Integrated Microwave Technologies, LLC (IMT), a Business Unit within the Vitec Group’s Videocom Division, and a leader in advanced digital microwave systems for the MAG (Military, Aerospace & Government) markets, has been awarded a Technical Investigative Surveillance (TechOps) contract by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). TechOps Government-Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), presented by the… Read more »
The first Bell 429 arrived in Nigeria last Thursday, marked up in the colours of the Nigerian Police. Still lacking blades, boom and with plenty of packaging still in place, the helicopter was photographed out in the open at Lagos Airport pending a short land trip to the Police hangar read for preparation and test… Read more »
Metro Trains Melbourne has started using a helicopter with infrared cameras in an attempt to reduce theft of copper – which has led to significant cancellation and delays to rail services (see full story)
Bolivian Government Minister Carlos Romero is reported in local press as announcing that the the national law enforcement agency “Policía Boliviana” will receive two Robinson R44s later this month. Due to the altitudes involved in Bolivia, the pair will not be able to fly around the capital La Paz, which lies between 10,650 and 13,250… Read more »
The Peruvian Ministry of the Interior have ordered four Eurocopter EC145s from local distributor Eurocopter Cono Sur (located in Chile). Contract value is 93,718,765 Nuevo Sol (approx $36.8M), and the contract requires all four to be delivered by 20th December 2013. The helicopters will be used to provide a range of law enforcement roles in… Read more »
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has added a second military helicopter to its aviation unit – a no-cost aircraft from the Kansas City Police Department (see full story) File photo
MORE than 500 people were arrested in 2012 – who would otherwise have got away had it not been for the West Midlands Police helicopter. The helicopter, known to officers on the street by its call sign ‘Alpha Oscar 1’, has taken off 1,362 times this year and has been involved in 3,698 incidents. Using a… Read more »
Night flights are challenging. Visual information about the flight environment is greatly reduced as compared to daytime flying and is largely dependent on the amount of celestial illumination encountered throughout the flight. It is therefore of significant importance for the night pilot to know exactly when darkness falls, and if some level of illumination in… Read more »
Becker Avionics announced today that Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in California, selected the Becker DVCS6100 digital airborne audio control panel system to upgrade their four Eurocopter AS350 multi-mission helicopters and single Cessna 182P surveillance fixed wing platform. During the next few months the Riverside Air Unit aircraft will undergo avionics upgrades, to include Becker’s Digital… Read more »
Kitchener Aero Avionics (KAAV) – one of Canada’s premiere avionics and special missions modifiers – is pleased to announce another STC “first” with the completion of a “Glass-Cockpit” upgrade for the Eurocopter EC-120 helicopter. The heart of this mod is the Garmin G500H Flight Display system with Helicopter Synthetic Vision (HSVT), an Altitude Heading Reference… Read more »
Tactical flight officer PC Paul Gridley said: “When we are approaching a scene, usually at 1000ft, we tend to use the blue lights of emergency vehicles as one way of guiding us into the scene” (see full story)
An arbitrator has ruled against the township in a battle over who should pay for helicopter flying lessons taken by two police officers, but an appeal is already under way, officials said. (see full story)
As we launch into 2013, HeliHub.com is proud to announce that we filed no fewer than 3,432 news stories in 2012. This averages around 14 stories per working day, and with the rate increasing towards the end of the year, the total for 2013 is expected to be a step-change higher. We are already clear… Read more »
The ACLU of Texas Tuesday asked Attorney General Greg Abbott to compel the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to comply with open records requests about a DPS shooting of unarmed persons last October 25 that resulted in two fatalities. A sharpshooter fired several shots from a helicopter while in pursuit of a moving vehicle…. Read more »
The team at HeliHub.com would like to wish all our readers a very Happy Christmas and a financially secure 2013. This is the time of the year we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and we trust many of our readers will take time to consider what that means to the world, perhaps through attending a… Read more »
