NPAS

New police airbase in Essex

New police airbase in Essex

23-Jan-2019Source: National Police Air Service

Building work has started on a £4 million police airbase in Essex. Construction of the National Police Air Service (NPAS) airbase at North Weald Airfield is expected to run until autumn, with the first flights taking off before the end of 2019. Police helicopters and police planes will be able to fly from the base... Read more

NPAS moves out of police helicopter at Boreham

NPAS moves out of police helicopter at Boreham

1-Oct-2018Source: NPAS

Chief Superintendent Tyron Joyce, Chief Operating Officer for the National Police Air Service said: “The National Police Air Service provide air support to the police forces of England and Wales from a national network of 15 bases. “From time to time, staff and aircraft are required to relocate operations from one base to another within... Read more

NPAS officer receives MBE in New Year’s Honours

NPAS officer receives MBE in New Year’s Honours

8-Jan-2018Source: NPAS

A police officer, working at the National Police Air Service is to be awarded a MBE for his services to policing. Sergeant Scott Gallagher has worked in Police Air Support for over ten years and for the National Police Air Service since its formation in 2012. Joining North Wales Police in 1994, Scott managed the... Read more

NPAS officer receives MBE in New Year’s Honours

NPAS officer receives MBE in New Year’s Honours

5-Jan-2018Source: NPAS

A police officer, working at the National Police Air Service is to be awarded a MBE for his services to policing. Sergeant Scott Gallagher has worked in Police Air Support for over ten years and for the National Police Air Service since its formation in 2012. Joining North Wales Police in 1994, Scott managed the... Read more

NPAS confirms new London area base

NPAS confirms new London area base

19-Dec-2017Source: NPAS

With full planning permission from Epping Forest District Council now in place, the National Police Air Service (NPAS) will soon start building works on a purpose built airbase at North Weald Airfield in Essex. The new base will replace their existing facility at Lippitts Hill 16 miles away and form part of their national network... Read more

Construction begins on joint EMS-Police base at Almondsbury UK

Construction begins on joint EMS-Police base at Almondsbury UK

9-Nov-2017Source: NPAS

Work has begun on the new National Police Air Service (NPAS) base in Almondsbury, South Gloucester which is due to be operational in autumn 2018. NPAS and Great Western Air Ambulance (GWAAC) will be housed at the new base funded by BAE Systems. BAE Systems purchased the land in Almondsbury for use by GWAAC and... Read more

NPAS to receive national award for role in terror attacks

NPAS to receive national award for role in terror attacks

30-Oct-2017Source: NPAS

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) are to be presented with a prestigious national award in recognition of their outstanding contribution to aviation. The ‘Sword of Honour’ will be presented by the Honorary Company of Air Pilots (HCAP) at a ceremony at London’s Guildhall tomorrow evening. This award marks the highest achievements and excellence within... Read more

End of an era for UK Police Explorers

End of an era for UK Police Explorers

30-Jan-2017Source: NPAS

Before the end of March 2017 the last of the six National Police Air Service’s MD Explorers will take to the sky for its final flight and will be replaced by an Airbus Helicopters H135 as the service is streamlined. NPAS began the conversion process from the 902 to 135 last year and the remaining... Read more

EASA proposes improvements for GA pilots flying IFR

EASA proposes improvements for GA pilots flying IFR

14-Nov-2016Source: EASA

EASA published on 9 November 2016 a proposal opened for comments for ‘Easier access for general aviation pilots to instrument flight rules flying’ (NPA 2016-14). The objective of this so-called Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) is to provide a more accessible instrument rating for pilots holding non-commercial licences in general aviation. The NPA therefore proposes... Read more

Tribute fly past for National Police Memorial Day

Tribute fly past for National Police Memorial Day

26-Sep-2016Source: National Police Air Service

The National Police Air Service and the Police Service of Northern Ireland conducted a formation fly past over St. Paul’s Cathedral this afternoon as part of the service of remembrance for National Police Memorial Day 2016. A fitting tribute to honour almost 4,000 fallen colleagues, police air support crews flew in a diamond formation with... Read more

