Best surveillance kit
 

I'm hoping that some of you out there might be able to help me. As a consultant with a background in 'special mission' aircraft - namely flight calibration - I have been asked to carry out some research on various manufacturers of airborne surveillance equipment. Since most of that sort of gear is installed on police helicopters I would be interested in getting some feedback from operators on who makes good or not-so-good kit. Not looking for any comments that will kick off a libel suit and likewise don't want any over-the-top sales guff. Just comments from operators about equipment that they have used.

Thanks in advance.....

Clyde

Thanks Clyde,

You may well find that most operators will prefer the kit that they selected. Why? Because they probably selected it on the basis of the product support not capability.

Most manufacturers are capable of producing anything you specify. My experience is that the product is very similar. The support, and you will need it, differs and ebbs and flows with time.

Ultimately, a police helicopter is a surveillance platform and is almost useless without functioning kit. Thats where the support comes in.

It also depends where you are in the world. When I worked in Europe, Eurocopter were well known for their product support, over here, they suck. (but are getting better as market share improves).

And YES I do know that EC probably don't do surveillance equipment, but if they did........

Airborne surveillance equip
 

When you say airborne surveillance equipment, are you referring to video or radio reception?
If radio, I can recommend wide band equipment made by rohde-schwarz.
For direction finding equipment in an airborne platform we use equipment manufactured by a company called AOR which works well.
Regards
P

Thanks Comms Boy and What Limits.

You have a good point there WL. It's all very well having the latest all-singing, all-dancing whizz-bang, super shiny piece of kit but if, when it breaks down / software repeatedly crashes etc. and the manufacture can't be bothered to return your calls, your very expensive investment is useless!

Comms Boy - It would be video and thermal imaging mostly, but some LIDAR. I know Rohde & Schwarz stuff from my flight calibration work and have always been impressed with it. Bit expensive though! The info about the DF gear is useful and much appreciated. Thanks.

Try FLIR systems - it's what the SAR Force use.

Most of the Police use FLIR too, their customer service seems to be pretty good.

What I'd say about FLIR systems customer care is they usually have a spare unit to put on our aircraft with 24 hours, however some of the newer police aircraft are using the Wescam systems but I don't know what their customer care is like.

I will apologise first,

..... but please chaps, take my Mother in law (MIL) she misses nowt at all..!!


Peter R-B :D

Peter, tsk! She may be a secret ppruner, then you'll be in the sh1t!!

sir, as a mfg of camera mounts for many of the most popular helicopter types, we deal with almost all the camera mfg's on a consistent basis.
that said, you need to be alot more specific in your question. most of the major mfg of EO/IR sensors offer a number of systems, each are suited best for a specific mission.
some questions
- whats your budget
- max weight/ size
- a/c type
- number of sensors within the camera
- stablization requirements

these are just some basic "parameters" that need to be identified to better answer your question

cal

I've frequently used Wescam - brilliant!

FLIR and Wescam have the lions share of airborn kit.
Axsys has offered highest quality HD images but haven't yet developed the reputation for thermal imaging and integration compared to the others.

Gimbals less than 10 inch in diameter have become more useful due to miniaturisaton of payloads.


In the past 12 months more players entering the field of lower cost lower performance stabilised platforms.

On the other hand for extra special missions, you can have extra special payloads.


Mickjoebill