July 2007

Airborne Law Enforcement Association, Inc.

ALEA  E-Newsletter

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Law Enforcement Aviation Pioneer Laid To Rest

ALEA President Emeritus James R. Beall, 75, a retired Los Angeles Police Department captain who played a crucial role in turning the agency's Air Support Division into what is said to be the largest municipal airborne operation in the world, died last month of heart failure.

Beginning under Beall's leadership in 1967, the air support section underwent a major expansion and eventually provided a full range of services, including 24-hour air patrol throughout the city and expanded airborne surveillance using turbine helicopters. When the section was officially designated the Air Support Division in 1974 with then-Capt. Beall in charge, it consisted of 77 sworn personnel, 17 helicopters and a Cessna 210 airplane.

Tim McBride, a retired LAPD commander, said in a news report, "He took it from a section that did mostly traffic to proving that helicopters can provide patrol just like a radio car but only from the air. 'The mission is the same; only the vehicle has changed' — that was his motto, and he established that motto for the Air Support Division."

Beall, who served two terms as president of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association, co-wrote the 1972 book "Helicopter Utilization in Municipal Law Enforcement." Funeral services will be private and arrangements for an LAPD memorial service are pending. Beall will be honored during this month’s 37th Annual ALEA Conference & Exhibition in Orlando.

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Texas Legislature Creates Law Against Aircraft Illumination

Last month, Texas Governor Rick Perry signed House Bill 1586 into law. This legislation becomes Section 42.14 of the Texas Penal Code and will make it a state offense to shine spotlights and lasers at aircraft in Texas. Backed by Representative Kino Flores and Senator Eddie Lucio, the new law will become effective September 1, 2007.

Source: www.legis.state.tx.us

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Arizona DPS Completes Fleet Modernization

The Arizona Department of Public Safety has received a new helicopter, named Ranger 58, completing a fleet modernization approved by the state’s legislature in 1998. The 2006 Bell Model 407 replaces a 1984 Bell Model 206L-3 Long Ranger helicopter that had more than 11,200 flight hours to it, DPS reports. The new bird will allow pilots to fly with night vision goggles and will be able to carry two patients. Highway Patrol Division Chief Jack Lane traveled to the Paradigm Aerospace Corp. in Pennsylvania last month to accept delivery of the new aircraft on behalf of DPS.

Source: www.tucsoncitizen.com

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Man Arrested for Pointing Laser

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating why a man pointed a laser at a police aircraft last month in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Officers said that the aircraft was heading to a crime scene when the pilot noticed a green light flashing in the window. The crew flashed their searchlight on the car with the laser and followed the car home, where the man was taken into custody and is now facing federal charges. The man told police he had just purchased the laser and wanted to see how well it worked.

Source: www.fox23.com

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New York State Police To Outsource Maintenance

Airborne Engines Ltd has been awarded a five-year engine contract by the New York State Police for the entire support of their Honeywell T53 engines, parts and service. Airborne Engines specializes in the Rolls-Royce 250 and Honeywell T53 engine product lines, repair and overhaul. Other services offered include a full-service rework shop, on site test cell and an exchange pool of engine accessories.

Source: www.airborneengines.com  

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Shots Fired At Aircraft During Pursuit

Last month, a vehicle pursuit took place in Riverside County, California, resulting in shots being fired at the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s aircraft. Although being shot at, the sheriff’s helicopter was able to provide ground units with updated information of the suspect’s location.

The suspects then forced entry into a family’s home located near the area and took their car keys at gunpoint. The suspects took the family's truck and rammed it through the front gate and into a sheriff's patrol car. A deputy near the unit discharged his weapon striking both the driver and passenger of the truck. Both occupants of the truck were armed and taken into custody.

During the post-flight inspection, the sheriff’s pilots found a bullet hole in the left skid about six inches right of the pilot's seat.

Source: www.riversidesheriff.org

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Mississippi Unit Locates Downed Aircraft

The Desoto County (MS) Sheriff's Aviation Unit assisted the Civil Air Patrol last month during a search of a crashed single-engine aircraft that was flying from Alabama to Oregon. The crash took place around Oxford, MS. The Desoto County police pilot, flying an OH6, located the aircraft within minutes of making the scene. Two thumbs up for the CAP for receiving the ELT signal and the volunteer aviation unit of Desoto County Sheriff's Office. The subject is in stable condition in a Memphis, TN hospital.

Source: www.co.desoto.fl.us

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African Police Start Air Division

The Botswana Police Air Wing approved the purchase of three helicopters by the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) in Africa last month. PPADB announced that this purchase would consist of Eurocopter AS 350 B3 aircraft.

Assistant Police Commissioner Tapudzane Gabolekwe said the next stage is the recruitment of officers to be trained for various roles within the wing such as pilots, technicians and airborne law enforcement officers as well as other auxiliary positions. Selected candidates are scheduled to start training in August. Gabolekwe said that the plan has been designed so that by the time the helicopters are delivered in about 14 months, local trained manpower will be already in place. Botswana's population consists of 1.7 million people.

