Standard Operating Procedure

• Air Support Unit Commanding Officer-‌ ‌Runs‌ ‌day to day‌ ‌operations‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌Subdivision,‌ ‌reviewing‌ ‌applications,‌ ‌looking‌ ‌for‌ ‌special‌ ‌talent‌ ‌and‌ ‌handling‌ ‌promotions.‌ ‌

• Air Support Supervisor ‌-‌ ‌‌Provides administrative support to the division and is also responsible for training and recruitment of other officers into the Air Support Division.

• Senior Air Support ‌-‌ ‌‌‌ Senior Air Support Officers become eligible for an instructing position within the division. 

• Air Support ‌Officer‌ ‌-‌ ‌‌‌ ‌You may carry out all Air Support Division Functions that you have been trained for.

• Air Support Trainee ‌-‌ ‌‌At this point you are awaiting training and unable to activate.

Activation Protocol:

When activating ASU, you should do so realistically. Do not noclip to the nearest activation. Instead:

• Respond to the nearest station/helipad

• Park your vehicle

• Change clothes inside the station

• Head to the helipad

• Spawn the correct helicopter for the situation

• Do some simple pre-flight checks using /me

• Refuel the aircraft using /refuelaircraft

• Take off, gain altitude then fly to the location.

Pursuit Activation:

For pursuit activation, there must be a minimum of 4 remaining ground units. For this requirement to be met, alongside the required 2 flight crew, there is an overall requirement for 6 minimum officers before pursuit activation can occur. Exemptions can be made to this by supervisors, if deemed necessary.

Proactive Patrol:

As a general guideline, for proactive patrol, there must be a minimum of 6 remaining ground units. For this requirement to be met, alongside the required 2 flight crew, there is an overall requirement for 8 minimum officers before proactive patrol can be activated. This is only a guideline, and discretion can be used but use common sense.

Search and Rescue:

Search and rescue operations are permitted with as few as 2 remaining ground units, alongside the 2 mandatory flight crew. Hence, the overall minimum requirement for SAR operations is 4 officers.

Tactical Insertion:

Tactical Insertion does not require a co-pilot, therefore the minimum crew is 1 Pilot and 2 SWAT operators, however in most scenarios more officers would be ideal. It is also crucial that sufficient ground units are available and left, a number can not be placed on this so ensure you utilise common sense.

Aircraft:

Our Fleet consists of multiple Rotary-Wing aircraft with various functions. Those aircrafts and their functions are outlined below (all of which may be referred to as “Airship” when requested by ground units):

AS-350 (“le_as350”) 

• Standard Helicopter for LSPD and use within Los Santos Air Space, used for general policing purposes, including pursuit response and proactive 

patrol. This helicopter is not equipped for medevac.

Bell 207 (“le_bell207”) 

• Standard Helicopter for LSPD and use within Los Santos Air Space, used for general policing purposes, including pursuit response and proactive patrol. This helicopter is not equipped for medevac

Bell 407 (“le_bell407”) 

• Standard Helicopter for BCSO and use within Blaine County Airspace, used for general policing purposes, including pursuit response and proactive patrol. This helicopter is not equipped for medevac.

MH-6M (“le_mh6m”)

• Standard Helicopter for RCSO and use within Roxwood County Airspace, used for general policing purposes, including pursuit response and proactive patrol. This helicopter is not equipped for medevac.

UH-60 (“le_uh60v”) 

• BCSO SWAT Helicopter. This is used strictly for SWAT purposes only, primarily being tactical insertion operations. This helicopter can be used to transport medically stable patients if needed, but is not suitable for medevac. 

UH-1 Iroqouis (“PLACEHOLDER”)

• LSPD Rescue/SWAT Helicopter. This helicopter is multipurpose and is shared between LSPD SWAT and Rescue Operations. This will be used for SAR operations, alongside SWAT operations, predominantly tactical insertion operations, within the Los Santos Air Space. This helicopter is also equipped for medivac and can be used to transport medically stable patients to medical centres.

• BCSO Rescue Helicopter. This is used strictly for SAR purposes only. This helicopter is equipped for medivac and can be used to transport medically stable patients to medical centres.

Apparatus:

On-Board Systems - 

• Camera

• Thermal Camera

• Night Vision Camera

• Variable Spotlight (Intensity and Radius)

(Keybinds can be found in settings and upon camera activation). 

Carried Apparatus - 

• Pilots and Co-Pilots may carry a service weapon.

• Long Rifle are carried in the back of SWAT helicopters (UH-60 and UH-1)

• Standard Medic Bag in all aircraft.

• Rescue Helicopters carry more advanced medical supplies, stretchers and a rescue basket.

• Pilot:

• Responsible for safe and effective operation of the Aircraft and communication with the copilot.

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• Tactical Flight Officer (Co-Pilot):

• The TFO is responsible for communicating the status of the Air Unit with ground units (e.g: Grounding, Activating, Orbiting). Additionally, critical information, such as suspect locations, descriptions and status, should be updated as required by the TFO. Finally, they will operate the on-board systems (refer to above)

• Commercial Pilot Licence Holder (DOSARP Member) therefore capacity to fly VFR and IFR.

