NPAS 2017 news
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Here's the answer!
http://helihub.com/2017/12/19/npas-confirms-new-london-area-base/
http://helihub.com/2017/12/19/npas-confirms-new-london-area-base/
With full planning permission from Epping Forest District Council now in place, the National Police Air Service (NPAS) will soon start building works on a purpose built airbase at North Weald Airfield in Essex. The new base will replace their existing facility at Lippitts Hill 16 miles away and form part of their national network of 15 bases providing air support to the 46 police forces of England and Wales.
Two police helicopters and a police aeroplane will regularly fly out of this new airbase, which will operate 24/7 and primarily serve London and the South East along with support from additional NPAS airbases at nearby Boreham Airfield, Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey and (RAF) Benson in Oxfordshire. Crews in these aircraft will be regularly supporting police colleagues on the ground to find missing people and search for suspects. They also frequently provide an aerial view to support local police to ensure crowd safety at major events and support police forces to bring many other ‘crimes in action’ to an end, keeping local communities safe.
Paul Marrion, South East Assistant Operations Director for the National Police Air, said:
“We are delighted to be able to build our new bespoke airbase at North Weald airfield. This decision will ensure that we can continue to support police forces across London and the South East in their efforts to protect people and property and to keep communities safe.
“Police air support is a vital tool available to police forces. Flying at average speeds of 138mph, searching for missing people or suspects by air is twenty times faster than other options and saves local police valuable time when it matters.”
Assets and Economic Development Portfolio Holder Councillor Anne Grigg said:
“North Weald Airfield has a long standing history of protecting our community since opening as an airfield in the 1st World War, and becoming a Battle of Britain airfield in the 2nd World War, providing a home to spitfires and hurricanes.
In later years the airfield expanded in to the jet age of the 1950’s and in recent times providing a base to vital services and welcoming aircrafts from all over the world.
The addition of the National Police Air Service is an exciting opportunity which will allow the vital service to carry out their much needed work, ensuring residents safety, which is our top priority.
They will be joining a range of aviation tenants at the airfield including The Essex and Herts Air Ambulance who have been operating successfully for several years.
I am proud of the contribution our airfield has made over the years and look forward to seeing this grow welcoming such important and valuable services.”
Work will begin on the base in January and is expected to be complete by November 2018.
Two police helicopters and a police aeroplane will regularly fly out of this new airbase, which will operate 24/7 and primarily serve London and the South East along with support from additional NPAS airbases at nearby Boreham Airfield, Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey and (RAF) Benson in Oxfordshire. Crews in these aircraft will be regularly supporting police colleagues on the ground to find missing people and search for suspects. They also frequently provide an aerial view to support local police to ensure crowd safety at major events and support police forces to bring many other ‘crimes in action’ to an end, keeping local communities safe.
Paul Marrion, South East Assistant Operations Director for the National Police Air, said:
“We are delighted to be able to build our new bespoke airbase at North Weald airfield. This decision will ensure that we can continue to support police forces across London and the South East in their efforts to protect people and property and to keep communities safe.
“Police air support is a vital tool available to police forces. Flying at average speeds of 138mph, searching for missing people or suspects by air is twenty times faster than other options and saves local police valuable time when it matters.”
Assets and Economic Development Portfolio Holder Councillor Anne Grigg said:
“North Weald Airfield has a long standing history of protecting our community since opening as an airfield in the 1st World War, and becoming a Battle of Britain airfield in the 2nd World War, providing a home to spitfires and hurricanes.
In later years the airfield expanded in to the jet age of the 1950’s and in recent times providing a base to vital services and welcoming aircrafts from all over the world.
The addition of the National Police Air Service is an exciting opportunity which will allow the vital service to carry out their much needed work, ensuring residents safety, which is our top priority.
They will be joining a range of aviation tenants at the airfield including The Essex and Herts Air Ambulance who have been operating successfully for several years.
I am proud of the contribution our airfield has made over the years and look forward to seeing this grow welcoming such important and valuable services.”
Work will begin on the base in January and is expected to be complete by November 2018.
The plans and other material can be found on the Epping Forest District Council Planning pages under the reference EPF/2735/17.
Basically the structure is similar to that built at Doncaster, maybe a little smaller. Oddly it only has a jet fuel facility bearing mind it is supposed to be flying the piston fixed wing. On the positive side of that the airfield has plentiful mogas bowsers though available daylight hours only [currently until 7pm].
