APSA's E-Newsletter is designed to help keep you informed on the very latest information in the airborne law enforcement industry. The E-Newsletter may also be read online here at our website.

Pilots Drop Coffee Cups From Helicopter to Warn Hikers of Danger

"A ranger has been shot, shooter at large" was a message scribbled on a coffee cup that dropped from a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine helicopter hovering over four hiker's campsite at Mount Rainier National Park. A gunman had shot and killed a park ranger the previous day and fled into the park's snow-covered hills. More than 200 law enforcement officers were trying to locate the gunman.

The unsuspecting campers, nearly the only visitors left at the evacuated park, acknowledged the cup's message and began quickly packing up their equipment. Pilots Chris Rosen and David Simeur feared they might head right toward the gunman, so they dropped another coffee cup. "Take road to falls and sheriff deputies. We will keep an eye on you," it said. "Do not drive from Paradise w/o armed escort." The pilots said later that while the aircraft's loud hailer is good for basic commands, but it wasn't going to work in giving a detailed message and determined the coffee cups might be a way to communicate with the campers.

The aircrew wasn't only worried about the hikers on that January 2nd morning, but also about being fired upon. They dipped up and down below ridges to avoid giving the gunman an opportunity to take a shot at the AS350. As the campers moved back toward civilization, Rosen and Simeur flew escort a little way ahead. A federal tactical team soon met the four Seattle-area campers and got them out of the park safely.

The gunman's body was later found in a shallow stream with two weapons. He died of drowning and exposure, almost certainly brought on by the frigid conditions.

SOURCE: www.latimes.com

RCMP Pilot Killed in Training Crash

A civilian member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Dave Brolin, 46, was killed last month when the police helicopter he was piloting crashed during a training exercise. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews extended condolences and sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues. "The death of a member of our national police force is a sobering reminder of the sacrifices and bravery of the men and women who serve each day to keep our communities safe," said Toews. Funeral services were January 26th. Brolin was a father of two young children.

A photo from the crash site showed the AS350 helicopter, known as RCMP Air 5, on the ground in the midst of a sparsely wooded area covered in snow. "The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) will be looking at all factors, including weather," explained Wayne Rideout, Chief Superintendent of RCMP E Division, about the crash's cause. "The mechanics of the investigation, the technical aspects, will be under the domain of the TSB. They're the experts."

The helicopter, one of six in the RCMP's B.C. fleet, had been taking part in a training exercise with members of the Mounties emergency response team. As the helicopter was preparing to return to base, it crashed before horrified members of the team. Chief Supt. Rideout said the RCMP generally employs civilians as pilots for their aircraft, and Brolin had had extensive experience as a pilot before joining the Mounties.

SOURCE: www.theglobeandmail.com

Aviation Troopers Rescue Family From Swollen River

In a dramatic scene, the Alabama State Trooper Aviation Unit and the Fischer Rescue Squad rescued a woman and her two young children from a Jeep stranded in the middle of a rain-swollen river in Little River Canyon National Preserve on January 13th.

When the aviation unit's crew arrived in the area, the Bell 407 helicopter was prepared for the rescue operation by removing doors and setting up lines. Chief Pilot Lee Hamilton was at the controls with Flight Officer Bill Bevan directing him from the back of the aircraft. Micah Little, a state trooper assigned in DeKalb County, met the aviation crew and flew to the scene to begin the operation from there.

Rescue Flight Officer Cpl. Mack Ward and Little were riding beneath the helicopter on a 100-foot long line. As the helicopter hovered above the water, Ward and Little were lowered to the partially submerged vehicle. While Little positioned himself on top of the Jeep, Ward was lowered to the side of the vehicle, allowing him to get inside the Jeep and remain there with the mother and her children until each of them could be harnessed, secured to the rescue long line and lifted to a landing zone a quarter-mile away.

Troopers said other agencies also played a vital role in the operation. The news release said such rescue efforts are made possible with support from the Alabama Department of Homeland Security, which provides funds for equipment and training for these types of emergency response services.

SOURCE: www.gadsdentimes.com

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CHP Aircrew Arrests Pilot For Flying While Intoxicated

On January 3rd, the California Highway Patrol Golden Gate Division Air Operations Unit's Air 31 was on routine patrol when the crew observed a plane flying low and in a reckless manner. The flight crew estimated the plane was as low as 50 feet and within 100 feet of the traffic on the highway, a clear violation of Federal Aviation Regulations.

