Helicopters Inc. is pleased to announce that several California law enforcement agencies have recently purchased or taken delivery of new AS350 B3e AStars, continuing Airbus Helicopters leadership in law enforcement helicopter sales. Recent AS350 B3e customers include the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. The AS350… Read more »
Source: Airbus, 03-Mar-15
Airbus Helicopters Inc. has delivered a fourth AS350 B2 AStar helicopter equipped for law enforcement missions to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) in Tampa, Fla. The aircraft replaces an EC120B to give Hillsborough an all-AStar fleet. The Hillsborough Sheriff’s Aviation Unit performs a wide variety of missions including law enforcement, light firefighting and search… Read more »
Source: Airbus, 03-Mar-15
Vector Aerospace Corporation (“Vector Aerospace”), one of the world’s leading independent providers of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, is pleased to announce the signing of a five (5) year agreement with Orange County Sheriff’s Department to conduct maintenance, repair and overhaul on their AS350 and UH-1H helicopters. “Signing this contract with Orange County… Read more »
Source: Vector Aerospace, 03-Mar-15
Airbus Helicopters Japan has delivered an EC225 LP to the Japan Coast Guard (JCG), which was acquired as replacement for an aircraft that was destroyed during the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. This is the last of three EC225s ordered by JCG in July 2011; the earlier two having been delivered last year. With the… Read more »
Source: Airbus, 02-Mar-15
Sheriff helicopter made emergency landing in fields of Hart High School due to lightning
01-Mar-15
The recent announcement of the future plans for the British law enforcement fleet points to the disposal of the MD Explorers currently in use. The announcement by the National Police Air Service (NPAS) of a target fleet of 19 helicopters has put us into research mode, but the pattern is clear. There are 22 helicopters… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 24-Feb-15
The National Police Air Service has confirmed plans to move to a 15-base model. The announcement means 19 rotary aircraft (helicopters) and four fixed-wing aircraft will be in operation once all the plans are in place. There are currently 23 aircraft in the NPAS fleet. The underlying principle of NPAS is a national service, coordinated… Read more »
Source: NPAS, 23-Feb-15
AgustaWestland announced today that the Croatian Police has placed an order for one AW139 intermediate twin-turbine helicopter. With this order, the AW139 will enter for the first time in the Country, replacing an older model following a competitive tender issued by the Croatian Ministry of Interior. The AW139 was chosen by the customer after a… Read more »
Source: AgustaWestland, 18-Feb-15
The Court of Appeals has cleared two officials of the Philippine National Police, Roman Loreto and Emilando Villafuerte, who were dismissed from the service following their alleged involvement in the irregular purchase of helicopters. See Full Story
Source: MST News, 10-Feb-15
AgustaWestland announced today it has completed the delivery of the Italian Police’s AW139 intermediate twin helicopters at the end of December 2014. Deliveries started in mid-2013 and now eight aircraft are in service at five different bases in central and southern Italy comprising three aircraft in Pratica di Mare close to Rome, two helicopters in… Read more »
Source: AgustaWestland, 06-Feb-15
Officials on Tuesday announced that Juárez police will have a new helicopter. See Full Story
Source: Elipaso Times, 05-Feb-15
Yesterday, Sunday 1 February, Gwent and South Wales Police joined the National Police Air Service (NPAS). NPAS, which began managing police air services in October 2012, has extended its operations into Wales meaning that almost every force in England and Wales is either part of the service, or is scheduled to join. Utilising the existing… Read more »
Source: Gwent Police, 03-Feb-15
Some guy brandishing a weapon. A high-speed chase. Missing children in the vicinity of rising waters. Site security for a presidential visit to Peterson Air Force Base. See Full Story
Source: csindy, 30-Jan-15
The Michigan State Police could become the first police agency in the nation with statewide authorization to deploy an aerial drone to photograph vehicle crash scenes and give a bird’s-eye view of other emergency situations. See Full Story
Source: The Detroit News, 30-Jan-15
Botswana’s Police Service today signed for a contract for three new AS350 B3e ‘Ecureuil” Airbus Helicopters aircraft for its Police Air Support Branch. The new helicopters will be customised to the Botswana Police Service’s specification, including the installation of night vision equipment for night-time operations and other law enforcement equipment. The start of delivery of… Read more »
Source: Airbus, 27-Jan-15
Gothenburg City Airport, more commonly known as Säve Airport, will be closed for airline operations, says state-owned airport operator Swedavia. The company issued a press release earlier today where it announced that it has taken over the remaining shares in the company that runs the airport and that it has decided to initiate a gradual… Read more »
Source: Nordic Rotors, 26-Jan-15
By Angira Zadock The only remaining police helicopter is grounded because the main rotor system bought from suppliers in Ukraine last year only had two flight hours left and has since expired. See Full Story
Source: Mareeg, 22-Jan-15
Helicopter operator Pawan Hans Ltd has posted its highest turnover of Rs 530 crore in the last year, around 15% increase from Rs 465 crore last year. See Full Story
Source: dna, 21-Jan-15
Emergency landing in baseball field. Engineer called. No damage.
