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Providing support to police during many
operations and to the community in often difficult and dangerous emergency
situations, the Police Air Wing has and integral role in the policing strategies
of the New South Wales Police Service.
The New South Wales Police Air Wing provides an aerial
support service over a range of diverse operational tasks, at the Region and
Patrol level, including search and rescue.
Working closely with other emergency organizations and
rescue agencies, the Police Air Wing also provides the community with a wide
ranging service providing assistance during natural disasters such as bushfires
and floods and providing emergency assistance when people are lost or injured in
remote places inaccessible by other means.
The New South Wales Police Air Wing was first formed in
1978, operating with three pilots and five observers. The helicopters used at
that time were hired from other departments and corporations such as the Roads
8: Traffic Authority and the Electricity Commission. By 1979, however, the Air
Wing was in possession of its own three Bell 206 Jet ranger Helicopters with the
names Polair l, 2 and 3.
The Air Wings initial role was to assist police in the
crackdown on armed hold-ups in banks, but the helicopters and their highly
trained pilots also proved invaluable in search and rescue operations; fire
control; searches for offenders; pollution control; flood assistance; and
searches for missing aircraft, marine vessels and stolen vehicles. The
helicopters are very adaptable machines with the ability to carry both a patient
on a stretcher and a paramedic or doctor if necessary. Our helicopters have
provided the NSW Police Service with immense operational support, clocking up
over 12,000 hours of flying time on two machines and over 14,000 hours on the
third.
Some of the wider range of responsibilities of the Police
Air Wing include:
- undertaking specific directed aerial patrols aerial
surveillance and photography to assist police uncover criminal activity such
as drug plantations; locate prison escapees and stolen vehicles; and record
crime scenes
- assisting in search and rescue
- providing transportation in support of major police
operations and in support of other emergency groups in disaster situations
- providing police reports on fires, floods and traffic
The Air Wing helicopters operate with some advanced
technology including: 30 million candle power Nite-sun searchlights; stabilised
day/night binoculars; forward looking infrared; advanced photographic equipment;
external winch and cargo hook; Digital Voice Protection secure communications;
Radio Direction Finding System; and GPS (Global Positioning System) Satellite
Navigation System. The Air Wing employs 30 police staff and is under the command of a
Chief Inspector.
Page Design © Ian Hunter.
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