FAR 91.119 states that pilots must operate their aircraft at an altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface. The section also mandates a minimum altitude of 500 feet above the surface over other than congested areas, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

The flight crew was able to obtain the tail number of the aircraft and followed the plane to Petaluma Municipal Airport where it landed. The aircrew spoke to the pilot regarding the reckless operation and at that time detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from the pilot's breath. Field sobriety tests were administered and the pilot, a 62-year-old male, was arrested for operating an aircraft under the influence of an alcoholic beverage and in a reckless manner.

SOURCE: California Highway Patrol

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APD Testing iPads on Police Chopper

The Austin (TX) Police Department Air Operations Unit is testing new technology on board their police helicopter. With the use of an iPad, officers in the air will have access to the department's Computer Aided Dispatch, or CAD system, which provides real time information about suspects or emergency calls. "We can pull up what calls are holding and actually start responding to the calls if officers on the ground are tied up," said APD Chief Tactical Flight Officer Tom Lopatowski.

The Air Operations Unit has never had this technology because of a lack of space in the helicopter and because of concerns about weight in the aircraft. "As technology is getting smaller and smaller, it is allowing us to have more information inside the aircraft that we just haven't had room for," Lopatowski explained. "Not only is it easier and safer for us, it's also safer for the guys on the street because we're not taking them away from what they're doing on the ground to explain the call to us."

SOURCE: www.kxan.com

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Act Now - APSA Awards & Scholarships

Annually, APSA presents six awards, sponsored by some very special corporate members, which recognize outstanding performance by our members in our highly specialized profession. The winners of these awards epitomize our motto, “to serve and protect from the air”. Additionally, APSA provides 13 scholarships totaling $29,500 to recognize the academic excellence of our members' children. The APSA funds seven regional scholarships, which provide $2,500 to each recipient. The remaining six scholarships, like our awards, are funded through the generosity of some very special Corporate Members and the James Bland Memorial Fund, and provide $1,500-$2,500 to each recipient.

Now is the time to nominate that worthy someone for an award and/or apply for a scholarship! We are accepting nominations and applications through May 1, 2012, and will announce the recipients in July during our 42nd Annual Conference & Exposition. Please visit the Awards & Scholarship section of our website at www.alea.org/areas/awards/ for submission information.

Don't assume that someone else is nominating that worthy person or that there are so many applicants that you'll never get a scholarship. Take the time now to help us recognize excellence in our membership and their families. Nominate or apply today!

South Florida Agency Will Add New Aircraft To Fleet

Broward County (FL) Sheriff's Office Aviation Unit received approval last month to purchase a new EC135 helicopter, which will be the unit's fourth aircraft. The additional aircraft will allow mechanics to keep up with the complex maintenance schedule and extend the life of the fleet by spreading the total flight time between more aircraft.

Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti asked commissioners to use money seized from criminals to pay for the aircraft. "I don't enjoy anything more than taking money from bad guys and using it to do good things", Lamberti said.

Last year, the unit's helicopters flew 3,557 total missions, contributing to 498 arrests and transported 214 seriously injured patients to local trauma centers. "It's not like a VIP helicopter where you're going from airport to airport or just dropping people off or picking them up. These are workhorses, you know, blood and guts, the whole nine yards," Owens said. "We've got to work a lot harder at keeping these aircraft flying and we have to employ a lot of people to assist us. That's where the fourth helicopter is coming into play," Owens said.

SOURCE: http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com

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"Talking Bird" Officially Takes Flight In Tulsa

The Tulsa County (OK) Sheriffs Office (TCSO) publically unveiled its new tool on January 12th: the Flight Design CTLE (Composite Technology Law Enforcement) aircraft, nicknamed "The Talking Bird". Sheriff Stanley Glanz welcomed 60 guests, including U.S. Congressmen John Sullivan, representatives from U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe and Governor Mary Fallin's offices, as well as other elected officials.

Prior to the ceremony, the CTLE was on display to over 200 aviation students who are learning the latest in state-of-the-art aircraft design, carbon fiber use on aircraft and on-board flight instruments. They learned more about the CTLE's range of mission capabilities, affordability and safety features.

Congressman Sullivan expressed positive comments regarding the amount of research that had gone into the CTLE, the economics and multi-uses of the aircraft and his ideas of how the CTLE could play a vital role in law enforcement and border protection. TCSO Reserve Deputy Roger Crow, a 30-year veteran of the department, founded the company, Echo Flight Resources, which provides this light sport aircraft, designed to support a law enforcement payload, to other agencies.