New UK heliport for Police and EMS operations approved

New UK heliport for Police and EMS operations approved

12-Aug-2016Source: HeliHub.com

The controversial proposals for a dual-service heliport at Almondsbury have now received planning approval, according to the Gazette series.  The site, close to the junction of the M4 and M5 motorways, will become the new base for both the National Police Air Service and the Great Western Air Ambulance in the Bristol area.  Both currently... Read more

UK – Surrey and Sussex Police increase drone fleet from one to five

UK – Surrey and Sussex Police increase drone fleet from one to five

11-Apr-2016Source: Surrey Police

Surrey and Sussex Police have acquired four new state-of-the-art drones.  The Aeryon SkyRangers will add to the existing one which has been used to support policing operations at Gatwick since March 2014. The drones – also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) – are designed to be used to safeguard people and to assist with... Read more

UK – Planning approval reversed for Police and Air Ambulance heliport

UK – Planning approval reversed for Police and Air Ambulance heliport

4-Apr-2016Source: HeliHub.com

South Gloucestershire Council has reversed its approval for a new helicopter base in Almondsbury following a legal challenge.  The heliport was planned to serve both the Great Western Air Ambulance and the National Police Air Service, whose helicopters are currently based at Filton Airfield.  Filton, most famous for its role in the development of the... Read more

UK Police evolves as two more bases close as planned

UK Police evolves as two more bases close as planned

2-Feb-2016Source: HeliHub.com

NPAS – the UK’s National Police Air Service – have closed two more bases as planned. NPAS Ripley closed, and their EC135 will be the third in the upgrade line at Bond Air Services. The first from that process was displayed at Helitech in October 2015, and the second is currently in progress. NPAS Sheffield... Read more

UK – Police and Air Ambulance base at Almondsbury goes to judicial review

UK – Police and Air Ambulance base at Almondsbury goes to judicial review

14-Dec-2015Source: Gazette

A PROPOSED helicopter base in Almondsbury could have its planning permission quashed following a judicial review brought forward by nearby residents. See Full Story  ... Read more

UK Police start to take MD Explorer out of service

UK Police start to take MD Explorer out of service

21-Oct-2015Source: HeliHub.com

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) has – as HeliHub.com predicted in February 2015 – started to retire the MD Explorer from law enforcement work in the UK skies in preference for the Airbus H135, H145 and some yet-to-be-delivered Vulcanair P68 fixed wing aircraft.  Two Explorer airframes are already parked up pending disposal, with G-SYPS... Read more

Bond hand over first of seven upgraded EC135s to NPAS

Bond hand over first of seven upgraded EC135s to NPAS

12-Oct-2015Source: Bond Air

Bond, A Babcock International Group company, formally handed over the first of seven redesigned and upgraded EC135 T2+ helicopters to the National Police Air Service (NPAS) at Helitech International today (October 7). The aircraft features a new custom-designed mission suite with a range of integrated technologies including a next generation mission management system, advanced and... Read more

UK – Humberside Police refuses to sign Explorer over to NPAS until cover assured

UK – Humberside Police refuses to sign Explorer over to NPAS until cover assured

25-Sep-2015Source: Hull Daily Mail

Humberside  police and crime commissioner Matthew Grove says he will not sign over the force helicopter to a national scheme until he is assured the area will be sufficiently protected. See Full Story... Read more

UK – NPAS to add four Vulcanair P68s to UK law enforcement fleet

UK – NPAS to add four Vulcanair P68s to UK law enforcement fleet

24-Sep-2015Source: NPAS

Police air support in the UK is set to become 24/7 all weather capable for the first time with the introduction of fixed wing aircraft into the service’s fleet. The National Police Air Service has now awarded a contract for four fixed wing aircraft to be based in a purpose built facility, serving the whole... Read more

Suffolk police could turn to drones to cut helicopter costs

Suffolk police could turn to drones to cut helicopter costs

24-Mar-2015Source: IPSwichStar

The proposal has been made by Police and Crime Commissioner Tim Passmore in a bid to cut costs. See Full Story... Read more

