NCJ Number
62040
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 27 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1979) Pages: 44,46-49
Date Published
1979
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE EQUIPMENT, PERSONNEL, AND OPERATIONS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE AVIATION DIVISION ARE DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE 10-YEAR-OLD (AS OF 1979) PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE AVIATION DIVISION OPERATES EIGHT HELICOPTERS--SIX BELL JETRANGERS AND TWO LARGER 'HUEYS'--NAMED BY 30 PERSONNEL STATIONED STRATEGICALLY THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE 'HUEYS' WERE ACQUIRED FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA NATIONAL GUARD IN 1978 IN COOPERATION WITH THE EMERGENCY HEALTH SERVICE DIVISION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, FOR USE IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL OPERATIONS, RESCUE OPERATIONS, AND DISASTER SITUATIONS. THE LIFTING POWER OF THE SMALLER JETRANGERS HAD PROVEN INADEQUATE TO GIVE REQUIRED AID IN A NUMBER OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, NOTABLY THE JOHNSTOWN FLOOD OF 1977. HELICOPTER CREW MEMBERS ARE ALL MEMBERS OF THE STATE POLICE AND HAD EXTENSIVE STATE POLICE EXPERIENCE BEFORE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS TO THE AVIATION DIVISION. SOME HAD MILITARY HELICOPTER TRAINING BEFORE JOINING THE STATE POLICE, BUT MOST OF THE PILOTS RECEIVED FLIGHT TRAINING ON THEIR OWN TIME AND EXPENSE. ALL HAVE COMPLETED AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN TRAINING COURSE. GENERAL CATEGORIES OF OPERATIONS FOR THE AVIATION DIVISION ARE HIGHWAY PATROL (TRACKING SPEEDERS BY USE OF A STOPWATCH TO MEASURE THE TIME TAKEN TO COVER THE DISTANCE BETWEEN HIGHWAY MARKERS VISIBLE FROM THE AIR), CRIMINAL SURVEILLANCE, AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL EVACUATION. SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES OVER THE 10-YEAR HISTORY OF THE DIVISION HAVE INCLUDED THE CAPTURE OF PRISON ESCAPEES, BANK ROBBERS, VANDALS, AND HIT AND RUN DRIVERS; SURVEILLANCE OF DRUG DEALERS, BARRICADED GUNMEN, AND BURGLARY RINGS; RESCUES OF BLIZZARD MAROONED FAMILIES; THE LOCATION AND RECOVERY OF LOST CHILDREN AND HUNTERS; AND THE DELIVERY OF BLOOD AND SPECIAL MEDICINES TO CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS. THE PILOTS HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMMENDATIONS FOR THEIR LIFE-SAVING OPERATIONS. (RCB)