NPAS News 2019
Have they become operational yet?
https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/..._july_2018.pdf
There is no mention whatsoever of fixed wing in the 2017/18 NPAS Annual Report:
http://www.policeaviationnews.info/i...l%20Report.pdf
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: UK and MALTA
Age: 61
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
4 Posts
That's a shame. I started on the Essex ASU at Boreham in 1992. Twin Squibbal G-XPOL.
It was fun in those days. The Plod were competent and happy and we could fly "properly".
Started with Stab Binos, upgraded to Hand Held Stab FLIR (Aegema I think). Eventually got a proper Flir and downlink with all the toys.
The scrotes never knew what was coming next.
Many a happy memory and great tasking with Essex ASU. Great bunch of guys and girls.
Ford had a motorsport rally test track around Boreham airfield. I never beat Louise Aitken Walker round that track!
Happy Days catching scum and home for tea and medals!
It was fun in those days. The Plod were competent and happy and we could fly "properly".
Started with Stab Binos, upgraded to Hand Held Stab FLIR (Aegema I think). Eventually got a proper Flir and downlink with all the toys.
The scrotes never knew what was coming next.
Many a happy memory and great tasking with Essex ASU. Great bunch of guys and girls.
Ford had a motorsport rally test track around Boreham airfield. I never beat Louise Aitken Walker round that track!
Happy Days catching scum and home for tea and medals!
Hear Hear.
It was a pleasure to go to work and play with quality cops too!
Each job (and there were many) felt it was serving the right purpose.
Scum were genuinly pi**ed off with the eye in the sky.
Now, it's a miracle if one sees a blue and yellow - ever!
The fixed wing saga has been massive egg on face for the NPAS board - from day one. Unbelievable that the so called "experts" got this so very wrong. And meanwhile, the same old frames 'plod' on, clocking up serious frame times.
I speak to several pilots on numerous units and to a man (and woman) they are so fed up of the regime.
The latest rumour is that the Boss man (name removed) while waiting for his charges to go away is STILL interfering with management????
NPAS is contaminated - it needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.
Pathetic state of affairs..............................
It was a pleasure to go to work and play with quality cops too!
Each job (and there were many) felt it was serving the right purpose.
Scum were genuinly pi**ed off with the eye in the sky.
Now, it's a miracle if one sees a blue and yellow - ever!
The fixed wing saga has been massive egg on face for the NPAS board - from day one. Unbelievable that the so called "experts" got this so very wrong. And meanwhile, the same old frames 'plod' on, clocking up serious frame times.
I speak to several pilots on numerous units and to a man (and woman) they are so fed up of the regime.
The latest rumour is that the Boss man (name removed) while waiting for his charges to go away is STILL interfering with management????
NPAS is contaminated - it needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.
Pathetic state of affairs..............................
the Boss man (name removed)
Chief Superintendent Tyron Joyce, Chief Operating Officer and Accountable Manager, NPAS.
His name's in the Public Domain.
(and there were many)
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: UK and MALTA
Age: 61
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
4 Posts
Prior to NPAS, the 43 English/Welsh Police Forces operated between them 33 helicopters and the odd fixed wing. Total cost to those Forces was approximately £46M. In 2017/8, those Forces paid NPAS £38.3M, so, a saving of £12M. However....
Prior to NPAS the various Units around the country flew approximately 24,000 hours. That equals £1900 per hour. In 2017/18, the remaining 15 NPAS helicopters flew 15,432 hours. That equals £2483.
So, savings, yes. Value for money, no.
Prior to NPAS the various Units around the country flew approximately 24,000 hours. That equals £1900 per hour. In 2017/18, the remaining 15 NPAS helicopters flew 15,432 hours. That equals £2483.
So, savings, yes. Value for money, no.
This is and always was going to be a Disaster!
Like several others, I was a middle ranking Police Officer, totally convinced and devoted to the proper development of Police Air support. The star in our firmament was a network of dedicated and trustworthy Unit Executive Officers and unit chief pilots. We talked to each other, and co-operated unit to unit, to give a pretty seamless cover across the Country. Our aim was the prevention and detection of crime and the arrest wherever possible of dangerous and reckless vehicle thieves and other violent offenders! Actually we were quite good at reducing vehicle crime, especially ram raiders etc. But even then we recognised that we could be even better with the formation of a National Police Air wing, regionally administered taking advantage of contracts awarded for maintenance, fuel supply, training and Pilot procurement. Greater efficiency via bulk buying would be the watchword. We were at first delighted when it seemed that the Govt agreed with us. But then dismayed when it became apparent that the only reason that motivated the Govt towards creating a National Police air Service (NPAS) was the desire to save money. Greater efficiency of service delivery was never a consideration! Because of the sole intention was that of money saving, the Fleet and the number of bases was immediately cut to totally unworkable proportions, and operational efficiency went to hell in a handcart! Did no one in control ever understand that an aircraft that had to fly double the distance to the scene of the crime was always going to be too late to be of assistance? Did they not realise that fuel would be critical and time on scene reduced? The whole concept of effective Police Air Support was emasculated by theoreticians who had no operational experience! Now aged 74 and having dedicated over half of my 30 years Police experience to the proper and efficient development of Police Air Support, I am destroyed by what some so called Senior Police Officers did to the world leading Police Air service that our UEO's had delivered.