19-Jan-15
The Helicopter Association International (HAI) today announced the winners of its acclaimed Salute to Excellence Awards in nine categories. They include, among others, two helicopter search-and-rescue (SAR) teams, a firefighting pilot who refused to give up on a crew on the ground, and a flight instructor with perhaps more time in one of the world’s… Read more »
Source: HAI Salute, 09-Jan-15
After taking off and clearing some trees, the helicopter began to lose rotor RPM and the pilot elected to land nearby. During the landing, the helicopter sustained some damage, but the helicopter remained upright and the pilot and passengers were uninjured. Helicopter was being used for a police search for a missing 23-year old who… Read more »
09-Jan-15
The local Sheriff’s Department received approval from the Grand Forks County Commission to accept a donation of two unmanned aerial vehicles. See Full Story
Source: Grandforks Herald, 08-Jan-15
The State of Western Australia is currently without aerial law enforcement after both the Chief Pilot and Deputy Chief Pilot resigned, according to local press. The Western Australian added that “Assistant Commissioner Nick Anticich denied last night the resignations were linked to personality clashes within the police Air Wing, despite rumours of tension and infighting”…. Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 06-Jan-15
As we enter a new year, the Met’s Air Support Unit (ASU) reflects on a busy and memorable 2014. Between January and December last year, the team of pilots, engineers, operations officers and observers, attended 8,182 incidents, assisted in the arrest of 1,686 suspects and located 169 missing people. Inspector Richard Brandon, said: “The ASU… Read more »
Source: MPS Helicopters, 06-Jan-15
Metro Aviation and the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing have partnered since 2009 and Metro recently delivered the fourth EC135 to the department. “Metro Aviation has integrated the FLIR, Aerocomputers, Helinet downlink and L-3 DVR to assist our crews supporting our public safety mission,” said Lt. Robert Smith, Unit Commander. The modern technology and avionics… Read more »
Source: Metro Aviation, 05-Jan-15
Crashed into trees during flood relief operations, injuring both pilots and two aid workers on board. Pilot Asst Superintendent Amirul Adli Ahmad suffered a fractured spine. Co-pilot Asst Superintendent Hasli Hassan had minor injuries to his knees. The other two – both with minor injuries – were named as Sergeant Major Mohd Hood Abd Majid and… Read more »
31-Dec-14
Very heavy landing in residential area, minor injuries to 2 POB later named as David Callen and Paul Lourenco.
