The Chiltern Air Support Unit
Chiltern Air
Support Unit operates two high-tech helicopters that act as eyes in
the sky for Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Thames Valley Police
Forces.
Together the aircraft cover more than 3,200 square miles and
attend more than 5,600 incidents every year.
They include searches for vulnerable, missing or wanted people,
vehicle pursuits and pro-active operations to smash crime and
arrest offenders. They are particularly effective in search
situations, since crews can cover a square mile in around 15
minutes.
The helicopters are also equipped to fly casualties to hospital,
assist in river rescues and act as vital airborne command and
control posts during complicated cross-border incidents.
XA99 and XA97 are Eurocopter 135s and have special noise
reduction features, including distinctive enclosed rear rotors to
avoid disturbing residents.
The aircraft are packed with the latest high-tech crime fighting
equipment including video cameras, stills cameras, thermal imaging
technology, a “Sky Shout” public address system, powerful “Nite
Sun” lighting and VHF receivers to trace stolen vehicles fitted
with tracker-type systems.
The unit carries out
numerous photographic or surveillance tasks for officers, helping
with everything from planning search warrants to gathering
evidence.
If you are want to know why the helicopter is flying over your
house visit the Bedfordshire Police
Facebook page where you can receive regular updates about any
notable flights the Air Support Unit has flown. If you become a fan
of our page you can receive regular updates straight into your
Facebook account.