SOURCE: Echo Flight Resources

FAA Approves License to Allow Sheriff's Helicopter to Charge For Transport

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted the Onondaga County's Sheriff's Office Air 1 with a Part 135 Commercial Air Carrier Certificate last month. The license opens the way for the department to begin charging insurance companies to take accident victims to hospitals, Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh said.

Walsh has been fighting to keep the helicopter operating after county legislators stripped funding for it out of the 2012 budget. The helicopter will not charge for search and rescues or for its crime-fighting duties, he said.

However, two counties so far, Cayuga and Oswego, have agreed to pay stipends for the service when it's called into assist their areas. Walsh said, "We're hoping that the other counties will see the wisdom of helping us keep this service in Central New York." It's the only helicopter that can do the fire-fighting mission, the only one that has the equipment to locate people diagnosed with Alzheimer"s, autism or dementia who wear the Project Lifesaver wrist band transmitters, and the only helicopter guaranteed to spend most of its time in Onondaga County, Walsh explained.

The Air 1 Foundation was created to raise money to keep the helicopter operating. People who wish to donate may go to www.Air1Foundation.org.

SOURCE: www.syracuse.com

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Turkish Police Buy New Bell Aircraft

Turkish National Police awarded Bell Helicopter an order for 15 Bell 429 aircraft, with an option for five additional aircraft. "The Bell 429 is well-suited to provide a rock-solid, twin-engine law enforcement platform being able to carry the necessary sensors and equipment to provide our aerial first responders the finest operational capability in the business," said Larry Roberts, senior vice president for Bell Helicopter's Commercial Business. "This is a significant win in the European market for Bell Helicopter. It reflects our commitment and investment in providing the right products for our customers as well as support, training and aftermarket in the region," he continued. The Bell 429 is an advanced light twin-engine helicopter that has been certified in more than 40 countries.

SOURCE: Bell Helicopter

Brazilian Police Beef Up Security With UAS

Brazil Federal Police in the Parana district have recently begun to operate the Heron-1 unmanned aerial system (UAS) supplied by Israel Aerospace Industries. The Heron will perform missions in the San Miguel de Iguacu area as part of the overall effort to fight drug trafficking. The Brazilian police say that by 2014, four bases in Brazil will be equipped with UAS.

The Heron was demonstrated in Brazil for the first time in 2009. Following a series of tests, the Brazilian police decided that the Heron system was best suited to what the police wanted: relaying data and intelligence in real time, carrying a number of sensors simultaneously, and employing satellite communications and Automatic Take-off and Landing (ATOL).

The police team emphasized that the Heron system can successfully complete missions under difficult climate and terrain conditions, as well as possessing advanced flight and loitering capabilities.

SOURCE: www.flightglobal.com

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HAI To Present Awards; One To Fairfax Helicopter Pilot

Helicopter Association International (HAI) will honor the winners of its 2012 Salute to Excellence Awards this month. "In an industry for which safety is so important, everyone strives to do their very best, and these awards pay tribute to those who rise above the rest," said Matt Zuccaro, HAI president. The awards in nine categories will officially be presented at the Salute to Excellence Dinner on February 13th during the association's tradeshow in Dallas, TX.

The MD Helicopters Law Enforcement Award will be given to James J. Greeves of the Fairfax (VA) County Police Department Helicopter Division. He has spent 13 years and more than 4,000 flight hours in the Fairfax County Police Department's Helicopter Division. He is credited with apprehending 300 fleeing suspects. In addition, Greeves is a qualified helicopter paramedic who has transported some 320 patients and is credited with saving the lives of at least two injured fellow law enforcement officers. During a tour with the department's K-9 unit, Greeves spearheaded an effort to outfit K-9 officers and their partners with infrared flashers to make them visible to helicopter crews using night vision goggles.

SOURCE: HAI

German Federal Police Attain 100,000 Total Flight Hour Milestone

"The flight time logged by the German Federal Police marks a true milestone for the EC135, as this capable aircraft is given increasingly diverse operational duties for civil security missions in Germany," said Eurocopter's Executive Vice President of Programs Wolfgang Schoder. "It is further evidence of Eurocopter's commitment to delivering state-of-the art products that enable law enforcement agencies to meet demanding missions both today and in the future."