The press release from NPAS has an error in that it quotes 16 miles from Lippitts Hill to North Weald. I guess North Weald is 16 miles from central London.... where Lippitts Hill was nearer 12 miles and therefore about 5 from North Weald.
Basically the structure is similar to that built at Doncaster, maybe a little smaller. Oddly it only has a jet fuel facility bearing mind it is supposed to be flying the piston fixed wing. On the positive side of that the airfield has plentiful mogas bowsers though available daylight hours only [currently until 7pm].
The press release from NPAS has an error in that it quotes 16 miles from Lippitts Hill to North Weald. I guess North Weald is 16 miles from central London.... where Lippitts Hill was nearer 12 miles and therefore about 5 from North Weald.
The press release sounds very positive, but I fail to see how the new base can possibly address the the failings of NPAS in bridging the coverage gap to aid officers under pressure caused by reducing from over 30 aircraft to well under 20. It seems that the objective of providing "Support" to operations is really only aimed at pre planned ops. Pity that!
TF
TF
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Maybe we should just accept that the "new model" of Air Support, is degraded in much the same way as almost all other forms of Police work.
No shortage of money for new offices and pay for senior ranks, but fewer people out on the street actually doing Police work.
No shortage of money for new offices and pay for senior ranks, but fewer people out on the street actually doing Police work.
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Will this new facility be anything like the one they had at Warton?
Certainly sounds like the same sort of thing, except Warton was secure and had a longer runway, and more parking.
Certainly sounds like the same sort of thing, except Warton was secure and had a longer runway, and more parking.
I notice that this year marked the 50th year of police aviation at Lippitts Hill.
In June 1967 the army provided Bell 47s on loan to the police and they were based at Lippitts Hill.... landing exactly where the EC145s do today. The current operation re-started in the mid-1970s with Enstroms. No one marked the 50th event I do not think there is that sort of atmosphere in the camp these days.
When was their last posting on their Twitter account? 163,000 followers, 23,000 tweets [mainly as the MPS air unit] but not one tweet since June.
The patient is in a coma.
In June 1967 the army provided Bell 47s on loan to the police and they were based at Lippitts Hill.... landing exactly where the EC145s do today. The current operation re-started in the mid-1970s with Enstroms. No one marked the 50th event I do not think there is that sort of atmosphere in the camp these days.
When was their last posting on their Twitter account? 163,000 followers, 23,000 tweets [mainly as the MPS air unit] but not one tweet since June.
The patient is in a coma.
Two police helicopters and a police aeroplane will regularly fly out of this new airbase, which will operate 24/7 and primarily serve London and the South East along with support from additional NPAS airbases at nearby Boreham Airfield, Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey and (RAF) Benson in Oxfordshire.
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If I understand the plans at NW correctly it appears that the building will be placed inside the perimeter track and closer to the runway centreline than any existing building on site, seems a bit strange to place it inside the track imho...
I take comfort this thread will close in two hours or so. Shame, no doubt, there will be a new thread for next year disguised as news but in reality has nothing but negativity to offer.
Luckily, the various base Twitter feeds go some way to address the balance, equally luckily, there are more of the General Public that follow the Twitterati than that read the vitriol spouted here.
Happy New Year all.
SL
Luckily, the various base Twitter feeds go some way to address the balance, equally luckily, there are more of the General Public that follow the Twitterati than that read the vitriol spouted here.
Happy New Year all.
SL
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I take comfort this thread will close in two hours or so. Shame, no doubt, there will be a new thread for next year disguised as news but in reality has nothing but negativity to offer.
Luckily, the various base Twitter feeds go some way to address the balance, equally luckily, there are more of the General Public that follow the Twitterati than that read the vitriol spouted here.
Happy New Year all.
SL
Luckily, the various base Twitter feeds go some way to address the balance, equally luckily, there are more of the General Public that follow the Twitterati than that read the vitriol spouted here.
Happy New Year all.
SL
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I realise that its a little late, but I too wish all the Operational Crews out there, doing their best for all of us. a happy New Year!
It may not seem like it some times, but we do realise that its not your fault!
TF
It may not seem like it some times, but we do realise that its not your fault!
TF