The Finnish Border Guard is to expand its Eurocopter fleet with the acquisition of two additional AS332 L1 Super Puma helicopters fully equipped for maritime search and rescue missions in the country’s challenging conditions. With deliveries scheduled for 2015, the rotorcraft will be configured as the AS332 L1e version, incorporating the integrated advanced cockpit and… Read more »
The heroism of two Jacksonville Police officers earned them a Medal of Merit and a Medal of Valor for their May 26 mission during Tropical Storm Beryl. One of the pair received a second medal after a July 23 rescue of a woman in the Intracoastal Waterway. (see full story)
Russian Helicopters, part of Russian state defence holding Oboronprom and a leading global designer and manufacturer of helicopters, this month delivered two multirole Mi-8AMThelicopters built by Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant to the Republic of Tatarstan Interior Ministry. The contract was signed in August 2012 and Russian Helicopters delivered on the helicopters schedule. The Mi-8AMTs will fly missions… Read more »
[Electronic translation from local language] Helibras has held the official handover of another helicopter for Public Security of the Government of Bahia, when the aircraft was presented to the people soteropolitano. This is the first EC145 marketed in the country by the company to operate in that state police missions. ‘s contract acquisition of new… Read more »
Commissioned into service Monday at Santa Ynez Airport, state-of-the-art Copter 3 is able to provide law enforcement functions as well as aerial firefighting, search and rescue, air ambulance service, and the transport of Special Enforcement Team (SET) members. (see full story) File photo
European Helicopter Show is pleased to announce the patronage of Mr Přemysl Sobotka, Vice-President of the Senate of Parliament, Czech Republic. The political career of Mr Přemysl Sobotka started in the Velvet Revolution in 1989, where he was a member of the “for-all” Civic Forum and joined the right-wing Civic Democratic Party after its foundation… Read more »
On November 27, 2012 the Federal Aviation Administration issued the Grand Forks County (North Dakota) Sheriff’s Department a Certificate of Authorization (COA) permitting the operation of a Draganflyer X6 small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) within the 16 counties located in northeastern North Dakota. The counties include: Grand Forks, Rolette, Towner, Cavalier, Pembina, Pierce, Benson, Ramsey,… Read more »
[Electronic translation] The Helibras handed, on Wednesday (28), an AS350 helicopter B3e for the Civil Police of Rio Grande do Sul – the first aircraft to be operated by the corporation in the State. She was delivered by Government Market Manager, Mauro Ayres, and was received in Porto Alegre, the governor Genro. The acquisition is due… Read more »
In addition to a new mobile equipment storage truck and armored vehicle, the St. Louis County Police Department has purchased a new helicopter for its Metro Air Support Division. (see full story) file photo
Crashed on a training flight at Pondok Cabe airfield, injuring both occupants. “Pamulang police chief Comr. Nasir said that pilot Insp. M Ibnu and copilot First Brig. Togu were about three meters off the ground and about to land when the helicopter suddenly fell into a nosedive.”
The two Draganflyer X6 remote-controlled miniature helicopters purchased by Seattle have so far been mostly grounded, restricted to training and demonstration flights. Each is equipped to carry video, still and night-vision cameras. (see full story)
On Thursday 15th November, UK held its first ever Police chief elections and 41 new “Police and Crime Commissioners” have been elected across England and Wales in an attempt to give the public a say in cutting crime in their area. In the far southwest of England lies the counties of Devon and Cornwall, which… Read more »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Science &Technology (S&T) Directorate and the State of Oklahoma are partnering on the Robotic Aircraft for Public Safety (RAPS) project to test and evaluate Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) for potential use by the first responder community and DHS operational components. SUAS include small aircraft (typically under 55 pounds… Read more »
American Eurocopter announced today that is has issued a Supplementary Type Certificate (STC) with concurrence from the FAA for the installation of the Trakkabeam A800 Searchlight System on the AS350 B3 helicopter. The A800 searchlight, as installed, provides a compact and modern solution for law enforcement and other operators. Advantages of the Trakkabeam A800 searchlight… Read more »
Yavapai County Sheriff Scott Mascher has accepted a donated RT-5000 radio from Cobham Aerospace Communications. The $72,000 radio was custom-built for YCSO, and can be upgraded as technology changes. (see full story)