Some very Senior ex Police Officers need to hang their heads in shame!
TF
Like several others, I was a middle ranking Police Officer, totally convinced and devoted to the proper development of Police Air support. The star in our firmament was a network of dedicated and trustworthy Unit Executive Officers and unit chief pilots. We talked to each other, and co-operated unit to unit, to give a pretty seamless cover across the Country. Our aim was the prevention and detection of crime and the arrest wherever possible of dangerous and reckless vehicle thieves and other violent offenders! Actually we were quite good at reducing vehicle crime, especially ram raiders etc. But even then we recognised that we could be even better with the formation of a National Police Air wing, regionally administered taking advantage of contracts awarded for maintenance, fuel supply, training and Pilot procurement. Greater efficiency via bulk buying would be the watchword. We were at first delighted when it seemed that the Govt agreed with us. But then dismayed when it became apparent that the only reason that motivated the Govt towards creating a National Police air Service (NPAS) was the desire to save money. Greater efficiency of service delivery was never a consideration! Because of the sole intention was that of money saving, the Fleet and the number of bases was immediately cut to totally unworkable proportions, and operational efficiency went to hell in a handcart! Did no one in control ever understand that an aircraft that had to fly double the distance to the scene of the crime was always going to be too late to be of assistance? Did they not realise that fuel would be critical and time on scene reduced? The whole concept of effective Police Air Support was emasculated by theoreticians who had no operational experience! Now aged 74 and having dedicated over half of my 30 years Police experience to the proper and efficient development of Police Air Support, I am destroyed by what some so called Senior Police Officers did to the world leading Police Air service that our UEO's had delivered.
Some very Senior ex Police Officers need to hang their heads in shame!
TF
Last edited by tigerfish; 4th Mar 2019 at 00:03.
Prior to NPAS, the 43 English/Welsh Police Forces operated between them 33 helicopters and the odd fixed wing. Total cost to those Forces was approximately £46M. In 2017/8, those Forces paid NPAS £38.3M, so, a saving of £12M. However....
Prior to NPAS the various Units around the country flew approximately 24,000 hours. That equals £1900 per hour. In 2017/18, the remaining 15 NPAS helicopters flew 15,432 hours. That equals £2483.
So, savings, yes. Value for money, no.
Prior to NPAS the various Units around the country flew approximately 24,000 hours. That equals £1900 per hour. In 2017/18, the remaining 15 NPAS helicopters flew 15,432 hours. That equals £2483.
So, savings, yes. Value for money, no.
£46M - £38.3M = £7.7M I think, or did the wrong numbers get entered somewhere
Nonetheless, the outcome is seriously devoid of justification and probably even more so were it possible to cost deficit the increase in crime as a result of the 33% reduction in airborne hours overall.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,578
Received 435 Likes
on
229 Posts
I moved on from police aviation quite some years ago but occasionally local people mistakenly ask me "how the job is going", thinking that is what I still do for a living. This has happened a couple of times very recently when I've met people if haven't spoken to for some time. I've always advised these people of the "improved" service they now receive from NPAS and without fail they are horrified that they no longer have a local police helicopter.
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Under a grey cloud
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Of the remaining 15,432 hours per year I dare say a good proportion of them are primarily spent transiting great distances across the counties to be late to the party. The effective policing hours must have halved when compared to pre-NPAS, or worse.
Meanwhile, over in the Cayman Islands, their 135 suffers a hydraulic actuator failure, thankfully in the hover just after lift off.
https://www.caymancompass.com/2019/0...uring-takeoff/
https://www.caymancompass.com/2019/0...uring-takeoff/
And over here, NPAS recruiting for TFOs:
https://westyorkshirepolice.tal.net/...BaqiHwlq79kapU
Quite a lot it seems:
https://westyorkshirepolice.tal.net/...BaqiHwlq79kapU
Quite a lot it seems:
We have positions available at:
NPAS Almondsbury near Bristol
NPAS St Athan
NPAS Exeter
NPAS Redhill
NPAS Benson
NPAS Husbands Bosworth
NPAS Birmingham
NPAS Doncaster
There are likely to be vacancies occurring in the future at our other bases across England and Wales and applications would be welcome from candidates wishing to apply for these.
NPAS Almondsbury near Bristol
NPAS St Athan
NPAS Exeter
NPAS Redhill
NPAS Benson
NPAS Husbands Bosworth
NPAS Birmingham
NPAS Doncaster
There are likely to be vacancies occurring in the future at our other bases across England and Wales and applications would be welcome from candidates wishing to apply for these.
Is that Oily Knight still flying in the Cayman's? He must be 100+ yrs old!
That list looks like all the NPAS bases need cops now? Wonder why they are leaving in droves. Are there still civvy TFO's @ £24k/yr?
That list looks like all the NPAS bases need cops now? Wonder why they are leaving in droves. Are there still civvy TFO's @ £24k/yr?