Police Helicopters

[Pegasus 2]

Are Police Helicopters allowed to fly at or below 500'AGL over built up areas on a gin clear day? Even with two engines. I am a retired Army pilot who has some experience of IS duties and am at a loss to understand how much more this cowboy can see from this low and noisy level :confused:

[Spoonbill]

One of our based operators also operates the local police helicopter.They rarely seem to go below 1000ft over built up areas, and given the level of technology on the helicopters these days, it is rarely necessary. However, I wouldn't be suprised if they have an exemption to do so if it's operationaly required.
:mad: I hope that your reference to cowboys doesn't mean the crews who do this work. Not only are they very good pilots, they're also very dedicated, and very highly trained, having to maintain these high standards to keep their jobs.

[Droopy]

Yes, we are allowed to fly below 500ft; specifically we are allowed to operate not below 300ft agl in the event of a power failure over a congested area by day, which I assume are the conditions you mean; by night it's not below 500ft above obstacles.

No, there aren't many occasions when one needs to be so low but every now and then it's necessary. It's not done for fun.

Jetdriver - perhaps this thread should be moved to rotorheads where pegasus's last comment might attract some discussion?

[Cooinda]

Peg..2

If the aircraft seems unaturally low then place a complaint into the CAA. These people (if a cowboy) give the wrong impression to our customers and should be rooted out!

Been there and done it but with a justifiable reason! :cool:

[sdoyle]

Peg 2

In your limited IS duties, how low did you fly? Were you legally allowed to do that? In a single engined helicopter?

"Let he who is totally without sin cast the first stone"

[imooshiz]

What would a retired floppy driver know?

[Heliport]

Well said Billy.
Encouraging people to report a fellow pilot (police pilot or not) to the CAA? :rolleyes: :mad: :rolleyes:

Tricky dilemna if it's a police heli because some police pilots seem to go 'native' and have said on Rotorheads they would assist their police colleagues get another pilot into trouble. But I like to think most wouldn't and it would be a shame to report one of those.

[Cooinda]

Heliport

If he is flying dangerously, police or not, he should be shopped! Otherwise it could all go wrong and at a couple of hundred feet, well it could spoil someones day! :cool:

[Vfrpilotpb]

This has all been talked about earlier this year, the Police are doing a public service job, as long as they don't put us members of the public at risk of life or limb, they should be allowed to fly any way to suit the task they are on, you really only need to worry if you are on the wrong side! Don't you?
:D :eek:

[MightyGem]

Vfr... :D
Pegasus, did you ever fly gliders in Cyprus in the early 80s?

[Pegasus 2]

Happy days Mighty Gem, except for staying away a tad too long in the T21 and finding that someone had started to turn the sun down to Gas mark two. Having my Ferret, browning and 400 rds nicked is also burned deep into my memories of learning to fly in Cyprus. :eek:

[MightyGem]

Was back there a couple of years ago, first time since '83. Called in at Kingsfield, club's still there, still struggling to exist. Had a couple of trips in the 13 with Avo. Just like I'd never been away.
:D :D