Post by xrayalpha on Apr 26, 2008 2:34:31 GMT
Lots of info and pics for you to have a look at
ASU's are equipped with daytime and night vision video equipment, sophisticated radio equipment to track suspects and liaise with officers on the ground.
The helicopters are the color they are so that they can be seen by other aircraft when flying. The yellow shows up against the ground to an aircraft above while the dark blue shows up well against the sky to an aircraft below it.
Most of the helicopters can reach speeds of 175mph (manufacturers maximum recommended speed)
With scramble times of just 4 minutes for helicopters, or with standing patrols using fixed wing aircraft, aerial units can often be first on the scene to reported incidents, faster than ground units.
Aerial units are often tasked to assist in vehicle pursuits. Air support allows ground units to disengage and follow from a discrete distance, hopefully causing the pursuit to be less dangerous, while still allowing ground units to be able to close in quickly as directed to apprehend suspects if they crash or stop while out of eye sight of pursuers. Aerial surveillance also allows the police to anticipate the direction of the pursuit, and position ground units ahead of the suspect to block roads or "deploy Stinger". Aerial units can also be used to efficiently locate missing persons.
Police helicopters can be crewed by three people, a civilian pilot, a police observer and rear police crew member. The pilot and observer sit up-front with eye contact with the ground. The observer is responsible for controlling the camera systems, and recording images for evidence in court. The rear police officer will assist in map-reading and strategic planning, allowing the pilot to concentrate on flying and the observer on camera control and visual reporting.
During an incident, ground and aerial units are able to communicate directly with each other, using the call sign of the unit
Chiltern Air Support Unit
G-CPSH a Eurocopter EC-135T based at Luton Airport (XrayAlpha97):
G-CHSU also a Eurocopter EC-135T but based at RAF Benson near Wallingford (XrayAlpha99) (this would be the one you see in RW):
www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news_info/departments/casu/index.htm
Humberside Police Helicopter Support Section
G-HPOL a MD902 Explorer based at Normandy Barracks Leconfield (Oscar99):
www.oscar99.org.uk
Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit
These are all Eurocopter EC-145's and are all based at Lippits Hill in Essex (India 97,98 & 99).
G-MPSA:
G-MPSB:
G-MPSC:
www.met.police.uk/asu/ (but is really out of date)
Sussex Police Air Operations Unit
G-SUSX a MD902 Explorer based at Shoreham Airport, West Sussex (Hotel900). Although Sussex and Surrey have and air ambulance Hotel 900 is also used as an air ambulance notice the local ambulance service crest (and the words ambulance in big letters lol)on the side as well as the Sussex Police one.
www.sussex.police.uk/features/specialistUnits/h900.asp
and Sussex are the first force to have a up to date list of all call outs: www.sussex.police.uk/chopper/chopper.aspx
I didn't put all the ASU's up as that would of been mega hard but for the ones I have missed:
www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/airsupportunit.asp
&
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Aviation_in_United_Kingdom
enjoy
oh and I put the big pics up as I thought you would appreciate them better
XA
oh and this topic took me 2 hours to do so hope you all like haha
ASU's are equipped with daytime and night vision video equipment, sophisticated radio equipment to track suspects and liaise with officers on the ground.
The helicopters are the color they are so that they can be seen by other aircraft when flying. The yellow shows up against the ground to an aircraft above while the dark blue shows up well against the sky to an aircraft below it.
Most of the helicopters can reach speeds of 175mph (manufacturers maximum recommended speed)
With scramble times of just 4 minutes for helicopters, or with standing patrols using fixed wing aircraft, aerial units can often be first on the scene to reported incidents, faster than ground units.
Aerial units are often tasked to assist in vehicle pursuits. Air support allows ground units to disengage and follow from a discrete distance, hopefully causing the pursuit to be less dangerous, while still allowing ground units to be able to close in quickly as directed to apprehend suspects if they crash or stop while out of eye sight of pursuers. Aerial surveillance also allows the police to anticipate the direction of the pursuit, and position ground units ahead of the suspect to block roads or "deploy Stinger". Aerial units can also be used to efficiently locate missing persons.
Police helicopters can be crewed by three people, a civilian pilot, a police observer and rear police crew member. The pilot and observer sit up-front with eye contact with the ground. The observer is responsible for controlling the camera systems, and recording images for evidence in court. The rear police officer will assist in map-reading and strategic planning, allowing the pilot to concentrate on flying and the observer on camera control and visual reporting.
During an incident, ground and aerial units are able to communicate directly with each other, using the call sign of the unit
Chiltern Air Support Unit
G-CPSH a Eurocopter EC-135T based at Luton Airport (XrayAlpha97):
G-CHSU also a Eurocopter EC-135T but based at RAF Benson near Wallingford (XrayAlpha99) (this would be the one you see in RW):
www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news_info/departments/casu/index.htm
Humberside Police Helicopter Support Section
G-HPOL a MD902 Explorer based at Normandy Barracks Leconfield (Oscar99):
www.oscar99.org.uk
Metropolitan Police Air Support Unit
These are all Eurocopter EC-145's and are all based at Lippits Hill in Essex (India 97,98 & 99).
G-MPSA:
G-MPSB:
G-MPSC:
www.met.police.uk/asu/ (but is really out of date)
Sussex Police Air Operations Unit
G-SUSX a MD902 Explorer based at Shoreham Airport, West Sussex (Hotel900). Although Sussex and Surrey have and air ambulance Hotel 900 is also used as an air ambulance notice the local ambulance service crest (and the words ambulance in big letters lol)on the side as well as the Sussex Police one.
www.sussex.police.uk/features/specialistUnits/h900.asp
and Sussex are the first force to have a up to date list of all call outs: www.sussex.police.uk/chopper/chopper.aspx
I didn't put all the ASU's up as that would of been mega hard but for the ones I have missed:
www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/airsupportunit.asp
&
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_Aviation_in_United_Kingdom
enjoy
oh and I put the big pics up as I thought you would appreciate them better
XA
oh and this topic took me 2 hours to do so hope you all like haha