April 2007

Airborne Law Enforcement Association, Inc.

ALEA  E-Newsletter

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Boston Gets Airborne With Joint Venture

Starting this month, the Boston Police Department will start a three-person aviation unit in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Police Aviation Wing. The plan is to have an aircraft in the skies several evenings a week by mid-April, with Boston police officers working side-by-side with the state troopers who fly the helicopters. Officers from the two departments will share the intricacies of helicopter operations, city geography and command organizations.

The state police helicopters are equipped with night vision technology and video downlink capabilities that will allow Boston officers on the ground to have the same view as the crew in the sky. The state police will not charge the City of Boston for flying time, fuel or personnel. The Massachusetts State Police Air Wing has a fleet of five helicopters.

Source: www.boston.com

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Jamaica Acquires Two Bell Helicopters

Before the official opening of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 last month, two new Bell 407 helicopters were added to the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) Air Wing. "The Bell 407 light utility helicopter is a reliable, proven and superior aircraft that is ideally suited to the operational requirements of the JDF Air Wing," said National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips.

Last year, the JDF Air Wing flew 176 casualty evacuation missions, airlifting patients with life-threatening injuries. In total, the JDF Air Wing flew 1,570 hours, an average of 4.3 hours of flying every day.

Source: www.jamaica-gleaner.com

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Dallas Police Receive Aircraft

A model 206B3 Jet Ranger was delivered to the Dallas (TX) Police Department last month. The new state-of-the-art helicopter is equipped with the latest in flight displays and moving map displays to enhance safety of flight around the city and to reduce response times. This delivery is the first of three new Bell helicopters for the department with two more aircraft to follow.

Lieutenant Anthony Williams, Commander of the Dallas Police Helicopter Unit, accepted the new helicopter for the department and was quoted as saying, "This Bell 206 will not only allow us to continue to protect and to serve the citizens of Dallas from the air, it affirms a great partnership over the last several decades with Bell Helicopter."

Source: www.skycontrol.net

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Copter Crash Cause Determined

The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed the probable cause of the 2005 crash of a Topeka (KS) Police Department helicopter. The NTSB says excessive wear on the main rotor blade's tachometer cable and the aircraft's control box were to blame for a perceived mechanical emergency. The pilot made an emergency landing, and the NTSB report also determined that unsuitable terrain to land contributed to the accident. No one was injured.

Source: www.wibw.com

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Rolls-Royce to Produce New Helicopter Engine

Rolls Royce will produce a new turbo shaft engine to power Robinson Helicopter Company's new R66 rotorcraft. This will be Robinson's first venture into gas turbine-powered rotorcraft. Rolls Royce, which expects FAA certification by 2008, will provide several hundred of the engines to the company over the next several years. Three other helicopter manufacturers, Enstrom Helicopters, MD Helicopters Inc. and Schweizer Aircraft, have signed agreements to discuss possible future applications of the engine in their aircraft.

Source: www.insideindianabusiness.com

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NC Agency Auctions Copter

The Anderson County (NC) Sheriff’s Office auctioned one of their helicopters last month, a 1972 Bell OH 58. The high bid was $171,000, and proceeds from the sale are to be put back into the drug enforcement budget, which is earmarked for aviation needs. Income from the auction will help pay for operation and maintenance of the department’s one remaining chopper. In 2006, the department sold its HU1 for $151,650 to also help supplement the budget.

Source: www.independentmail.com   

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China Forms Aviation Police for 2008 Olympics

Beijing, China has formed a helicopter police team for security purposes at the 2008 Olympic Games, and four aircraft are expected to arrive later this year. The aviation unit will help collect evidence, trail criminal suspects, support ground operations in combating terrorism and riots, transfer policemen and facilities and direct traffic, according to Beijing’s Municipal Public Security Bureau.

About 90,000 policemen will be needed for security of the 2008 Olympic Games, and the budget for security work is estimated to be $300 million. After serving the security of the Olympic Games, the helicopters will be used to safeguard the citizens of Beijing.

Source: www.chinadaily.com

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Maryland State Police Honored

The Maryland State Police (MSP) Aviation Command Section (Trooper Five) has been named the recipient of Shephard’s Search and Rescue Award for 2007 for a successful helicopter rapid hoist extraction of workmen trapped atop a 1,000-foot smokestack last year. Members of the aviation unit were honored on April 2.

Source: www.shephard.co.uk

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Sacramento Helicopter Crash Caused by Engine Failure

A helicopter crash that killed two Sacramento County (CA) sheriff's deputies and badly injured another was caused by catastrophic engine failure, according to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board. Deputies Joseph Kievernagel, 36, the helicopter's pilot, and co-pilot Kevin Blount, 29, died after the department's EC-120 went down in July 2005. Deputy Eric Henrikson, 30, was badly injured in the crash.

"The engine experienced an overspeed and catastrophic failure on a law enforcement patrol flight and the helicopter collided with hilly terrain during a subsequent autorotation attempt," the report reads. The NTSB formally accepted the findings last month.

