Upgraded police helicopters use ultra-bright searchlights to chase criminals
Police helicopters able to fly 40 minutes longer and equipped with high-resolution cameras and ultra-bright searchlights are poised to boost efforts to apprehend fleeing criminals.
The National Police Air Services (NPAS) has ordered seven new helicopters expected to be delivered by 2027 that will feature a range of enhancements that will make it tougher for miscreants to escape arrest.
The improved H135 model from Airbus has a higher fuel capacity that will allow missions lasting almost four hours, making it less likely that the helicopter will need to return to base while in pursuit of car thieves or scanning for offenders hiding in woods and gardens. It can also fly almost 90 miles further than current models.
Other upgrades include improved video and infrared cameras that will locate suspects at greater distances and provide clearer images, together with a brighter searchlight.
John Robins, the chief constable for West Yorkshire, where NPAS is based, said the new helicopters will play a vital role in 'saving lives, disrupting criminality and protecting communities.'
Costing about £10m apiece, the machines are the first to be purchased under an outline contract between Airbus and the government agency BlueLight, which undertakes procurement for the emergency services.
NPAS already has 16 H135s among a fleet of 20 helicopters. The service operates from 14 locations on behalf of the 43 police forces of England and Wales. It was formed more than 13 years ago with helicopters transferred from individual police forces.
The new helicopters, which have a top speed of more than 150mph, will also feature increased automation through the latest Helionix avionics system. That will help reduce the workload of the pilot, who along with flying the aircraft must listen for instructions from the ground and the tactical flight officer (TFO) seated in the rear.
The TFO is responsible for monitoring camera feeds and data in an effort to locate and track ground targets, which may include missing or vulnerable persons as well as criminals.
NPAS fields more than 100 calls for air support each day. The existing H135s in the NPAS fleet include some of the oldest and most-flown aircraft in any UK fleet. One, based in north-west England, has racked up more than 20,000 flying hours and is thought to be one of the most intensively used police helicopters in the world.
The new machines will initially replace existing ones lacking recent upgrades. Whether the entire fleet will be replaced may depend on the outcome of an NPAS study into the potential role of drones in tracking suspects.
While drones might be more cost-effective, able to perform similar missions and potentially fly for longer, there are concerns about them operating over built-up areas.
Helicopters also have the advantage of being able to land and provide assistance on the ground, as well as perform roles such as carrying police marksmen.
Airbus this week also announced the launch of a new model, the H140, which is intended to succeed the H135 with police and air ambulance users next decade.
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