attractive options - Police Aviation News

Police Aviation News May 2011 6
NPAS land. In the real world the bottom line is that money has to come from somewhere to
pay for events but at least PAvCon has no door entry fee for police! It can be done.
ESSEX: According to a report in a National newspaper last month the Essex Police force
acquired a small Air Robot quad rotor surveillance UAV three years ago and has never
used it. Subsequent to purchasing the £22,000 craft the force ran into licensing issues it
failed to overcome.
The force has its own EC135 helicopter but intended to use the Air Robot craft for minor
surveillance roles including covert surveillance and the coverage of crowds at events.
In the event it seems that no-one within the force could be bothered to overcome the red
tape involved in complying with CAA safety regulations and it was put up for sale. Even that
effort failed and the story came to the notice of the media. [Sun]
MERSEYSIDE: Just as the last edition of PAN was completed came news from the BBC
confirming that the EC135T2 helicopter in Merseyside was being ‘scrapped’ under plans to
pool police resources to save money.
The same report confirmed that forces in Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester,
Cumbria and North Wales have agreed to collaborate to cut costs in air support
and other fields of policing.
Four helicopters using four air bases will cover the region from a central control room from
this summer, but the report does not suggest that this control room will be the proposed
NPAS UK central control room more an interim arrangement.
As the EC135 G-XMII [above] was the oldest helicopter in the fleet it was selected as the
one for withdrawal from service. Its recently upgraded air base at RAF Woodvale, Formby,
Merseyside will be decommissioned. [Media]
Ed: This is another ‘falling upon a sword’ gesture that may not be all it seems. Prior to last