July 2006

Airborne Law Enforcement Association, Inc.

ALEA  E-Newsletter

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LAPD Takes Delivery of Two Aircraft

The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) took possession of an AS350 B2 helicopter on July 1 and another B2 was delivered on July 6, which marked the twelfth AS350 B2 helicopter in the LAPD fleet.

The Los Angeles Police Department’s Air Support Division was established in 1956 and is considered one of the most experienced airborne law enforcement units in the country. The LAPD Air Support is a 24/7 operation with aircraft in the air at all times. They patrol a city of 465 square miles, which includes an arid desert climate, the Pacific Ocean shoreline and mountainous terrain.

Source: American Eurocopter

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County Approves Purchase To Replace Aircraft

The Bernalillo County (NM) Sheriff’s Office got approval to buy a new AS350 B3 helicopter to replace the one that was shot down last year. County commissioners approved the $3 million purchase and delivery is expected to take 18 months. The department's old helicopter was hit by gunfire last August while deputies searched for burglary suspects. One of the pilots was shot in the leg and the helicopter was a total loss.

“After the crash, we needed a utility ship for the diverse missions that the Air Support Unit is tasked with,” said David Linthicum, chief deputy of the department. “We looked at several, but our pilots felt the B3 outperformed the others after a head-to head evaluation.”

The helicopter will be used for patrol and a wide range of support functions, including mountain search and rescue, firefighting, and S.W.A.T. The county has had an air unit for seven years, which consists of 13 people including tactical, mechanical, two staff pilots and five contract pilots. The department currently has just one other helicopter. 

Source: American Eurocopter

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Australian Government Buys Three Helicopters

The Queensland Government of Australia has signed a contract for three AgustaWestland 139 medium-twin helicopters configured for SAR, EMS and police missions. Queensland Premier Peter Beattie said the three AW139 helicopters would be delivered over four years, with the first to be operational next July.

Queensland Rescue, part of the Queensland Department of Emergency Services Counter Disaster and Rescue Services division, will operate the helicopters. With experienced and highly skilled pilots and crews, Queensland Rescue performs a wide range of rescue and recovery operations including SAR over sea and land, air evacuations of critically ill patients, hospital patient transfers, evacuation of people in times of disaster, fire fighting and police support.

Source: AgustaWestland

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Brutal Storms Strike Police Hangar

Severe storms swept through Ohio last month, spawning lightning that critically injured a policeman and firefighter. The off-duty officers were part of a group participating in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics. During the storms, two metal hangars at Lima Allen County Airport were destroyed and an Allen County Sheriff's Office helicopter that was inside was flattened, said Anne Decker, a spokeswoman for the county emergency management agency. The helicopter will be repaired and put back in service soon.

Source: The Columbus Dispatch and Toledo Blade

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Long-time ALEA Supporter Passes Away

On June 1, at age 73, Al Simon of ACROHELIPRO passed away. Simon was an ordinary man of extraordinary moral stature, working his way through life and giving more than he took. He was always the first to volunteer and the last to take credit. He was a mentor to many people, a tireless employee, and an expert on all things helicopter. In his honor, ACROHELIPRO has requested that the ALEA scholarship that the company sponsors be renamed the "ACROPHELIPRO Al Simon Memorial Scholarship".

Source: ACROHELIPRO

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Mission-Equipped Helo Goes Airborne in UK

The Cambridgeshire Police Authority unveiled their new MD902 Explorer last month that is equipped with a mapping system, searchlight, cameras, PA system and digital video recorders. Acting Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hopkins, who formally launched the new helicopter at police headquarters, said, "The air operations unit is a vital part of the police family and plays an important role in investigations, operations and live incidents.”

Hopkins went on to say that the new helicopter will be utilized in many different ways, from searching for missing and vulnerable people, locating offenders and vehicle follows to surveillance, major incident planning and monitoring public order incidents. The new aircraft means officers can fly for about two hours without having to refuel and can carry up to eight people, including the pilot and two air observers, compared with five in the old helicopter.

Source: Police Aviation News

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Surplus State Aircraft Sold Online

The Indiana State Police began liquidating its surplus aircraft through an online auction last month with the sale of two helicopters and an airplane, totaling $684,999. The money that is raised will be put toward replacement aircraft.

The 1985 MD500E was used for transportation, search and rescue, and routine patrol and surveillance until 2003 when the only pilot trained to fly the model retired. It was sold to a California resident for $403,999. State police had acquired a 1972 OH58 the helicopter at no cost from a federal surplus program in 1996 to use for marijuana eradication efforts, routine patrol and surveillance. It sold for $215,000. Purchased for $75,000 in 1986, the state’s 1972 Beechcraft Baron was sold to an agricultural company for $66,000.

