I attended a bit of a get together with some old NPAS mates recently and a few things came out in conversation, which may or may not be known.
Instrument Ratings for pilots have been binned as there is no requirement for them. As was told when they were introduced.
Civilian TFOs have been binned as well, as they didn't really work as they didn't have a Police mindset. Again that was foretold when they were introduced.
The “honeymoon” period with drones and the Police is coming to an end as Forces realise that yes, drones can be useful, but there are somethings that only a helicopter can do. It’s fine to be able to search the gardens in a street, but if attention suddenly switches to an area two or there streets away, it takes too long to get the drone back, pack up, move to the new location and set up again.
West Yorks have been told that no one else wants to take on the running of NPAS, and anyway it would cost too much to change, so you’re stuck with it.
One of the reasons for NPAS in the first place was “borderless tasking”. Helicopters would no longer be “confined” to their Force areas but would be tasked wherever they were required. However, Forces were complaining that they were paying for a service that they weren’t getting because aircraft were miles away in another area.
So NPAS Bases/aircraft are now assigned to Regions and don’t leave them unless really necessary. The wheel slowly turns.
NPAS have the fleet leader of 135s in terms of hours: around 20,000, and the favourite among the troops for the fleet replacement is the 135T3. It’s proven, reliable and does the job.