Australia's AFP are operating Rotary Wing Airframes?
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Australia's AFP are operating Rotary Wing Airframes?
I am told there is an article in the latest 'Helinews' on Australia's AFP operating rotary winged aircraft for police operations. Anyone seen the article yet or know much about the operation?
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They also have ops in East Timor (and possibly solomons). As far I know turkey slapper is correct -all choppers are operated by helicorp on contract. (not sure on a/c type or number).
At last count: 1 x B212 in Canberra, 2 x B212 in E.Timor, 1 x B412 and 1 x B212 in Solomons. All are contracted out (Helicorp and Hevilift). The AFP do not own or crew any of these aircraft.
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Hi, yes, Martin Bass did that story for us. It talks about the Air Support Unit (ASU) of the Operational Response Group (ORG) of the International Deployment Group (IDG) of the Australian Federal Police (AFP – too many acronymns!).
The ORG has a 212, 412 and Super Puma in the Solomons and a 412 in Majura for training (helicopters and crew contracted through Helicorp/PDL Toll).
Can I interest you in a subscription?
Elan
The ORG has a 212, 412 and Super Puma in the Solomons and a 412 in Majura for training (helicopters and crew contracted through Helicorp/PDL Toll).
Can I interest you in a subscription?
Elan
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They don't crew their own aircraft ? Now I am confused. They obviously don't do police operations then? I assume it must be a contract for transport and non police operational work?
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In the Solomons, the helicopters are mostly involved in logistical support and EMS ops. The aircraft in Majura is primarily used for IDG pre-deployment training but does some operational work as well (eg aerial surveillance for the 2007 APEC summit).
Elan
Elan
and why not? I can't see any issue with having contracted crews and snipers on board. AFP have been doing it for over four years now without any problem.
AFP could easily go out and spend the money, buy their own aircraft and hire their own crews (it would only cost a fraction of the IDG annual budget), but they haven't done that. They're using contractors, contracts have been extended or renewed, so I guess they must be happy with the present arrangement.
AFP could easily go out and spend the money, buy their own aircraft and hire their own crews (it would only cost a fraction of the IDG annual budget), but they haven't done that. They're using contractors, contracts have been extended or renewed, so I guess they must be happy with the present arrangement.
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Nothing against contract pilots or crew...but who makes the police operational decisions onboard that aircraft? Surely not the untrained pilot or crewman with absolutely no police training or background....
I am sure snipers are more than capable when it comes to their specific and specialist role, but not all police operational jobs need a sniper?
So my question still stands. Who makes the police operational decisions on board the aircraft when on police operations...?
Any police observers or police aircrew out there keen to comment?
I am sure snipers are more than capable when it comes to their specific and specialist role, but not all police operational jobs need a sniper?
So my question still stands. Who makes the police operational decisions on board the aircraft when on police operations...?
Any police observers or police aircrew out there keen to comment?
Last edited by Along for the ride; 11th May 2008 at 09:19.
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Got to be more than a B212 in Canberra?
They tried all of that sniper hoo haa years ago, air beds, the lot. to no avail.
There is another current story about chasing wallabies out of the compound at Tindal Air Base. Night Ops of the Air-Med and F-A 18 Fighter Variety have been suspended because of them???
jeeesus.
A Local feathered gentleman - with three bars - has said that they might have to "nuke 'em to clean 'em out".
Well for those of us that - have chased - do chase - or might chase - animals for a living, and that must include the two legged variety, It is essential that one thinks smarter than the prey before taking up the chase.
I mean, wallabies, fair dinkum???????????????.
tet
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I simply say that the whole conversation is a nonsense.
First we refer to A helicopter hovering around above a full city load of possible targets and then they are going to pick one target off at positon Y when they are at position X (who knows how far away) with one shot from a totally unstable gun platform. When it comes to precision shooting over long distance that is a nonsense. The target of course will be deliberately almost invisible in a seething throng.
As I said it's been tried before- by the professionals - and dismissed. My informant remains invisible.
I further deride the hypothetical, by referring to the shooting of feral wallabies insdie a compound inside the city of Canberra.
Maybe the AFD could have practised there?? The whole cities authorities stuffed that one up, where were the AFP?
Just fortunately for me a further story came along on good ol' ABC about a wing commander from Tindal airbase who suggests that the only way to rid the famed Tindal airbase of wallabies - and thus get our OZ's most sophisticated front line airbase back up to even night time flying status - is to nuke 'em. He did concede that it would probably not be the best way??
Get out you clowns and read a bit more.
Shooting something from a chopper from a couple of hundred yards or less is dead easy, been there done that -thousands of times. But a couple of thousand of yards, with one shot, give over you guys.
AFP should spend their hard earned dollars on their core role of policing, and leave the killing to others.
As I say an absolute nonsense and a waste of dollars.
tet
First we refer to A helicopter hovering around above a full city load of possible targets and then they are going to pick one target off at positon Y when they are at position X (who knows how far away) with one shot from a totally unstable gun platform. When it comes to precision shooting over long distance that is a nonsense. The target of course will be deliberately almost invisible in a seething throng.
As I said it's been tried before- by the professionals - and dismissed. My informant remains invisible.
I further deride the hypothetical, by referring to the shooting of feral wallabies insdie a compound inside the city of Canberra.
Maybe the AFD could have practised there?? The whole cities authorities stuffed that one up, where were the AFP?
Just fortunately for me a further story came along on good ol' ABC about a wing commander from Tindal airbase who suggests that the only way to rid the famed Tindal airbase of wallabies - and thus get our OZ's most sophisticated front line airbase back up to even night time flying status - is to nuke 'em. He did concede that it would probably not be the best way??
Get out you clowns and read a bit more.
Shooting something from a chopper from a couple of hundred yards or less is dead easy, been there done that -thousands of times. But a couple of thousand of yards, with one shot, give over you guys.
AFP should spend their hard earned dollars on their core role of policing, and leave the killing to others.
As I say an absolute nonsense and a waste of dollars.
tet
I don't think there is any real intent of a sniper actually having a shot at anyone from the helicopter. I've flown the AFP sniper teams on live ops and we never even practised shooting from the helicopter. It's just a show of force and an exercise in waving the flag. In worse case they might pop off a few CS gas canisters or flash bangs if ever a riot broke out.
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We recently conducted helicopter marksman training in Australia for an asian police force.
The shooters were machines. They could reliably hit a watermelon out to 200 meters, from the back of a shaky old jetranger.
I for one wouldn't want to be a bad guy on the recieving end.
The shooters were machines. They could reliably hit a watermelon out to 200 meters, from the back of a shaky old jetranger.
I for one wouldn't want to be a bad guy on the recieving end.