31-Dec-14
Passenger injured from gunshot fired from the ground while helicopter was overflying. damage to plexiglass window
27-Dec-14
The team at HeliHub.com would like to wish all our readers a very Happy Christmas and a prosperous 2015. 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 church… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 23-Dec-14
The Harford County Sheriff’s Office helicopter has a new name, at least to some. Eagle 1, as it had been known, will be going by SABLE 1, which stands for Sheriff’s Airborne Law Enforcement, according to Cristie Kahler, spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office. As part of an ongoing assessment of the year-old aviation unit, which… Read more »
Source: Harford Sheriff's, 22-Dec-14
Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first AS355 NP Ecureuil to the Spanish Road Transport Authority (DGT) and the first EC135 to the country’s National Police Force under the contract signed in February of this year with the DGT. The agreement covers the supply of a total of seven helicopters: four AS355 NP Ecureuils and three… Read more »
Source: Airbus, 19-Dec-14
Six EC145 T2 rotorcraft have been ordered by Germany’s Landespolizei Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine-Westphalia Police Force), becoming the latest law enforcement customer for this enhanced member of Airbus Helicopters’ twin-engine EC145 family. Deliveries of these helicopters are planned in 2016-2017. As one of the largest of Germany’s 12 state flying police forces, the Landespolizei Nordrhein-Westfalen serves… Read more »
Source: Airbus, 15-Dec-14
[electronic translation] Since Saturday 6th December, an Airbus EC135T2+ has been operated by Receita Federal from the city of Foz do Iguaçu for another search mission and smuggling crackdown in Paraná state. With the proximity to Christmas, the movement on the border of the country that connects Brazil to cities of Paraguay and Argentina is… Read more »
Source: Helibras, 12-Dec-14
AgustaWestland and Mitsui Bussan Aerospace are pleased to announce that the Tokyo Metropolitan Police has placed an order for an additional AW139 intermediate twin helicopter. The aircraft is expected to enter service in 2016. This latest contract brings to 4 the number of AW139s purchased by the Tokyo Metropolitan Police and expands the AgustaWestland law… Read more »
Source: AgustaWestland, 11-Dec-14
The Board of Supervisors in Riverside County (California) has approved the purchase of two AS350B3 helicopters, according to local press. The total cost was quoted in the agenda to the meeting as $11.5 Million, net of which they have an insurance receipt of $1.96M providing a net figure of $9.54M. The insurance receipt relates to… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 10-Dec-14
Someone has made off with $400,000 worth of helicopter parts from the back of a van in West Kelowna, B.C., but police say they’re worthless to the thief. See Full Story
Source: Vancouver Sun, 10-Dec-14
AgustaWestland is completing the Italian State Police order for eight AW139s around now. From the first delivery in May 2013 , the last three examples have all been test flying recently from the factory at Vergiate and other AW139s in the same production sequence have been delivered in recent weeks. Our research team have put… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 09-Dec-14
Trakka Corp Pty Ltd is pleased to announce the Carabiniers of Chile have selected the Trakka A800 Tactical Helicopter Searchlight for the agency’s AW 109E Power patrol helicopter in Iquique, Chile. The Trakka A800 searchlight’s advanced optics technology provides superior performance and flexibility complimenting the AgustaWestland 109E Power mission equipment. The Trakka A800 is the… Read more »
Source: Trakka, 08-Dec-14
The Idaho State Police are now using a drone to take pictures of crime scenes. See Full Story
Source: KREM, 08-Dec-14
The Wichita Police Department has a plan to purchase more than 400 body cameras; one for every officer. Now, it has to come up with a way to pay for them all. One proposal includes using money seized through drug busts and grounding its helicopter for one year. See Full Story
Source: KSN, 05-Dec-14
[electronic translation] Helibras participated in Porto de Galinhas (PE), the Seventh National Symposium on Ordnance Office of the Military Police, which brings together police, scholars, federal institutions, suppliers and the Brazilian Army to discuss the improvement and adjustment of the war needs of security corporations in the country. During the event, Mauro Ayres, Helibras sales… Read more »
Source: Helibras, 05-Dec-14
