Police ASU pilot and observer wings.

[Polwings]

Good morning Gentlemen,
Trying to find out if there is some kind of policy on design of wings for police air units as designs seem to differ widely from unit to unit.Is design governed by the unit,the company providing pilots or down to the individual.
I am not aircrew just a humble collector but the variations in designs intrigue me.

Thanks,
Les.

[Art of flight]

Just each unit for itself, police air support is county and consortium (area) based and so are the unit policies on clothing and equipment, including insignia and name badges. Good luck with the collecting!

[Fly_For_Fun]

Should the observers be wearing wings in any case?

[B Sousa]

Wings should be made of Gold, very large and heavy. Also prominently displayed to say Not only am I in Law Enforcement with my badge, but I fly see my wings. Same with observers, but as with some they are given half a wing. Just enough knowledge to crash is the meaning but also allows an air of importance around those of lesser value who do not fly or crew.

So much for humor. In the states many agencies and many different ideas, there is no one design that stands out as unique to Aviation Law Enforcement. Some are rare, some are pretty generic. I think as a collector you may want to go to www.alea.org and nose around. You may even get someone who will sell or trade some. I do know pins are a real biggie and you can find many, specially EMS on www.ebay.com way over priced but to a collector who knows.
Unfortunately mine were Silver, not Gold....

[Droopy]

Wherever possible the badge should include an eagle, preferably with talons open, a lightning bolt, a searchlight on a vehicle or preferably all three. Under no circumstances should it include a pile of unwashed coffee cups, an enormous fried breakfast or the Discovery channel at 3 a.m.

[Aerodynamik]

Fly For Fun, why should pilots wear wings anymore than observers should?

[A.Agincourt]

I never wear my bars or wings awarded from long time past. I have been asked to do so because my employer finds it curiously disconcerting that I do not feel the need to advertise my worth. Well that is my guess I really do not know what they think [who can]. I tend to consider that if you need to advetise who and what you are then there might be a psychological issue to deal with in one form or another. It's a personal preference I suppose.

Best Wishes

[B Sousa]

Fly For Fun, why should pilots wear wings anymore than observers should?

Dont think that was mentioned, just that they signify different duties.

Just as some will tell the Nurse who knows more than the Pilot. You get up here and fly and I can let the patient die as good as you can.

advertise my worth.

Strange concept when you consider you are making less money......

[heliski22]

Slightly off-thread Sousa but a propos your line on the pilot and nurse swapping over, a girl I work with has this on her wall.....

"You want to speak to the man in charge or the woman who knows what's happening?"

[airborne_artist]

When I go and see my GP, who earns about the same as a senior BA captain, he's in a jacket, tie etc. - no wings, bars on sleeve/shoulder or anyone calling him Captain, despite the fact that he's the senior partner in the practice.

My mate who is a PC on armed response doesn't have a badge with crossed rifles on his chest/shoulder, either.

Must be an aviation thing - connected to the size of an organ, perhaps

[B Sousa]

When I go and see my GP, who earns about the same as a senior BA captain

Must be socialized medicine..............Any GP worth his salt makes more than that. But you made the point.. Jacket, tie etc, same as wings for another profession. BA Captain in Cab drivers uniform, same thing.

PC on armed response doesn't have a badge with crossed rifles on his chest/shoulder, either

I would hope not, but I can guess he may stand out a bit with Bullet Proof vest etc....All just an indication as to your job.......

All similar to motorcycle gang members. Big patch on their back to signify which group. Makes it easy so that when they pull their heads out of their backsides they can remember to whom they belong.

This topic makes me consider collecting Pilot Wings.............

[Coconutty]

Interesting topic - Wings - Armed forces for sure, but Police pilots, and Police Observers ? - Hmmmm ?

I have seen a Police Air Support Unit where the Observers wear a badge with just one wing, instead of the usual pair. This was a source of mild amusement when it dawned on me how appropriate just the one wing was, as most of their time is spent flying round in circles

Another Police force have been know to "issue" ( sell ) anyone that passes a Police Advanced Driving Course a special Advanced Driver's tie pin badge :



The steering wheel inside the pair of wings denotes the qualification to fly a Police car

[jayteeto]

I didn't wear Gold Bars for my first 4 months until the UEO insisted that they went on. The company forgot to issue me with a name badge, so 5+ years later, I don't wear a badge or wings. I WOULD like to have a small 'unit' badge, but there isn't much enthusiasm for that. That is my choice, if anyone else feels the need to wear wings, then bloody good luck to them. To make the grade as a pilot or observer takes hard work and dedication, a bit of pride (properly placed) goes a long way to making a unit more effective. ARVs might be visible by their gun and armour, but aircrew have flying helmets and suits. An ARV badge would look good!!
I could not condone a pilot and PC swapping badges when a visitor is flying as a pax. On walkout it would be criminal to say "Why don't you have a go PC Jayteeto, with a bit more practice, you might get a licence"........ Priceless. Of course I would never do that...... The pax would be frightened....

[Fly_For_Fun]

Aerodynamik

why should pilots wear wings anymore than observers should?

Cause they earned them Not sure a 2 week course gaining the bare minimum of knowledge to operate a camera and GPS moving map qualifies for the award of a set of wings (or even 1/2 a wing).

[Non-PC Plod]

Heliski,

I like the idea of pilots and nurses swopping over - do I get to wear the nurses uniform?

[anonythemouse]

Fly For Fun, there are some units who take a lot longer than 2 weeks to train their observers to a standard where they would be let loose as a member of an operational crew. Some observers may be just CAA agreed passengers due to the nature and content of their training; others are trained to a much higher degree and are an integral part of the crew.

[Mark Nine]

Fly for Fun,
How does a pilot passing a course "earn" them wings any more than an observer passing a course?
Good luck quizzing the S.A.S. on why they have earned wings!

[MAN777]

anonythemouse

I think you will find all UK Police Air Observers are classed as passengers, this enables the police to keep control of their officers without FTLs compromising availability in other roles, it also suits the observers as they can earn overtime , the pilots cannot.

The observers I know are all incredibly skilled and capable of multi tasking that would make the average bobby or pilot freeze.

I personally dont like badges as it suggests an element of elitism.

Two weeks of initial training are usually followed by 3 months attachment to the unit, during which they are continually assessed. On successful completion of the attachment a place is offered on a crew, it can take many more months of flying before they can be considered as proficient.

So if badges are to be had I would say they are "EARNED"

[Fly_For_Fun]

OK, I dangled a worm and some took a bit of a nibble.

Sorry just having a bit of fun and of course I concur, Air Observers are a valued and integral part of any police helicopter crew.

[flarecheckohdear]

Badges?! Badges?!! We don't need no stinking badges!!!

(Blazing saddles I think?)