British Police prepare to dispose of MD Explorer fleet

British Police prepare to dispose of MD Explorer fleet

24-Feb-2015Source: HeliHub.com

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

UK National Police Air Service to close ten bases

UK National Police Air Service to close ten bases

23-Feb-2015Source: NPAS

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

UK – South Wales Police ASU joins NPAS

UK – South Wales Police ASU joins NPAS

3-Feb-2015Source: Gwent Police

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

Dyfed-Powys Police helicopter to stay in the sky

Dyfed-Powys Police helicopter to stay in the sky

21-Nov-2014Source: BBC

Fears the Dyfed-Powys Police helicopter would be withdrawn from service have been allayed after it was confirmed it will remain patrolling the skies. See Full Story... Read more

UK – 40 pilot whales herded by police helicopter

UK – 40 pilot whales herded by police helicopter

21-Nov-2014Source: BBC

A police helicopter was used to herd a pod of 40 whales away from shallow waters off the Essex coast. See Full Story... Read more

Bond chooses Britannia 2000 CAMC for NPAS EC135s

Bond chooses Britannia 2000 CAMC for NPAS EC135s

17-Nov-2014Source: Britannia 2000

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

BAE Systems to find new home for Police and EMS helicopters

BAE Systems to find new home for Police and EMS helicopters

10-Oct-2014Source: Bristol Post

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... Read more

CarteNav to provide intuitive AIMS mission system software for UK National Police Air Service

CarteNav to provide intuitive AIMS mission system software for UK National Police Air Service

9-Oct-2014Source: CarteNav

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

BIS Minister Matthew Hancock MP visits Britain’s Civil Helicopter Hub

BIS Minister Matthew Hancock MP visits Britain’s Civil Helicopter Hub

12-Sep-2014Source: Airbus

Minister for Business and Enterprise, Matthew Hancock visited Airbus Helicopters, and toured the company’s advanced aerospace design and maintenance operations. The Minister was briefed on the scale and nature of the company’s operations, including the award of the National Police Air Service (NPAS) support contract. The NPAS contract, worth in the region of £35 million... Read more

UK – NPAS take delivery of Emergency Exit Jettison (EEJ) training rig

UK – NPAS take delivery of Emergency Exit Jettison (EEJ) training rig

11-Sep-2014Source: NPAS

National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter crews now have a brand new, state of the art training device to put them through their paces. The Emergency Exit Jettison (EEJ) training rig was delivered to the NPAS base at Carr Gate, Wakefield, on Friday 5 September. It simulates the emergency exits of the three aircraft types... Read more

UK – SAS wins 5 year MD Explorer maintenance contract

UK – SAS wins 5 year MD Explorer maintenance contract

11-Sep-2014Source: NPAS

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) has awarded a five-year contract for airworthiness management, maintenance and parts to Specialist Aviation Services (SAS) for the 6 MD Explorer aircraft in the NPAS fleet. Under this agreement which starts on Wednesday 1 October,  SAS will provide 5,400 hours of support per year – or 27,000 hours over... Read more

UK National Police Air Service update

UK National Police Air Service update

1-Jul-2014Source: NPAS

Brand new state-of-the-art camera and mission system equipment is being installed across a third of the National Police Air Service Fleet. The new equipment integrates a new high end camera with mission planning and mapping systems while retaining existing airframes with plenty of service life left. This enhancement will allow these aircraft to continue to... Read more

Bond win UK Police upgrade contract

Bond win UK Police upgrade contract

4-Jun-2014Source: NPAS

Brand new state-of-the-art camera and mission system equipment is being installed across a third of the National Police Air Service Fleet. The new equipment integrates a new high end camera with mission planning and mapping systems while retaining existing airframes with plenty of service life left. This enhancement will allow these aircraft to continue to... Read more

UK – Durham Tees Valley Airport invests in new NPAS hangar facility

UK – Durham Tees Valley Airport invests in new NPAS hangar facility

16-May-2014Source: Durham Tees Valley Airport

Durham Tees Valley Airport, which has been the base for police air support operations across the area for almost 20 years, is now playing a key role in the development of the national service. The airport has invested in the construction of the new purpose-built hangar which is now the new ‘home’ for the national... Read more

