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SEPT 2020 Blues Vol 36 No 9

  • Text
  • Huricanes
  • Warstories
  • Award
  • Trump
  • Magazine
  • Barron
  • Cormier
  • Evans
  • Barron
  • Knox
  • Cormier
  • Support
  • Helicopters
  • News
SEPT 2020 Blues Vol 36 No 9

E several mechanics,

E several mechanics, pilot transition training at FlightSafety, and onsite mission training with Priority 1 Air Rescue, all of which was completed by early 2013. TRAINING & ACCREDIATION Another bright spot was the HPD Air Support Division becoming the second public safety aviation unit in the nation to be accredited by the Public Safety Aviation Accreditation Commission. Much hard work went into preparing for the onsite assessment, culminating in full accreditation in 2012. Since the unit’s founding and original flight crew training, HPD has always trained its pilots and tactical flight officers in-house. Two police officer/instructor pilots are assigned full-time to the training section to handle the duties. There is no flight experience requirement to become a TFO, and pilot trainees are taken from the TFO corps. HPD TFOs normally spend between 24 and 36 months flying “the right seat” before they are chosen for pilot training. Once chosen, their full-time assignment is to obtain their commercial rotorcraft rating. The curriculum consists of a minimum of 40 hours of ground school with approximately 250 hours of flight time. All flight training during this phase of training is done in one of the unit’s three Schweizer 300Cs. Once they have achieved their commercial rating, they transition to turbine operations and then are assimilated back into the patrol section and placed on the flight schedule. Bi-weekly check rides are given for the first three months—longer if deemed necessary. All unit pilots, regardless of experience, receive quarterly check rides. To date, HPD flight instructors have trained approximately 143 officers to be law enforcement patrol pilots. HPD’s Cessna 182, on the other hand, is operated by unit personnel that have obtained their fixed-wing rating on their own. To be considered PIC of the aircraft, the individual must have a commercial/instrument fixed-wing rating. The fixed-wing program will soon be upgraded to a larger, more capable aircraft, with the Mahindra Air Van 8. This is a VFR/IFR airplane with a mission suite in the rear cabin and a retractable FLIR 380 in a cargo pod configuration. When not on scheduled patrol flights, HPD aircrews are on standby and ready to respond at a moment’s notice. In addition to patrol flights, aircrews regularly fly maintenance flights and special assignments, such as photo flights, dignitary protection flights, static displays, and surveillances. In 2019, the division flew a total of 3,039.1 hours while responding to 4,451 calls resulting in 348 arrests, 262 being felonies. Additionally, the division performed more than 1,127 critical infrastructure inspections. MAINTENANCE & TECHNOLOGY The HPD Air Support Division employs eight civilian A&P mechanics, five of which are also IAs, for in-house maintenance. They are divided between two shifts and supervised by a sergeant. With the exception of engine, transmission, engine accessory, avionics, instrument, and rotatable repairs/overhauls, the technicians perform all maintenance. The dedication and attention to detail of the award-winning maintenance staff (a member of the mainte- 42 The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE The BLUES POLICE MAGAZINE 43

The BLUES - Digital Issues 2020-2023

Huricanes Warstories Light Bulb Award Donald Trump Blues Police Magazine Rusty Barron Brooke Cormier Rex Evans Michael Barron Jason Knox Chase Cormier Houston Police Air Support Hpd Helicopters Police News

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