Light Sport Aircraft in Police Work
There is a growing use of Light Sport Aircraft (small fixed wing aircraft) in the Police Aviation industry in the United States. The primary attraction to this is Police Air Units can be formed very cheaply compared to the standard helicopter operation.
The functions that can be provided are less than for the standard helicopter operation but a substantial amount of those functions are done quite well by the Light Sport Aircraft thus allowing smaller Police Organizations to have the benefits of an aerial unit even if not one with a full function capability.
Is that something that would work in the other countries besides the United States?
Do we need a full function ASU or can lesser units provide yeoman service doing searches, surveillance, patrol and the like...but at a much lower cost?
Are traditional Police ASU's ignoring the advantages of LSA and clinging to helicopters and thus failing to provide themselves with a cost savings measure?
Could not LSA be used for most functions and helicopters reserved for those functions that demand a helicopter?
Is this something the Police Services should consider?