only police helicopter dedicated full-time to the South Bay. Responsible for 99 arrests last year and credited for an 8% drop in serious crime in Hawthorne alone, "Air-55" still responded to over 100 mutual aid calls outside of the city.

City council members say in order to stay running, other cities in the South Bay will have to contribute a significant amount to the $248,000 annual operational cost. Although several nearby cities have each recently agreed to help bear the financial burden with a $10,000 check every year, it isn’t enough to satisfy Hawthorne officials. Some council members suggested turning the operation into a multi-city owned and operated regional helicopter. Others entertained splitting costs by the size of each city involved. Even with the city council discussing ways to breathe life back into the program, according to Mayor Larry Guidi, it has been cancelled indefinitely.

Source: Daily Breeze

[TOP]

ASU Issues 600th FAA Certificate of Airworthiness for ANVS System F4949

Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Inc. issued their 600th FAA Certificate of Airworthiness for the Aviation Night Vision Goggles System F4949.

Periodic maintenance and testing is needed on all night vision systems to ensure the system’s performance quality and to preserve the lifespan of the goggle. The FAA and the manufacturer require a 180 day inspection for aviator night vision goggles.

ASU, Inc. is the only maintenance and testing facility in the United States that meets both the FAA (#CRS UABR273K) and manufacturer requirements. ASU Inc.’s standard 9-point inspection includes a power pack check, current draw, tube inspection, gain, infinity focus, high and low light resolution, collimation, and a nitrogen purge. Upon satisfactory completion of this inspection, every goggle is issued an FAA Airworthiness Release Certificate 8130-3 and Airworthiness Approval Tag. The inspections, repairs and certifications are conducted by a factory trained, FAA approved, licensed repairman.

Additionally, to help alleviate the down time for the night vision goggles, ASU, Inc. has established a 24-48 hour turn around time for the standard inspection.

Source: Aviation Specialties Unlimited

[TOP]

MRC Expands High Definition Encoder/Microwave Offering

Microwave Radio Communications is proud to announce the first ultra low delay high definition transmission, both in the US and abroad. The domestic event occurred during the Monday Night Football Game between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons where Link’s High Definition Video Encoder and wireless camera product was used during the HD broadcast. The network was extremely pleased with the quality of the transmission and overall performance of the equipment. Additionally, the first ever live, international, true high definition transmission took place at the West Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. Currently, system latency is approximately 60 milliseconds or slightly less than two frames for domestic broadcast.

Latest additions to the product line include wireless HD camera systems, SD and HD encoders, modulators, and various other state of the art camera components.

Source: Microwave Radio Communications

[TOP]

BLR Strakes Reach 1 Million Flight-Hour Milestone

A fleet of 600 helicopters equipped with dual helicopter tailboom strakes from BLR Aerospace (BLR) have reached the 1 million flight-hour milestone while earning accolades from operators.

The addition of BLR dual strakes controls airflow over the tailboom, greatly improving climb and cruise flight, hover-hold, yaw control and fuel savings on single rotor helicopters. The addition of strakes also enables operators to lift and carry significantly more payload.

FAA certified strakes kits are available for a range of Bell helicopters. BLR designs, develops, manufactures and markets airframe aerodynamic enhancements for fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

Source: BLR Aerospace

[TOP]

Luminator Announces LED Dual Mode Searchlight

Mark IV IDS Luminator will launch a new White Light High Intensity Discharge / Infrared LED Dual Mode Searchlight (HID/IR LED) to the rotor wing industry this month.

The new searchlight is the answer to the industry’s need for a dependable, low maintenance searchlight. The new searchlight design employs a HID lamp providing over 3,000 powered hours of white light. This is 40 times longer than the life of a standard halogen cycle lamp. Over the life of the searchlight, thousands of dollars will be saved in re-lamping cost alone.

The searchlight design provides no "down time" or "blackout" when switching light sources. The switching process from HID to IR mode is instantaneous. Switching from IR to white light illuminates the HID lamp to 80% intensity instantaneously, and reaches 100% intensity within 5 seconds. The current design fits the MIL-L81174/2B-2 helicopter searchlight envelope.

Source: Luminator

[TOP]

Use of Laser Emergency Signaling Device Approved By Congress

Greatland Laser announced that its Rescue Laser Flare® line of emergency signaling devices are both safe and the most effective product of its type available. These products can now be legally used as a distress signal in an emergency as well as tactical situations. The announcement comes in response to HR 1400, which Greatland strongly supports.

IN GENERAL- An individual who interferes with, or attempts to interfere with, the ability of the flight crew of an aircraft in flight to see, or otherwise to impair the safe operation of an aircraft in flight, by illuminating the aircraft with a laser pointer or similar device shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.

EXCEPTIONS- Subsection (a) does not apply to the illumination of aircraft by laser or other devices by--

• an authorized individual in the conduct of research and development or flight test operations conducted by an aircraft manufacturer, the Federal Aviation Administration, or any other person authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct such research and development or flight test operations;

• members or elements of the Department of Defense acting in an official capacity for the purpose of research, development, operations, testing or training; or

• by an individual using a laser emergency signaling device to send an emergency distress signal.

Greatland Laser manufactures Laser Signaling Devices intended for use as an emergency distress signal. The Rescue Laser Flare® family of signaling devices are FDA approved Class IIIa lasers (under 5mW of power) and are designed to signal persons at a distance.

Source: Greatland Laser

[TOP]

Gaston County Police Department Buys Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Cyber Defense Systems, Inc. announced the sale of its CyberBug(TM) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to the Gaston County, North Carolina, Police department.

The $30,000 UAV has the ability to give real-time information and provide real-time video. The Gaston County Police Department said they were eager to get the program started and will begin training its first operator this month. Assistant Chief Jeff Isenhour believes the CyberBug will be helpful to their department in many areas. "The applications we have in mind for the CyberBug include a long list of missions.  Just to name a few, we would use the CyberBug for routine surveillance, lost persons, tactical operations, open area drug eradication, and overhead crime scene photography."

The standard CyberBug has 1 LiPo battery (~ 45 to 60 minutes depending on the size of the plane), a 2.4GHz analog video-link (8 selectable channels), a 900MHz digital control link, and an operational range of up to 3 miles.

Source: Cyber Defense Systems

[TOP]

Kamov Delivers Two Ka226's to Russian Law Enforcement Agency

Kamov Company recently shipped another two Ka-226 helicopters built for a Russian law enforcement agency. Following this order by the Russian Federal Security Service, another contract is planned for the delivery of 6-8 more Ka-226 helicopters later in 2006. Another 5-7 Ka-32 helicopters are also slated for delivery to the agency this year.
 

Source: AVIA.RU Server
Photo from archives of Kamov

[TOP]

For rates and availability, contact:

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

Get Your Organization's News Online

Send your press releases, company logos and photos to:

ALEA Webmaster
webmaster@alea.org

Join Our Mailing List

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 2006 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