In the latest issue of Police Aviation News, editor Bryn Elliott floats the idea that the MD Explorer may have a limited time span in service with the UK’s National Police Air Service. In an article focusing on NPAS’ plan to acquire 3 to 6 fixed wing aircraft, Elliott notes that NPAS have six active… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 02-Dec-14
The Oklahoma City Police Department’s Aviation Unit has put two new Airbus Helicopters AS350B3e AStar helicopters into service as part of a fleet upgrade plan. The new helicopters, delivered by Airbus Helicopters Inc., of Grand Prairie, Texas include technological and equipment upgrades that will enable the department to significantly improve its airborne law enforcementand public… Read more »
Source: Airbus, 02-Dec-14
The NSW Police Force has launched two new state-of-the-art additions to the Aviation Support Branch, PolAir 5 and PolAir 7. NSW Police Force Commissioner Andrew Scipione, unveiled the new aircraft at the Aviation Support Branch at Bankstown Airport today (Sunday 30 November 2014). The Commissioner was joined by the Governor of NSW, His Excellency General… Read more »
Source: NSW Police Force, 01-Dec-14
Airways Aviation has announced that it is the successful bidder and awarded a new contract to train pilots for the Royal Oman Police Force. Airways Aviation has been training the Royal Oman Police Force aeroplane and helicopter pilots from zero experience through to full commercially rated pilots at both VFR and IFR levels for a… Read more »
Source: Airways Aviation, 01-Dec-14
The helicopter landed on scene at a road accident involving an intoxicated driver whose car hit a Carabineros vehicle. With rotors turning, a fire department vehicle got too close and clipped the blades. Initially the helicopter spun 90 degrees on the ground before the damage caused the tail boom to break off a few seconds… Read more »
30-Nov-14
Trakka Corp Pty Ltd is pleased to announce the Trakka A800 Tactical Helicopter Searchlight is being used to assist aviation assets in their performance of missions for the Government of Santa Fe Province, Argentina. The Trakka A800 searchlight’s advanced optics technology provides superior performance and flexibility expanding the Bell Jet Ranger’s mission capabilities. Due to… Read more »
Source: Trakka Corp, 26-Nov-14
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office now has eyes in the sky — and they come free to local taxpayers. See Full Story File photo
Source: Islandpacket, 24-Nov-14
Queensland families will be safer in emergencies and rescue helicopters will respond quicker, following a partnership with Rio Tinto that includes a new operations centre with state-of-the-art interactive technology. The Queensland Government Air Operations Centre and new ‘Cruiser Interactive’ technology were unveiled by Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services Jack Dempsey and Rio Tinto… Read more »
Source: Queensland, 21-Nov-14
Police have asked city council for $7.2 million to buy a twin-engined helicopter to replace one of two single-engined helicopters currently operated by police. The second would theoretically be replaced in 2019. See Full Story
Source: Edmonton Journal, 21-Nov-14
A police helicopter was used to herd a pod of 40 whales away from shallow waters off the Essex coast. See Full Story
Source: BBC, 21-Nov-14
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today the final delivery of the sixth Bell 407GX to the Pennsylvania (PA) State Police. Announced earlier this year, this marked the 200th purchase agreement made for the Bell 407GX in North America. “Working with the team at Bell Helicopter to secure our new aircraft has… Read more »
Source: Bell, 21-Nov-14
The Air Surveillance Service of the Ministry of Public Security on Tuesday followed a helicopter illegally carrying the emblems of the Red Cross and escaped to the southern Caribbean. The aircraft was seen near Siquirres area where police seized 310 kilos of cocaine. See Full Story
20-Nov-14
MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) today announced the formal delivery of a new MD 520N helicopter to the Burbank and Glendale Police Joint Air Support Unit located in the state of California. With this delivery, Burbank and Glendale will own four (4) MD 520N helicopters. Joining the MDHI team at the Company’s Mesa, Arizona headquarters were… Read more »
Source: MD, 20-Nov-14
We are pleased to announce that B2K has been selected and contracted by Bond Helicopters Europe for the supply of the Compact Airborne Mission Computer (CAMC) for the National Police Air Service (NPAS) mission system upgrade programme. The CAMC is designed for civil and military applications on rotary and fixed-wing platforms, providing a variety of… Read more »
Source: Britannia 2000, 17-Nov-14
