Professional Pilot, October 2017

In the top row from left to right are TFOs Matt Jackson and Shelby Pace and Pilots Mike Whelan and Brian Carver with bottom row L R Unit Commander Lt Sam Houston TFOs Jeff Parsons and Matt Denny Pilot Sgt Dave McVey Pilots Dan Wolf and Roger Young Pilot CFI Mike Condon and Capt Eliot Latchaw sponse The unit also assisted in directing other responding units to the scene and also helped set up traffic detours around the area The unit also participates with the Baltimore County Fire Dept in a unique program called Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team MD HART This multi disciplined team utilizes fire fighters as rescue swimmers and ground personnel for water and hoist rescues The team practices quarterly and conducts 2 large scale training exercises each year McVey is impressed by the level of cooperation between both agencies We really act as one because of our training and we conduct these high risk missions confidently and safely notes McVey Due to their unique location the unit often finds itself in joint operations to support Federal Government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security the Drug Enforcement Agency DEA Alcohol Tobacco Firearms Explosives ATF and the US Secret Service With their airspace challenges the unit has an FAA approved waiver and discreet code that allows them into the Washington DC Special Flight Rules Area SFRA at a moments notice The unit flew 2793 calls for service in 2016 and was the 1st unit on scene 194 times representing 7 of the calls they were assigned The number of this years calls are on pace to meet or exceed last years 56 PROFESSIONAL PILOT October 2017 With over 1700 flight hours in 2016 calls responded to were made up of 2100 searches resulting in 223 assisted arrests and the recovery of 31 missing persons In addition to serving Baltimore County they have a good working relationship with the City of Baltimores Aviation Unit Foxtrot as a back up whenever another unit is unavailable Personnel The unit is under the command of Lt Sam Houston with Sgt McVey as the on site ranking pilot There are currently 5 full time police officer pilots as well as 5 full time Tactical Flight Officers TFOs All personnel are sworn officers Officers are assigned to 2 squads that work 2 shifts 9 am to 5 pm and 5 pm to 1 am The unit is on call during the off hours for emergencies But even in off hours they often help the Maryland State Police proof of an outstanding relationship and coordination In order to be considered for a pilot position in the unit applicants must have an FAA Commercial helicopter certificate as well as 1000 hours PIC of turbine helicopter time To be considered as a TFO the applicant needs 5 years of service and a varied background in patrol service narcotics division and the detective bureau Not surprisingly turnover is very rare those who serve are very dedicated officers Aircraft Baltimore County Police Aviation Unit currently operates 3 Airbus AS350 B3 helicopters Both McVey and Police Officer Pilot Dan Wolf like the Airbus AS350 B3 for their law enforcement missions McVey praises the AS350 s speed and power while Wolf equates it to a solid UPS truck It is not particularly sexy but it does provide a great platform for our wide ranging missions and is very dependable declares Wolf TFO Matt Denny also raves about the aircraft and its interior for the law enforcement mission I am not squeezed I have the space and room I need to operate all the systems And additionally it has excellent visibility which allows me to track a vehicle or follow a suspect visually on the ground remarks Denny All of the aircraft are equipped with conventional steam gauges in a traditional 6 pack panel configuration When asked about upgrades McVey is quick to respond Glass cockpits are on my wish list for these aircraft he declares Helicopter instruments that support law enforcement missions include either a FLIR SC8000 or WESCAM MX10 thermal image camera Helos are also equipped with the Aerocomputers UC5100 Digital Mapping System An upgrade to the newer UC6000 rig is expected SX16 Nightsun searchlight Garmin GNS 530 and TCAS