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Columbus Has Fleet Replacement Plan

Last month, the Columbus (OH) Police Helicopter Unit ordered its ninth MD 500E with an option to purchase three more. The aircraft are slated for delivery in 2007 and 2008 and are part of a planned fleet replacement program.

A fleet of six MD 500E aircraft currently patrols the city of 216 square miles in Central Ohio and is scheduled to be airborne 16 hours a day. “The generations of citizens in Columbus have grown up with a law enforcement presence in the air. It is an assurance that Columbus government leadership, both civilian and police, continue to utilize all tools in an overall crime enforcement and prevention strategy,” said Lt. Mike Elkins, Commander of the Helicopter Unit. “The people of Columbus are used to us flying all of the time and it gives them a feeling of safety.”

Source: www.mdhelicopters.com

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Florida County Acquires A-Star & High-Tech Display Panel

After purchasing and taking delivery of a new Eurocopter AS350B3 last month, the Seminole County (FL) Sheriff’s Office is currently having their aircraft outfitted at Texas Aviation Services. The department has selected the Sagem Integrated Cockpit Display System, which will display flight information such as attitude, altitude, vertical speed and airspeed immediately on the LCD display screen, reducing the scan and fatigue required for checking instrumentation.

The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office provides law enforcement services for approximately 400,000 residents covering approximately 354 square miles and provides air support for seven municipalities. “We are looking forward to the Sagem display integration into our cockpit. The Sagem Cockpit will bring our law enforcement aircraft to the standard found in most corporate and airline aircraft and provides reliable and user friendly flight data for the aircrews,” said Chief Pilot Steve Farris.

Source: www.sagemavionics.com

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Suffolk PD Gets Snazzy New Chopper

After a showing at Heli-Expo 2007, the Suffolk County (NY) Police Department received its American Eurocopter EC145. The aircraft will complement the department’s fleet of two AS350B2 models. Sergeant Brian Barrett, commanding officer of the SCPD’s Aviation Section said, “We do a lot of medevacs, inter-hospital transports, over-water search and rescue, and law enforcement support, such as inserting SWAT teams. The EC145 has everything we need to do the job; especially as we’ll be equipping it with a WESCAM infrared video camera, Spectrolab SX16 searchlight, and hoist and rappel bars.”

Source: www.northender.com

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City Takes Fourth Schweizer

Last month, the San Antonio (TX) Police Department Helicopter Detail took delivery of its fourth Schweizer Model 333 for airborne law enforcement patrol, search, surveillance, photo, and command and control missions. "Even in the high and hot Texas environment, pilots and observers continue to find the 333 to be a versatile, top-performing helicopter", said San Antonio Police Department Sgt. David Torres, whose unit flies more than 2,200 hours a year.

Source: www.sacusa.com

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Police Ground Chopper as Part of Budget Battle

April 1 was the first day that the Toledo (OH) Police Department's helicopter, Air One, stopped making regular patrols and was grounded, except for emergencies. The City of Toledo must close an $11.9 million budget gap for the current fiscal year. During this period of belt-tightening, the helicopter will be grounded, according to the city’s police chief, and the two officers who regularly fly the surplus helicopter will be assigned to street patrols.

Source: www.toledoblade.com

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Ontario Police & ALEA Sponsor Course for TFOs

The Ontario (Canada) Provincial Police Aviation Services will be the host for an upcoming ALEA Tactical Flight Officer course being held May 4-5, 2007. This is the first ever Canadian-based ALEA TFO course, and we’d love for you to attend. For information or registration, please contact Sgt. Paul Bradley, Ontario Provincial Police Aviation Services, at (705) 329-6454 or via e-mail at paul.bradley@ontario.ca. You can also register online via ALEA's website.

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ALEA Award Nominations & Scholarship Applications Due May 1

In the last three issues of Air Beat, details of the ALEA awards and scholarships have been published. Don’t assume that someone else is nominating that worthy person at your agency or that there are so many applicants that you’ll never get a scholarship. More information can be found online.  Nominate or apply today!

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Look for your Air Beat Conference Preview Issue This Month

ALEA provides the most comprehensive educational and professional development conference for airborne law enforcement aviators available. The networking opportunities alone are worth double the registration fee. You will leave inspired and connected to others in our profession willing to share their passion, experience and expertise with you.

Mark the week of July 11 – 14, 2007 on your calendar and make plans now to attend ALEA’s 37th Annual Conference & Exposition. Be watching for your Air Beat Conference Preview Issue to arrive at the end of this month with all the details. All registration forms are in this issue and you may also register online. See you this summer in Orlando!

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Cast Your Vote for ALEA Board Positions

In accordance with Section 4.04 of the ALEA Bylaws, nominations for the offices of President, Chief Financial Officer, Central Region Director, Canadian Region Director and Southeast Region Director for the 2007-09 term were closed on December 15, 2006. All nominees were eligibility-verified and given the opportunity to submit a candidate profile for the March-April issue of Air Beat magazine. Each ALEA voting member will receive a ballot on or about May 1, 2007. This ballot will include a list of voting instructions and sufficient postage for return mail. All ballots must be postmarked by June 16, 2007.

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For rates and availability, contact:

Jennifer Thornton
ALEA Ad Sales Representative
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 2007 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