The thousands of missions flown each year by the German Federal Police Aviation squadrons highlight the contributions of the EC135 to one of the most modern and capable civil service initiatives, Schoder added. With a current fleet of 41 EC135s, the German Federal Police is one of the largest parapublic operators of this aircraft in the world. Thomas Helbig, head of the German Federal Police Air Support Service, said, "The specific mission that achieved the 100,000th flight hour perfectly showcases the capabilities of the EC135: carried out at nighttime with NVGs and a FLIR during a railway surveillance mission, the crew was able to detect the suspects in the very act and coordinate the pursuit, resulting in the successful arrest of the offenders."

The German Federal Aviation Group operates an all-Eurocopter fleet of more than 80 aircraft, which consists of the EC120 for training, the EC135 T2i for air ambulance and law enforcement missions, the EC155 B for light transportation and multi-role tasks and the AS332 L1 Super Puma for long distance and VIP transportation, surveillance, maritime missions and disaster relief in Germany and abroad.

SOURCE: Eurocopter

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Sheriffs Share Common Goal With Donated Aircraft

Yavapai County (AZ) Sheriff Scott Mascher and former Sheriff Steve Waugh were together for one of the first formal flights of the department's helicopter last month. Mascher hailed his predecessor for launching the Air Posse program. The owner of Guidance Helicopters, John Stonecipher, donated a Robinson R44 helicopter to the county last October with the understanding it had "houred-out" and would need a $250,000 overhaul to satisfy FAA requirements.

The overhaul was paid from drug seizure money and a Governors Office for Economic Recovery grant. Sgt. Jeff Newnum will be in charge of the aircraft and determine when it will fly. "It will primarily be used for rescues," he noted. While the craft was being overhauled, Guidance provided an alternative helicopter to the Sheriff's Office at no cost. Yavapai County encompasses 8,100 square miles of which much is mountainous and rugged. A helicopter is the only way to quickly conduct a search.

SOURCE: www.verdenews.com

Kenya Police Air Wing First To Operate Enhanced AS350 B3e Helicopter

The Kenya Police Air Wing is expanding its airborne law enforcement and Crime Prevention Unit with the delivery of a Eurocopter AS350 B3e, which is the enhanced version of the AS350 model. The new helicopter, which was handed over to the Kenya Police in Nairobi, will be dedicated to police law enforcement and crime prevention missions, including anti-poaching and anti-terrorism operations, and deployed in search & rescue, casualty evacuation, personnel transport and various other civic protection roles.

The AS350 B3e has several enhancements over previous AS350 variants, including an updated Turbomeca Arriel 2D turbine engine allowing better takeoff performances while decreasing maintenance costs.

Range and payload was a primary consideration in selecting the AS350 B3e as the Air Wing required a helicopter capable of patrolling both the densely built up area around the major cities, Nairobi and Mombasa, but also to cover smaller towns and communities spread over large areas. Kenya has a population of nearly 39 million residents and a diverse geography including a long Indian Ocean coastline. Inland, the terrain varies from savannah grasslands to forests, mountains and even dessert regions.

Over the past decade, the AS350 B3, with its outstanding capabilities, has become the reference helicopter for airborne police units in the Sub-Sahara Africa where law enforcement agencies in Angola, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa have also selected them.

SOURCE: www.african-aviation.com

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The Biggest Stack Is The Knowledge You Take Home: 
APSA Returns to Reno in July; Register Now

It's not too early to start making plans now to join us in Reno, NV, July 11-14, 2012, for our 42nd Annual Conference & Exposition. Better yet, plan to make an entire week of it and join us for a pre-conference course, July 9-11, too. All of the information you need to plan a week of the best tactical aviation training you'll ever experience will be available on our website soon at http://archives.alea.org/events/Annual-Conference.

Head To The Windy City; Safety Seminar To Land In Chicago

Airborne law enforcement is a profession within a profession. Stay up-to-date by attending the upcoming Eastern Region Safety Seminar in Chicago, IL, March 20-22, 2012. Classes on emergency response plans, risk assessment, downlink application, accident investigation, internal security, grant availability, aeromedical issues, crew resource management and more will be offered. Click here and sign uphttp://archives.alea.org/events/detail.aspx?i=123&p=1&d=03/20/2012. Direct any questions to APSA Eastern Region Director John Butterworth at 419-571-3392 or email at jbutterworth@PublicSafetyAviation.org.

Discounted room rates are available at the Marriott Chicago Midway until March 12. Don't wait, book now by visiting their website,http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/chima-chicago-marriott-midway/.

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