Helicopter frequently asked questions
Questions
- Is the helicopter a cost-effective way of policing?
- How much does it actually cost to keep the helicopter flying?
- The weather’s okay here, why can’t you attend?
- Why can military helicopters work in worse weather conditions?
- Does the helicopter ever leave the Exeter area?
- Why is the helicopter based in Exeter?
Answers
Is the helicopter a cost-effective way of policing?
The helicopter can search an area of 1 mile square in 12 minutes. When searching rural areas of the Force, the helicopter is the best resource in eliminating open ground and inaccessible areas and by far the cheapest when compared with police officers on foot (454 man hours per mile squared). It is safer to search rooftops using the helicopter. It is the only significant large area night search capable resource.
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How much does it actually cost to keep the helicopter flying?
The all inclusive cost is £1675 per hour, this includes everything including fuel, staff and insurance. The unit has an annual budget of 1,000 hours per year, an average of 2.75 flying hours per day.
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The weather’s okay here, why can’t you attend?
The helicopter is well equipped to fly in marginal weather, but must fly within laid down limits, it is illegal for the crew to operate outside these limits at any stage of the flight.
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Why can military helicopters work in worse weather conditions?
Military aircraft operate to different limits, and in some case have onboard navigation radar and two pilots.
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Does the helicopter ever leave the Exeter area?
The engineering and administrative base is at Exeter. Satellite bases have been set up at Plymouth airport, Camborne Traffic Centre, R.N.A.S. Culdrose and RMB Chivenor. The aircraft is routinely positioned to each of these bases.
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Why is the helicopter based in Exeter?
Weather conditions are better in the Exeter area; it would be more difficult to fly from a location further west in the Force area.
The Air Operations Unit is next to the motorway, which is convenient considering that crime frequently enters and exits the Force area via the motorway.
There is a mutual aid scheme with Dorset and Avon & Somerset Constabularies; Air Operations in these forces cover one another in case of emergency. If the Force’s Air Operations Unit were based in Cornwall, for example, it would be too far west to assist these two forces.
If the helicopter base were in Plymouth, it would need to stop more frequently to re-fuel each time it flew east for a job and then back west to Plymouth. The helicopter’s endurance is limited to just two hours’ flying.
The helicopter has always been based in Exeter and it would be expensive for the Air Operations Unit to move location. Air Operations staff all live locally so it is a convenient location.
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