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the Fire Fighting Department of Beijing’s Public Security Bureau has taken delivery of an AW139 intermediate twin engine helicopter. This aircraft will perform fire fighting and disaster relief mission in and around Beijing as well as law enforcement missions in cooperation with the Beijing Police. This… Read more »
The Atlanta Police Department’s small fleet of helicopters is scheduled to return to the air Monday, two weeks after the crash of their OH-6A N368PD that killed two law enforcement officers. (see full story) File photo
A pair of law enforcement Bell OH-58s came into contact with each other on Saturday, just as one was in the process of landing and the other taking off. Pasadena Police are now two helicopters down, but still have four others immediately available according to a local television interview. Both helicopters ended up on their… Read more »
Low level collision between one helicopter landing and the other taking off from the adjacent pad. N911FA ended up on its skids, main blades missing and damage to rear cabin area after apparently being hit by main blades of N98BM. Boom of N911FA still attached (just) but fallen to ground at tail. Six to hospital,… Read more »
Low level collision between one helicopter landing and the other taking off from the adjacent pad. N98BM ended up on its skids, main blades missing and damage to front cabin area after apparently being hit by main blades of N911FA. Six to hospital, two in each helicopter plus two on the ground. On Monday 19th,… Read more »
American Eurocopter announced today that the Alaska Department of Public Safety has purchased an AS350 B3e to support operations of the Alaska Wildlife Troopers and State Troopers. The new AS350 B3e will be based in Fairbanks, Alaska, bringing enhanced capabilities to the agency’s existing helicopter fleet, which also includes an AS350 B3. “When we decided… Read more »
Nine people were killed and two seriously injured in a military helicopter crash in the Guelmim area of southwest Morocco late on Wednesday. Eight of the passengers were pronounced dead on the spot and another succumbed to injuries in hospital. One source names operator as Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office has had a helicopter since 2001. It’s the only police helicopter in hundreds of miles, the next closest is in Albuquerque. The unit comprises just Gross, two deputies trained as tactical flight officers and a civilian contract pilot (see full story)
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… Read more »
Police helicopter crashed on night search operation, killing both officers on board – later named as Richard J. Halford and Shawn A. Smiley. Later report stated it hit a powerline pole and part of the cable was wrapped around the skids. Post crash fire.
Kenya Police are considering taking Eurocopter to court. The basis is apparently that the manufacturer supplied a newer AS350B3e model and not the older AS350B3 that the police contracted for. (see full story) see also 10-Jun-12 5Y-CDT Eurocopter AS350B3e Ngong Hills, Kenya (6F)
Timothy Swanson faces an investigation into a police helicopter program he began while chief of southwest suburban Countryside in 2005 and then moved to Kankakee County in 2009, records show. (see full story)
One of the highlight presentations of the Tangent Link POLICE AVIATION event held in the Prince Hotel & Residence in central Kuala Lumpur this week was that given by Police Senior Superintendent Joselito F Salido of the Philippine National Police [PNP]. During times when it seems few worthwhile sales opportunities are to be found in the law… Read more »
The Royal Malaysian Police is looking to expand its fleet of helicopters for better air support in each state. (see full story). They currently operate Eurocopter AS355Ns
The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office has a new weapon to help fight crime. The Sheriff recently bought a Robinson R44 Helicopter from the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office in Mississippi. (see full story)
Tracer Aviation, the Cambridge (UK) based developer of specialist airborne video equipment, has launched a new range of High Definition rugged airborne video recorders to meet demand from the airborne surveillance sector which is increasingly using the latest generation of HD camera systems. Following market feedback, Tracer’s new multi-channel recording deck will handle a single… Read more »
(electronic translation from original) After two days of the seminar held in the capital city, which was represented in 25 countries of the continent, successfully concluded this academic event, where experience showed that Colombia has acquired over time, in the fight against illicit drug trafficking by air. He highlighted the work being done combined with… Read more »