NPAS MD902 in West Yorkshire gets a makeover

NPAS MD902 in West Yorkshire gets a makeover

3-Jan-2014Source: West Yorkshire Police

A police helicopter based in West Yorkshire has had a makeover as it flies the colours of the National Police Air Service (NPAS). NPAS provides a national, borderless service making use of the nearest aircraft meaning that the police service’s response is, in many cases, enhanced over previous provision. The underlying principle of the service... Read more

UK – Durham Tees Valley Airport invests in new police hangar

UK – Durham Tees Valley Airport invests in new police hangar

17-Oct-2013Source: DTV Airport

The National Police Air Service (NPAS) will soon have a new ‘home’ thanks to investment by Durham Tees Valley Airport. Under a new five-year agreement the airport is funding a new purpose-built hangar for Air Service’s Eurocopter EC135 aircraft which is based at Durham Tees Valley. Work on the new 320 square metre facility is... Read more

UK NPAS plans EC135T2 standardisation

UK NPAS plans EC135T2 standardisation

22-Aug-2013Source: HeliHub.com

The West Yorkshire Police, tasked with managing Britain’s new National Police Air Service, have released pre-tender documentation for the upgrade of an unspecified number of Eurocopter EC135T2 helicopters. The contract period is for 1 year with a further two potential extensions of 1 year each. HeliHub.com notes that there are currently six EC135T2s under the control of... Read more

UK – Western Counties Air Operations Unit celebrates before disbanding next week

UK – Western Counties Air Operations Unit celebrates before disbanding next week

26-Jun-2013Source: Avon and Somerset Constabulary

Guests gathered at Filton airfield yesterday to celebrate the work of the Western Counties Air Operations Unit (WCAOU). WCAOU is a consortium comprising of Avon and Somerset and Gloucestershire Constabularies; delivering police air support to their respective communities. WCAOU will disband on 3rd July 2013 when it joins the National Police Air Service (NPAS). This... Read more

Norwegian Police lease second EC135

Norwegian Police lease second EC135

23-May-2012Source: HeliHub.com

Up to now, Norway has had a single police helicopter – a1 Eurocopter EC135T2 based at Oslo-Gardermoen Airport (ENGM) and operated by Pegasus Helicopter.  They have operated it since April 2004.  A second helicopter was promised and funded after last July’s terrorist attacks, and back in January, we reported that there was a delay in... Read more

UK – Sussex Police Authority wins better air support for residents

UK – Sussex Police Authority wins better air support for residents

21-Feb-2012Source: Sussex Police Authority

At their meeting on 16 February Sussex Police Authority celebrated a victory for the people of Sussex. The Authority, who had rejected a proposal for a National Police Air Service (NPAS) at a meeting last year, has succeeded in securing the best possible police air service for the people of Sussex. The original proposal would... Read more

UK: South Yorkshire Police publically refuse to accept NPAS

UK: South Yorkshire Police publically refuse to accept NPAS

16-Jan-2012Source: HeliHub.com

There is a long term plan for the UK Police air support units to rationalise, and originally there was a target date of April 2012 put on this (see story).  In September 2011 we published a story reporting South Yorkshire Police were unhappy with the plans as they would lose their MD Explorer and airborne... Read more

UK: South Yorkshire Police say NO to NPAS

UK: South Yorkshire Police say NO to NPAS

25-Sep-2011Source: HeliHub.com

In a move which could destabilise the plans to coordinate airborne law enforcement in the UK, South Yorkshire Police has this week opted out of the National Police Air Support (NPAS) plans.  With every police force thought to have signed up for NPAS, some rather reluctantly it has to be said, very few in the... Read more

South Yorkshire Police annouces helicopter unit close date

South Yorkshire Police annouces helicopter unit close date

7-Sep-2011Source: The Star

South Yorkshire is to lose its own dedicated police helicopter, it has been announced.  The county will be served by helicopters based in West Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Humberside instead, with effect from January 2013 (full story)... Read more

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