Police helicopter chases online

[HOGE]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6194328.stm

Aerial footage of police helicopter operations in the west of England is now available to view online.
A new website details the activities of the Filton-based aircraft which serves both the Gloucestershire and Avon and Somerset police force areas.

Inspector Nigel Tinslet-Such, from the Western Counties Air Operations Unit, said: "There is a huge amount of interest in the helicopter.

"It has helped to make more than 3,000 arrests since its launch 11 years ago."

He added: "Mystery often surrounds what the helicopter has been doing in the area, but now there is an opportunity for people to find out by visiting the site."

Police say they were partly inspired to set up the site after the success of YouTube.

http://www.westerncounties.org.uk/

[cptjim]

I just went to check out the videos and got this message......


Helicopter videos

Due to high demand we have removed the helicopter videos.

We hope to have them available again shortly. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.


...I guess they were more popular than first thought!

I hope they put them back up soon.

Jim :}

[volrider]

Take a look here
http://www.west-midlands.police.uk/AirOps/index.asp
This is the West Midlands Air Operations web site. This has a virtual cockpit view plus videos, more to come... Downloadable wallpaper. All in my view looking very good. The internal website for them which obviously is restricted to Police Staff only has far more detail but as a public web site this is pretty good in my view. The new aircraft page has just been added which will show the new EC-135P2i presently being fitted out.
the last video is very good as it shows a nice bit of action and music :D

[airborne_artist]

Four ex-military pilots, directly employed by the consortium provide the pilotage. :confused:

[Coconutty]

Vol,

Fantastic site ! - It should be nominated for an award for "Best Police Air Unit Web Site" - if there was such a thing :ok:

Excellent video clips :D

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d129/coconut11/Coconutty.jpg

[volrider]

Four ex-military pilots, directly employed by the consortium provide the pilotage.
Not sure if your refering to the West Mids site or not...but at present they have 5 pilots one directly employed (chief pilot) the others are not directly employed...

[airborne_artist]

Vol

I was referring to the Western lot. The use of the word pilotage in that context is woeful. Pilotage is the act of directing a vessel or (air)craft using visual references. It's not a workforce holding CPL/ATPL.

[volrider]

understood.:)

[jayteeto]

Merseyside Police web site has had pursuits on line for a while, we didn't get the BBC publicity. Amazingly enough, the other websites seem very similar to ours. west Mids is excellent.
Link: http://www.merseyside.police.uk/html/aboutus/departments/air-support/index.htm

[handysnaks]

The use of the word pilotage in that context is woeful. Pilotage is the act of directing a vessel or (air)craft using visual references. It's not a workforce holding CPL/ATPL.

However, when a word seems apt for a particular definition and it comes into common usage, the original meaning of that word is often enlarged to include the new definition. This is very common in English and is (I suspect) one of the reasons why English is such a popular and well used language. Perhaps if the French were more liberal with their language then it would be more popular. ;) Are you sure this 'airborne artist' tag isn't a bit of wishful thinking, you're weren't actually a French Para or something were you?:p

[volrider]

French Para did they have those in the war...did they have an airforce:}
That was the only bit of the post I understood Handysnacks..but then again I am a dumb Brum:E