silver-eagle
En-Route
Couldn't afford an airplane or a helicopter, Palm Bay Police chose an... alternative. Creative.
It will have two gliding shoots, one with a 27-foot wingspan and the other stretching out to 34-feet from tip to tip.
Actually seems like a really good idea. Much better than the UAV!
FAA has been grounding a lot of police departments wanting to use small UAVs. They are not cleared to fly in the National Airspace System and employ see and avoid.
A friend and his wife are deeply involved in this effort. They're looking at it as a way to get law enforcement in the air easily and without hundreds of hours of training. So far, it's working out quite well. My friend has also gotten to fly a lot of LSAs as part of the effort, and is having a great time.This is not something new, The Texas Sheriff's Association has been working with the Feds for a couple of years on this.
http://www.alea.org/public/airbeat/back_issues/jul_aug_2007/Affordable Aviation.pdf
I understand the want to use a UAS for police activity, but after spending a semester in a UAS class, I'm not sure they are really the best choice. Sure they are a little cheaper than an actual aircraft, but there are quite a few regulations on them that absolutely kill them, IMO. You're going to have to be a pilot, who is current in the same type aircraft as the UAS (SEL). Then, from what I've seen, they are going to require a 2nd class medical.
Either they (the FAA) needs to really rethink their proposed rules, or the UAS isn't going to be cost effective in many situations.
I totally understand wanting to use an LSA or PPC for a police asset. And, the way they are described in the document is a good use for them. However, I'd bet that those who sign the checks to purchase the hardware are going to want to know how a department is going to cover the cost of the purchase. If they can use them in speed trap operations, great. However, if you want to use an LSA versus a high speed chase, there are quite a few cars that are going to outrun an LSA.
How much revenue do you think a muni PD generates from traffic tickets as opposed to high-speed chases in a typical year? If you were presenting the case to the city council, would it be a hard deal to sell?
These units are not for high speed chases and if you brake it down, police aircraft are used only about 2% for chases.
Being a LEO for over 28 years and doing it in rural Missouri, I can tell you aviation units are the last thing a department wants to fund. The same goes for departments in most other states. We (the small agency) have to rely heavily upon the State Police (HWY Patrol) to provide air support for SAR operations and drug interdiction. The Texas Sheriff's Association was looking at a way to purchase several LSA and PPC to loan out to agencies and the only cost to them would be their pilot and fuel. The grant would pay for the purchase, up keep and replacement. These units are not for high speed chases and if you brake it down, police aircraft are used only about 2% for chases. That is what makes the news, so people think that is the main reason we have them. I have spent more time hanging out the door of a helicopter looking for marijuania plants than anything else. And I must say that is one hell of a rush.
Nope. A pilot doesn't need any license, private, commercial, or otherwise, to fly an airplane owned by the government and used on a government mission.Wouldn't a cop flying any aircraft as a paid job need a commercial ticket?
Unless, of course, the police function has been subcontracted to an outside firm, like Blackwater. I think they'd need a commercial ticket.Nope. A pilot doesn't need any license, private, commercial, or otherwise, to fly an airplane owned by the government and used on a government mission.
Nope. A pilot doesn't need any license, private, commercial, or otherwise, to fly an airplane owned by the government and used on a government mission.
Maybe Capt. Ron will chime in here, but from what I remember from a previous post, YESI knew that exemption applied on the federal level, but I didn't know it applied on the state and local levels.
So if Sheriff Andy gets an airplane for Mayberry, and they use the airplane for surveillance or what-have-you, Andy can authorize Barney -- or even Opie -- to fly without a ticket?
Now that's scary.
--Rich