As those of you that either know first hand or read from research the US expectation is that they will do it one day so they regularly train with live firing for the occasion. Hence the addition of the firing element to the American Europter simulator [as above image].
Some US police units [LAPD for instasnce] train for it, buy special equipment for it [the Tyler utility mount] and train regularly for air to ground firing and 'pop up' attacks on high rise buildings with officers exposed to full view sitting on the Tyler Mount. All designed to increase accuracy and reduce the spray effect of any firearm discharged in this manner.
The average UK police officer would never give the scenario a thought, let alone train for it. But plenty of other nations do it - who cares if a few peasants collect the strays?
It was with that mindset that I asked LAPD whether they had ever used any of the air firing tactics in living memory.
No, never.
So some do and some do not.
It seems to be placed in the same category as dropping Scuba divers off the skids of Bell 412s from 20 feet. It looks great on film but there might be less blue on blue injuries if you actually do it from 20 inches and save them getting clouted on the back of the head by the air tank. Unnecessary risks.