Heavy landing in cemetery. Tail boom sliced off by main blades. Starboard skid collapsed. Sgt. Gerald Wiltshire was pilot and Officer Tony Valdes serving as an observer
The dates are now confirmed for European Helicopter Show 2013. The event will take place at Hradec Králové in Czech Republic during 9th – 11th of May 2013. This new helicopter event in Czech Republic, 9th -11th May 2013, is already attracting a positive reaction within the helicopter industry, with major manufacturers including Bell Europe… Read more »
Santa Barbara County Supervisor Janet Wolf is standing by the newly combined Aviation Unit despite some critics who say crews from the fire and sheriff’s department’s are not working well together. (see full story)
A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for firing a gun at a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter while it was in flight. He was 18 at the time of the incident (see full story) File Photo
The Barnstaple office of Morgan Sindall has secured a £1.5 million contract to deliver new offices, welfare facilities and an aircraft hangar at Exeter Airport for Devon and Cornwall Police. The new two-storey office building will house the Air Operations Unit for Devon and Cornwall Police and Devon Air Ambulance Trust, both of which currently… Read more »
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce the signing of a contract for two additional AW139 medium twin helicopters in Japan with its distributor Mitsui Bussan Aerospace. The AW139s will be operated by the Japan National Police Agency (JNPA) to perform multi-role law enforcement missions in the Toyama and Osaka Prefectures. These JNPA helicopters… Read more »
A total of 19 helicopters – including Sikorsky S92, S70i and Schweizer 434s – have been deployed in Haj security operations this year and the operations have begun relatively early. (see full story)
On Fridya, Governor Martin O’Malley joined Colonel Marcus Brown, officials from AgustaWestland, representatives from the state’s emergency medical services community, and other officials to unveil the first new Maryland State Police medevac helicopter, an important step forward in replacing Maryland’s aging medevac helicopter fleet. “The most sacred responsibility that any government holds is to protect… Read more »
The new National Police Air Service (NPAS) was launched on Monday October 1, 2012 The new service will provide more efficient and accessible air support to the police service throughout England and Wales that offers better value for money. Responding to the findings of a comprehensive review commissioned in 2009, the Association of Chief Police… Read more »
The Draganflyer ES (Emergency Services) unmanned aircraft line provides two models, a six rotor Draganflyer X6-ES helicopter and a new larger version with four rotors, the Draganflyer X4-ES helicopter. The X6-ES and X4-ES are models exclusively sold to Public Safety Agencies. Used to obtain video from an aerial vantage point, these unmanned aircraft feature a digital wireless video… Read more »
American Eurocopter, whose wide product line has become the standard for U.S. Airborne Law Enforcement, will feature its AS350 B2 from the Ontario (CA) Police Department Air Support Unit at this year’s International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference Sept. 29-Oct. 3 in San Diego. “The AS350 series has become the helicopter of choice… Read more »
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Aviation unit recently selected the Becker DVCS6100 digital airborne audio control panel system for their two Bell 407 helicopters. Wysong Enterprises Inc. in Blountville, TN completed an extensive avionics and mission equipment upgrade for both aircraft during the summer prior to the CM aviation unit’s demanding operations supporting the Democratic National Convention… Read more »
Heavy landing on training flight and ended up on its starboard side. Local press later named (here) Police Sgt. Darin R. Garness as being at the controls, and the other pilot was officer Clifford Wicks.
The three AS350B3s of the Botswana Police have been upgraded for night operations. Eurocopter South Africa modified the instrument panel and the FLIR camera observer’s console to be NVG compliant. (see full story)
In mid August, the Queensland Police Service commenced a 13 week contract with Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter Rescue Service. As a result, the police chopper is now a BO105 EC Super 5, ex-German police helicopter with an excellent reputation and history. It is a twin-engine gas turbine, equipped with state-of- the-art navigation and surveillance equipment including:… Read more »
Namibia’s Ministry of Safety & Security ordered the twin-engined multi-mission helicopter in 2011 to complement NAMPOL’s existing fleet of Eurocopter AS350B3 aircraft. The EC145 is serial 9533 from the production line (see full story)
