The Calgary Police Service is planning to replace its two helicopters over the next four years. The city has budgeted $3.5 million for aircraft replacement.
Photograph by: Lorraine Hjalte, Calgary Herald
CALGARY — Aiming to cut costly
helicopter repair bills, Calgary police are putting out a tender call to
trade and replace its 1999 HAWC helicopter.
The city has budgeted $3.5 million from capital reserves for aircraft replacement.
Police say the plan is to spend $1.6 million to replace each chopper over the next four years.
In 2013, police are looking to replace HAWC2, which has been used for seven years. The chopper has 8,114 hours of airtime.
By 2016, it will be HAWC1’s turn, as it is coming into its fourth year of service.
Police say by selling them early, they will save on repairs in the long run.
“With the first initial sale we waited too long. There was very little value to trade it in. It’s like a car: if you hold on too long, you have it for its life,” said Insp. Blair White of the support section.
“With the amount of airtime they get, like any vehicle, over time as your vehicle gets older and the more miles you get on it, the more repairs you’re faced with.”
Police said they’re trying to develop a replacement schedule, so come budget time they can make sure funding requests are kept low.
“We’re trying to forecast to make it easier on us and essentially easier on the city, so they know it’s coming,” White said.
The police helicopter program provides a swift response to life-threatening incidents, air support for ground units, and aims to increase efficiency to detect, prevent and reduce crime through aerial patrols.
From 2008 to May 2012, the police helicopters responded to 12,137 calls for service, directly resulting in 1,840 arrests. Those arrests resulted in 2,845 criminal charges.
HAWC also took to the skies for 192 motor vehicle pursuits, as police have a policy prohibiting ground chases for public safety.
With HAWC being first on the scene in more than half the calls for help, it provides a “huge tactical advantage,” White said.
The Calgary Police Service’s earlier request for $2.25 million for upgrades and maintenance to its HAWC helicopters was questioned by Mayor Naheed Nenshi in May.
Calgary’s police helicopter program — Helicopter Air Watch for Community Safety, or HAWCS — was created following the death of Const. Rick Sonnenberg. On Oct. 8, 1993, Sonnenberg was run down and killed trying to stop a stolen vehicle fleeing from police.
HAWC1 took flight in 1995 and was purchased for $1.5 million. The Calgary Police Service became the first municipal police agency in Canada to establish an air services unit with a full-time patrol helicopter. The first chopper was purchased through a fundraiser.
HAWC2 was added in 2006, but the original HAWC1 was sold to an Ontario company for $515,000 after the police service determined it would need a costly and time-consuming overhaul.
Its replacement was purchased for $1.7 million, using proceeds from the HAWC1 sale, funds from the Rick Sonnenberg Memorial Society and reserve funds.
At the time, selling HAWC1 before owning a replacement was criticized, but police said they needed to sell the machine quickly to get the best price.
The city has budgeted $3.5 million from capital reserves for aircraft replacement.
Police say the plan is to spend $1.6 million to replace each chopper over the next four years.
In 2013, police are looking to replace HAWC2, which has been used for seven years. The chopper has 8,114 hours of airtime.
By 2016, it will be HAWC1’s turn, as it is coming into its fourth year of service.
Police say by selling them early, they will save on repairs in the long run.
“With the first initial sale we waited too long. There was very little value to trade it in. It’s like a car: if you hold on too long, you have it for its life,” said Insp. Blair White of the support section.
“With the amount of airtime they get, like any vehicle, over time as your vehicle gets older and the more miles you get on it, the more repairs you’re faced with.”
Police said they’re trying to develop a replacement schedule, so come budget time they can make sure funding requests are kept low.
“We’re trying to forecast to make it easier on us and essentially easier on the city, so they know it’s coming,” White said.
The police helicopter program provides a swift response to life-threatening incidents, air support for ground units, and aims to increase efficiency to detect, prevent and reduce crime through aerial patrols.
From 2008 to May 2012, the police helicopters responded to 12,137 calls for service, directly resulting in 1,840 arrests. Those arrests resulted in 2,845 criminal charges.
HAWC also took to the skies for 192 motor vehicle pursuits, as police have a policy prohibiting ground chases for public safety.
With HAWC being first on the scene in more than half the calls for help, it provides a “huge tactical advantage,” White said.
The Calgary Police Service’s earlier request for $2.25 million for upgrades and maintenance to its HAWC helicopters was questioned by Mayor Naheed Nenshi in May.
Calgary’s police helicopter program — Helicopter Air Watch for Community Safety, or HAWCS — was created following the death of Const. Rick Sonnenberg. On Oct. 8, 1993, Sonnenberg was run down and killed trying to stop a stolen vehicle fleeing from police.
HAWC1 took flight in 1995 and was purchased for $1.5 million. The Calgary Police Service became the first municipal police agency in Canada to establish an air services unit with a full-time patrol helicopter. The first chopper was purchased through a fundraiser.
HAWC2 was added in 2006, but the original HAWC1 was sold to an Ontario company for $515,000 after the police service determined it would need a costly and time-consuming overhaul.
Its replacement was purchased for $1.7 million, using proceeds from the HAWC1 sale, funds from the Rick Sonnenberg Memorial Society and reserve funds.
At the time, selling HAWC1 before owning a replacement was criticized, but police said they needed to sell the machine quickly to get the best price.
City police also want to install 200 digital cameras in its patrol vehicles and two helicopters through next year, and install the remaining 150 cameras in cruisers through 2014.
Read more: http://www.calgaryherald.com
