Belgian Police grounded by budget issues?
Source: HeliHub.com, 04-Nov-12
Multiple media oulets, including the La Dernière Heure website, have filed a story in recent days saying that the helicopters of the Belgian Federal Police are grounded by budgetary issues. The problem reportedly covers the refuelling of the helicopters at airfields where a fuel card would be used – and the fuel card has no [...]
Fuel donation helps Oakland Police continue flying
Source: Oakland Tribune, 31-May-12
Oakland police lauded Fueling California on Wednesday after the nonprofit donated $10,000 worth of fuel to power their helicopters. (see full story)
Valley Air Care – last flight
Source: HeliHub.com, 01-Nov-11
The Rio Grande Valley’s longest-running helicopter ambulance flew its last flight yesterday, 31st October, thanks to Texas state budget cuts. The South Texas Emergency Care Foundation has operated Valley AirCare since 1995, but operating their AS350B2 in recent years has been an increasing challenge as cost reimbursements continued a downward slide and fuel prices soared. [...]
Sheriff selling naming rights to helicopter
Source: Post-Standard, 29-Sep-11
Sheriff Kevin Walsh is trying to sell naming rights to Onondaga County’s Bell 407 as a way of keeping it flying in the face of budget cuts. A sponsor’s financial contribution would be in exchange for having the company’s name displayed prominently on it. While it will retain its “Air-1” radio call sign, it would [...]
Onondaga County sheriff wants helicopter back in budget
Source: HeliHub.com, 16-Sep-11
Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin Walsh is to petition County Executive Joanie Mahoney to get their “Air-1″ Bell 407 put back in the county budget for next year. The budget Mahoney presented to the county Legislature on Wednesday assumes that the sheriff will raise all of the money for Air-1 through donations and by charging fees [...]
Valley AirCare to be grounded by Texas state cuts
Source: HeilHub.com, 24-Aug-11
The Rio Grande Valley’s longest-running helicopter ambulance will be permanently grounded this autumn, thanks to Texas state budget cuts. The South Texas Emergency Care Foundation has operated Valley AirCare since 1995, but operating their AS350B2 in recent years has been an increasing challenge as cost reimbursements continued a downward slide and fuel prices soared. With [...]
FAA halts more critical aviation projects
Source: FAA, 27-Jul-11
The Federal Aviation Administration issued additional “stop work orders” over the last twenty-four hours to construction and technology contractors for critical modernization projects around the country after Congress failed to pass an FAA bill. The FAA halted dozens of major projects ranging from long-term runway safety initiatives to NextGen air traffic control research and testing. [...]
San Diego Police helicopter hours cut
Source: KUSI, 25-Jul-11
State budget cuts have forced San Diego Police to reduce from 10 to 6 hours a day (full story)
Life Star staying at Norwich hospital despite state cuts
Source: Norwich Bulletin, 24-Jul-11
Hartford Hospital officials have renewed their commitment to keeping the Life Star program at The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, CT (Full story)
Houston Police fleet grounded following budget cut
Source: KHOU, 20-Jul-11
After the Mayor of Houston cut their fuel budget by 75%, the Police’s aviation unit has cut their daily flying hours from 20 to 3. Full story
California’s ABLE program now grounded for good
Source: Daily Pilot, 02-Jul-11
As of Friday, the John Wayne Airport hangar that housed ABLE’s three EC120 helicopters will become a storage space for the aircraft dubbed “Eagle,” which is jointly owned by Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. Both cities have dismantled the shared police helicopter program, thus ending a 15-year partnership. Both city councils decided to cut ABLE [...]
UK: Cambridgeshire Police propose ditching MD902 to join Chiltern ASU
Source: Cambridgeshire Police, 29-Jun-11
The way in which police air support is provided in Cambridgeshire is changing. In a move which will save money the force is looking to enter into a consortium with Chiltern Air Support Unit which will be backed up with existing arrangements with Suffolk and Essex police forces. The Chiltern Air Support Unit, which has [...]
Undersheriff pitches Air-1 helicopter survival to DA’s advisory council
Source: Post-Standard, 07-Jun-11
The legislature only funded Air-1 through June 30, placing the second half of the year’s funding in a contingency account to be released if the Sheriff’s Office made substantial progress toward setting up a not-for-profit foundation to raise private income and obtaining a commercial license allowing it to charge fees for patient transport.