Peru’s Ministry of the Interior has now added the final EC145 helicopter to the modernized fleet of the National Police of Peru (PNP). The formal handover at the Police Aviation Unit facilities in El Callao was attended by both Peruvian and French officials, including Peru’s interior minister Daniel Urresti and Daniel Leimbacher, chief of the… Read more »
Source: Airbus, 14-Nov-14
Stan Rose, HAI director of safety outreach, was in Corpus Christi, Texas, at the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA) Central Region Safety Seminar, November 4–6. Ryan Miller, ALEA Central Region director, was assisted by the host agency, Texas Department of Public Safety – gracious hosts who put on an exceptional event. In the opening remarks,… Read more »
Source: HAI, 10-Nov-14
The Los Angeles Police Department helicopter climbed over a ridge of homes surrounding the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club’s golf course and dipped down over a fairway, its blades churning as it hovered above the grass. See Full Story
Source: LA Times, 10-Nov-14
The family members and estates of two Atlanta police officers killed two years ago this week when a department helicopter they were flying crashed into power lines along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive have filed lawsuits against several companies involved in the manufacture and maintenance of the aircraft. See Full Story
Source: AJC, 07-Nov-14
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today the delivery of two Bell 429s configured for Helicopter Emergency Services (HEMS), Search and Rescue (SAR) and Airborne Law Enforcement (ALE) to the Delaware State Police aviation section. The milestone aircraft will join the Delaware State Police’s current fleet of Bell helicopters and be used… Read more »
Source: Bell, 06-Nov-14
The St Louis county police chief, Jon Belmar, has firmly denied his department asked for a no-fly zone to restrict media access during the unrest that roiled Ferguson’s streets in August. See Full Story
Source: The Guardian, 05-Nov-14
Night emergency landing into public park after bird strike broke chin window
01-Nov-14
One of the Army’s oldest and most reliable helicopters is leaving the Florida National Guard. For more than four decades the OH-58 Kiowa reconnaissance helicopters buzzed through the skies over Florida, but due to National Guard divestiture of the airframe it will see its final flight as a military aircraft on Oct. 31. Thanks to… Read more »
Source: US Army, 29-Oct-14
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), will showcase the newest product on its commercial line, the Bell 505 Jet Ranger XTM in parapublic configuration at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) in Orlando from October 25-28 in booth #1958. “The Bell 505 Jet Ranger X offers a highly configurable cabin with… Read more »
Source: Bell, 27-Oct-14
Zanzibar house of representatives was informed on Friday that Tanzania’s Police Force has only two helicopters covering both the mainland and the isles, but backbencher, Mr Saleh Nassor Juma (CUF-wawi) wants one of the helicopters to be stationed on the isles. See Full Story
Source: DailyNews, 27-Oct-14
A new Exelis (NYSE: XLS) CorvusEye 1500 visible color and infrared (IR) sensor provides day and nighttime wide area airborne surveillance coverage to support the military, law enforcement, border patrol and first responders. Developed to complement the daytime electro-optical sensor Exelis released in May, the sensors are available as an integrated end-to-end system or separately. The new… Read more »
Source: Exelis, 21-Oct-14
Trakka Corp Pty Ltd is pleased to announce the Pennsylvania State Police have selected the Trakka A800 Tactical Helicopter Searchlight for the department’s six recently purchased Bell 407GX patrol helicopters. “We are pleased that the Pennsylvania State Police selected the Trakka A800 tactical searchlight to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania,” said David Cady, US Sales… Read more »
Source: Trakka, 13-Oct-14
A PLEDGE has been given by the owners of Filton Airfield to help find a new home for both the police helicopter and Great Western Air Ambulance. See Full Story
Source: Bristol Post, 10-Oct-14
Emergency night landing in public park
10-Oct-14
CarteNav Solutions Inc., (http://www.cartenav.com) the maker of AIMS-ISR®, has been selected to provide the mission software for a third of the UK National Police Air Service (NPAS) EC-135 helicopter fleet. Bond Helicopters Europe, part of the Avincis Group, recently won a multi-million pound contract to design, integrate, certify, and install a next-generation mission system into… Read more »
Source: CarteNav, 09-Oct-14
For nearly 40 years, a different kind of police unit has patrolled Gwinnett County. See Full Story
Source: GDP, 08-Oct-14