The second round of surplus aircraft sales began at the end of June. A list of other property available is at www.surplus.in.gov.

Source: The Indy Star

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Riverside PD Puts New Aircraft in Service and Wins Technology Grant

The Riverside County (CA) Sheriff's Department newest helicopter will be used primarily for night operations. The AS350 B3 was delivered last month and is the third AS350 B3 in the fleet. The department now has a total of four helicopters and four flight crews.

The aircraft has been equipped with updated avionics, along with day and night VFR flight capabilities with an NVG capable lighting source. Riverside County has had an air support division for more than 25 years, and has been operating helicopters for more than a decade.

The Riverside Police Department has also been awarded a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to purchase equipment to enhance video images used in crime cases. The Commercial Direct Assistance Program grant will go toward the purchase of, as well as the training for, the Video Detective Image Processing System. The video detective system is a portable unit that can be used to enhance the quality of any videos given to police, including VHS and DVD formats. The unit can also be used for remote surveillance in airborne operations.

Source: The Desert Sun

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Aero Dynamix Receives STC Approval

In coordination with American Eurocopter and the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, Aero Dynamix received its eleventh STC approval for NVG-compatible cockpit modification for the Eurocopter AS350 B3 last month.

“This is an important milestone in our 12-year history. Night vision compatible lighting is our primary business, and our entire design manufacturing effort is dedicated to providing certifiable solutions to our customers during night vision operations,” said Aero Dynamix President Dan Hewitt. The company designs and delivers avionics lighting modifications for helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, and this latest STC approval for the AS350 B3 adds to the already impressive list of approvals.

Source: Aero Dynamix

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Dart Helicopter Supplies San Diego PD with Consoles

The San Diego Police Department is scheduled to have four Eurocopter AS350 B3 aircraft outfitted with avionics consoles over in coming months. San Diego PD specifically requested the Dart Helicopter Services Avionics Console with NVG capability in their aircraft specifications. Jet Source is currently completing the first of four aircraft for delivery in August 2006.

The DHS Avionics Console provides the opportunity not only to increase avionics space to 10 inches, but also features full customization to the specifications of the operator. Furthermore, the console is configured so that components and legends are easily changed, allowing the console to evolve as operational needs require.

Jeff Shapiro, CEO of Dart Helicopter Services, commented, “It is gratifying to assist the law enforcement community by supplying a product that will enhance their operations. The Geneva Aviation product line, including the console, has been an invaluable addition to the modifications that DHS can offer to the helicopter industry.”

Source: Dart Helicopter Services

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Argentina’s Police Take Delivery of Two Helicopters

Two aircraft were released to the Mendoza Provincial Police agency in Argentina last month. Both had been acquired by the province a long time ago and were in Brazil, delayed by customs proceedings. The Ministry of Security last month announced that the helicopters passed inspections and will now be used by the local police to fight crime.

Source: Jornada Online

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Drug Money May Be Used To Fix New Helicopter

The City of Wilmington (NC) will vote on whether to use seized drug money to fix its newly-acquired police helicopter. Area police received the helicopter from the federal government in May, but before it can be used for police work, it needs to be converted from military to local law enforcement use. The helicopter is the first police helicopter in the area, and will be shared by Wilmington, Leland and Pender Counties. The repairs will cost an estimated $125,000 to include repainting, adding police radios and a spotlight, and changing the skids so it can land in rural and grassy areas.

Source: WWAY-TV

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Local Agencies Join Forces

The Fairfield (CA) Police Department announced last month the details of a multi-agency law enforcement operation, dubbed SCAT for Street Crime Apprehension Team. The Fairfield Police, California Highway Patrol, Solano County Sheriff’s Office and Suisun City Police vehicles lined up next to the helicopter now bearing Fairfield PD's logo, as Fairfield Police Chief Bill Gresham explained SCAT to members of the community.

"One of the greatest success stories of the SCAT operation will be the working relationships that are developed and the partnerships formed with the greater law enforcement community," said Gresham.

Source: The Reporter

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Last Call for New Orleans

For those of you who have already registered for the 36th Annual Conference and Expo, please visit our website for updated class schedules, event activities and exhibit reminders. If you haven’t registered, it’s not too late – so what are you waiting for? In New Orleans, you’ll find new ALEA educational sessions, new networking opportunities, new friends and lots of fun. See you there!

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For rates and availability, contact:

Jennifer Thornton
ALEA Marketing Manager
Ph (918) 274-3874
Fax (918) 274-8450
E-mail: jthornton@alea.org 

Get Your Organization's News Online

Send your press releases, company logos and photos to:

Lisa Wright
Editorial Director
airbeat@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 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