Rotorhub
20-years of Police Air Support Unit Celebrated
West Yorkshire Police's Air Operations Unit (AOU) has celebrated 20 years of operations.
West Yorkshire Police invited some of the founding members of the original AOU to the Operations Support Division at Carrgate, to see how things have changed over the past two decades.
Dave Attwood was the first Chief Pilot for West Yorkshire Police when the AOU began operating on the 18 December, 1989. Mr Attwood and Tony Mullineaux - the first Unit Executive Officer (UEO) - were effectively responsible for establishing the Force's rules and regulations on Air Support and for convincing police officers and the public that a police helicopter was a valuable asset, at a time when they were generally regarded as an expensive toy!
The pair were shown around the AOU by the current UEO, John Whittaker and Chief Superintendent Chris Hardern, Head of the Operations Support Division.
Chief Superintendent Hardern, who is also the Chair of the Yorkshire and Humberside Air Consortium said: "It was a real pleasure to have Dave and Tony back at Carrgate and show them where we are today with the Unit. It is hard to believe that there was a time when air support was seen as an extravagance for a police force. Today certainly, the police helicopter more than justifies its existence through the hours it saves officers on the ground when conducting pursuits and searches, and in the arrests it is instrumental in making. "
Dave Attwood, who is now the MD of Specialist Aircrew ltd said: "The first police helicopter cost £1.5million pounds and at the time there was some scepticism around what it would offer the Force. However a major operation in 1990 to tackle car thieves (operation Violin) opened people's eyes as, the helicopter proved invaluable in tracking stolen vehicles and arresting the offenders."
Tony Mullineaux added: "What is impressive about the ASU today is the technology that the helicopter has at its disposal. The thermal imaging, Nitesun spotlight, communications and navigations systems are incredibly advanced compared to what we had back in 1989. I remember having to go out and buy a very early model Garmin Sat-Nav for the helicopter and our observers having to use hand-held cameras!"
The current police helicopter (a MD902 Explorer) - callsign X-Ray 99 - is the busiest police helicopter in the UK and for an aircraft of its model, is the busiest operating anywhere in the world, having flown for over 11,435 hours. Read more about the helictoper here inc a 360 degree video viewer.
This December so far, X-Ray 99 has flown out to over 260 incidents and has helped locate over 20 offenders, 1 missing person and 1 stolen vehicle. It has also assisted in the recovery of over £150,000 worth of property.
The first police helicopter was a MBB Bolkow 105 DBS4, which amassed over 11,000 flight hours during its service until it was replaced by the MD Explorer in February 2001.
Today, the Air Support unit is staffed by 20 people. There are four Duty Pilots as well as a Chief Pilot, Captain Ian Burrell; a team of 12 Observers and a training officer. The Unit is headed by the UEO, John Whittaker and his deputy, Sgt Mick Law.
Email this to a friend.