Source: www.allafrica.com  

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LAPD Gets Funding To Upgrade Fleet's Avionics

Last year, the Los Angeles Police Department Air Support Division made the decision to outfit several of their B2’s with the SAGEM Integrated Cockpit Display Systems (ICDS) on a trial basis. Grant funding was appropriated last month to upgrade and standardize the entire fleet of 14 A-Stars with the system.

LAPD flies an incredible 18,000 hours and responds to 38,000 calls for service each year. Needless to say, the agency puts many hours on their aircraft and will benefit from the enhanced productivity, efficiency, safety, situational awareness and the added maintenance benefits associated with the SAGEM ICDS. Law enforcement missions are known to be notoriously wearing on analog instruments, particularly those with gyroscope components, and the SAGEM Heading and Attitude Reference System (AHRS) and ICDS will provide welcome relief for analog instruments requiring frequent replacement.

Source: www.sagemavionics.com

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Training Academy Adds Three New Flight Training Devices

During last month’s Paris Air Show, Bell Helicopter Training Academy announced the addition of three new Flight Training Devices (FTD) at their facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The new additions include a convertible 412EP/Huey II FTD, a 407 FTD and a 429 Advanced FTD (AFTD).

The 412EP/Huey II FTD, built by Mechtronix Systems Inc., features computer generated cockpit instrumentation, modular overhead pedestal, center console panels and pilot controls that can facilitate rapid conversion from the 412 EP and Huey II configurations. It is designed to support deployed mobile training teams worldwide. The convertible FTD can also accommodate future customization to incorporate training for the Bell model 212.

The 407 FTD, built by Frasca International, is the second 407 FTD at the Bell Helicopter Training Academy. It is the first new device employing all features and functions of the advanced synthetic learning technology simulators, including integrated primary platform and secondary control vibration systems, third generation FTD visual system projection and virtual scene database improvements.

The Bell Model 429 AFTD, also built by Frasca International, is under construction with a completion date of mid-2008. The 429 AFTD is designed to train pilots to fly Bell's newest model and it is anticipated it will be certified under multiple regulatory agencies including FAA, JAA and EASA. The model 429 AFTD will leverage the technologies developed under the 407 device and include refinements in the visual system.

Source: www.bellhelicopter.textron.com  

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Police Chopper Crash Being Investigated

The National Transportation Board is investigating a helicopter crash that occurred in Polk County in northwest Georgia last month that injured the three officers onboard; thankfully, none life-threatening. The three officers from the Georgia State Patrol and Polk County Sheriff’s Office were on a typical patrol looking for marijuana, part of the Georgia Governor's Task Force on Drug Suppression. Witnesses said after the helicopter went down in thick woods, it caught on fire. The three onboard were able to get themselves out of the aircraft and get away from it as it burned.

Source: www.11alive.com

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Refurbished Helicopter Joins NC Agency

A newly refurbished 1968 Bell OH-58C was delivered last month to the Pitt County (NC) Sheriff's Office, valued by the military at $190,000. The department expects the aircraft to be in flight approximately 15 hours a month, and the cost will be paid with money from drug seizures and other sources.

"We are probably not going to be on a level where we use it at a moment's notice — probably more for planned missions," Sheriff Mac Manning said, explaining further its potential uses in high speed chases, aerial crime scene photography and searches for missing people or wanted suspects. "There are just so many uses for a helicopter. It's an asset that's very adaptive to a number of law enforcement and search-and-rescue situations. There are hundreds of applications."

Source: www.reflector.com

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PNG Police Hire Aircraft For Election Monitoring

The police of Papua New Guinea hired four helicopters and a fixed-wing plane from Australia for security use during the country’s election last month. More than 2,000 additional security personnel were sent to oversee the polling in five provinces to help ensure the election was not disrupted by violence. The police commissioner had said that moving personnel quickly would be a logistical nightmare without air transport.

Source: www.rnzi.com

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Safety Seminar Scheduled in Sacramento

Make plans now! The 2007 Western Region Safety Seminar will take place on September 19-21 at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, CA. A two-day, post-certification course on aviation human factors will be taught by Craig Geis, as well as dunker training. You may book your rooms now at our host hotel, the Lion’s Gate Hotel, by calling 916-643-6222. More information is available on ALEA's website or contact Gregg Weitzman at gweitzman@alea.org.

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ALEA provides the most comprehensive educational and professional development conference for airborne law enforcement aviators available. Don’t miss the 37th Annual Conference & Exposition in Orlando, Florida during the week of July 11 – 14, 2007.  You can find all the latest event information online.

Last Chance Exhibitors: Only A Few Days Left for Free Advertising!

For the fifth year, ALEA will have a daily conference newsletter called Air Beat Today. If you’re an exhibitor at this year’s conference, we’d like to help drive even more traffic to your booth. Stop what you’re doing now and send us 50 words of text and one photo or logo about your company’s products or services with special emphasis on what you will be featuring at this year’s ALEA Conference & Expo. We look forward to seeing you next week in Orlando!

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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

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 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