Onondaga County Sheriff seeks $350K to keep Air 1 flying
11-May-11
The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office asked county lawmakers today to release nearly $350,000 in funding to keep its helicopter flying after June 30. “The ship will not fly unless they do that,” Sheriff’s Office Chief John Balloni said.
Federal budget could create headaches for Rolls-Royce
Source: IBJ, 15-Apr-11
Defense and aerospace analysts think the Marine Corps will have trouble securing a multi-year contract for the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, each of which takes two engines made by Rolls-Royce in Indianapolis.
San Jose may ground Police helicopter to save cash
Source: CBS San Francisco, 27-Feb-11
A proposal would ground the San Jose Police Department’s helicopter for at least a year because of the city’s $110 million budget deficit.
US Fiscal Reform Commission wants halt to V-22 procurement
Source: AIN, 22-Nov-10
The U.S. National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform drafted a document which suggests ending procurement of the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor and slashing the planned buy of Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.
Chief of the South African Air Force calls for budget increase
Source: Engineering News, 17-Oct-10
I’m not happy with the likely budgeting for flying hours for the next financial year,” affirms Lt-Gen Carlo Gagiano. “To operate all the systems in the SAAF optimally, I need a bigger budget. But we must never stop exploring ways of doing things better and cheaper.”
Budget cuts force Dallas Police to retire newest and most capable helicopter
Source: WFAA, 10-Oct-10
Dallas Police operate two Bell 206s from 2006 and one Bell 407 from 2007. Maintenance costs are cited in the City’s decision to dispose
Air One’s inclusion in Onondaga County’s budget still unsure
Source: WSYR, 04-Oct-10
The deadline for the Onondaga County budget is next month, but there’s still no final decision about funding for the Air One emergency helicopter.
California’s ABLE consortium face budget cut
Source: LA Times, 07-Jul-10
The joint helicopter program, called Airborne Law Enforcement (ABLE), is considered a key part of both cities’ policing effort, and cuts in the amount of airborne time could hurt the departments’ effectiveness, Costa Mesa Sgt. Tim Starn said.
Maui’s Mayor proposes to eliminate island’s only helicopter ambulance
Source: Maui News, 14-Apr-10
Forced to make difficult budget decisions due to a dramatic drop in tax revenue collections, Mayor Charmaine Tavares has proposed to eliminate Maui County’s only helicopter ambulance service
Bulgarian Panther order reduced after budget cuts
Source: Novinite, 07-Apr-10
Bulgaria’s Defense Ministry intends to alter the scope of some its of weapon purchases because of a shortage of money, Defense Minister Angelov has announced.
Californian police helicopter programs reduced – Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Orange County and ABLE
Source: Orange County Register, 22-Mar-10
Due to budget cuts, Huntington Beach has decreased its flight time to 40 hours from 60, saving about $108,000. Anaheim has cut their hours to 45 from 60, reducing costs by $311,000, and the Sheriff’s Department slashed its air time in half – from five hours a day to two and a half, saving $700,000. [...]
Baltimore Police helicopter on chopping block?
Source: Baltimore Sun, 19-Mar-10
News coming out about budget cuts sounds dire for the Baltimore Police Department. At the moment, the police helicopter known as Foxtrot is on the chopping block.
Costa Mesa may reconsider air unit as $9M budget shortfall comes in focus
Source: Orange County Register, 12-Mar-10
Council members suggested taking closer looks at the Airborne Law Enforcement Services program, which provides helicopter policing services primarily in Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and Santa Ana.
US Navy Fiscal 2011 budget calls for 103 new helicopters
Source: Navy Times, 02-Feb-10
he budget requests money for a mix of 28 AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters and UH-1Y Venom utility helos for the Marine Corps; 30 MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft; 24 MH-60R Seahawks for the Navy; and 18 MH-60S Seahawks. The budget submission also calls for three Fire Scout unmanned helicopters
US 2011 Defense Budget Highlights Need For Rotorcraft
Source: Lexington Institute, 30-Jan-10
UH-60 Blackhawk, MH-60 SeaHawk, CH-47 Chinook, and V-22 Osprey are all cited as “High Priority”
Maryland State budget cuts could ground Natural Resources Police unit
Source: Baltimore Sun, 25-Jan-09