Altitude:

Standard Altitude Restrictions (350-400 ft above the ground) may be broken, ensuring due regard to public safety, in the following situations:

• Pursuit in order to maintain visual

• Tactical insertion

• Search & Rescue in Rural Areas (outside of city limits)

However, the absolute minimum for general operations is 250ft

FAR Minimum Safe Altitude Regulations

(a) Anywhere. An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.

(b) Over congested areas. Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.

(c) Over other than congested areas. An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

(d) Helicopters, powered parachutes, and weight-shift-control aircraft. If the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface -

(1) A helicopter may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, provided each person operating the helicopter complies with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the FAA; and

(2) A powered parachute or weight-shift-control aircraft may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (c) of this section.

Airspace:

Air Support Units may not violate any restricted airspace under any circumstances.

Existing Restricted Airspace:

• Fort Zancudo

• Bolingbroke State Penitentiary

Aircraft Carrier

Proactive Speed Enforcement is to be carried out over Highways when there are at least 6 ground units allowing for 2 to patrol as an Air Unit (8 Total). This involves monitoring highways at above standard altitude restrictions to spot reckless and speeding motorists, then directing ground units to the suspect.

Step by Step:

1. Hover over critical areas or trace key roads, whilst the TFO operates the camera to monitor vehicles

2. Clock Speeds of speeding vehicles using camera or witness unsafe driving.

3. Notify radio of the vehicles description and location (e.g: Air 1, Speeding Red 4 Door Sedan, Heading Northbound US13, Milemarker Union) 

4. Await for a ground unit to announce response and provide updated suspect locations (provided their location is dynamic).

5. Provide overwatch whilst the officer attempts a traffic stop (or provide pursuit assistance if they decide to flee).

Air Units may only activate for pursuit if there are sufficient units, as outlined in section 1.1. 

Air Support Unit responsibilities within pursuit:

• Provide continuous location and direction updates to ground units, taking over from the secondary unit.

• Provide continued location monitoring in scenarios during which the pursuit is deemed unsafe or terminated for other reasons by ground units. Do not maintain constant callouts, but provide periodic updates as required. 

Suspect Reconnaissance involves monitoring suspect movements using the on-board systems, outlined in Section 1.3, whilst maintaining a high altitude (at least 500 feet) to minimise detection. Feedback/updates should be given periodically to the division/s or officer/s that requested assistance

Reconnaissance is likely to be carried out under the following circumstances:

• Continued monitoring of suspects after a terminated pursuit. 

• Scouting ground locations

• Coordinated operations with Special Weapons and Tactics

Utilise on board systems to locate missing persons or persons in distress. SAR efforts will often involve collaboration with Fire Department SAR operations. Whilst both agencies are permitted to operate their own SAR parties simultaneously, the fire department has jurisdiction. In the event FD are unable to deploy their own SAR apparatus, law enforcement are able to carry and assist FD personnel for the purpose of providing rapid aid when required.

Refer to Section 2.2 for Minimum Altitude Regulations.

As seen in Section 1.3: Aircraft, the UH-1 Iroquois (commonly referred to as the Huey) is the primary rescue helicopter for all jurisdictions. This helicopter carries more advanced medical equipment. This aircraft is suitable for transporting medically stable wounded to medical centres, but is also equipped with a rescue basket, making it suitable for medivac of injured parties.

UH-1 Iroqouis (“PLACEHOLDER”)

• LSPD Rescue/SWAT Helicopter. This helicopter is multipurpose and is shared between LSPD SWAT and Rescue Operations. This will be used for SAR operations, alongside SWAT operations, predominantly tactical insertion operations, within the Los Santos Air Space. This helicopter is also equipped for medivac and can be used to transport medically stable patients to medical centres.

• BCSO Rescue Helicopter. This is used strictly for SAR purposes only. This helicopter is equipped for medivac and can be used to transport medically stable patients to medical centres.

• Tactical Insertion is a certification, run between both SWAT and ASU. Each component of T.I can be attained through the respective division.

• There are two primary components to Tactical Insertion, the Pilot and the SWAT.  The requirements for T.I can be found in Section 1.1, however the minimum requirement is 1 Pilot and 2 SWAT, although it is recommended the crew be more substantial than this, especially for high risk situations.

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• The pilot will undergo ASU training to ensure they can operate the aircraft without a TFO. They will be required to fly the aircraft during high-risk operations whilst also making the necessary communications to ground units. Additionally, they need to be able to select adequate LZ’s for quick landings and for deployment of SWAT officers via a rappel line.

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• SWAT Officers will need to handle their weapons safely whilst in the aircraft. It may involve shooting from the aircraft, however this is only to be done as a defensive/covering manoeuvre, we will not shoot unless shot upon. The only exception for which is the counter sniper unit, who can use their discretion to take a shot when safe and necessary. Operators may also be placed in situations whereby they need to deploy quickly from the helicopter via a rappel line.

• General Knowledge

  1. Ensure the Trainee is familiar with Minimum Altitude Restrictions

  2. Teach frequently used terminology (e.g. ‘Airship’, all aircraft callsigns and what each aircraft is used for).

• Co-Pilot Training

  1. Explain how to use each function of the onboard camera system

  2. Give example callouts from an Air Unit and have them demonstrate giving callouts to an acceptable level.

• Pilot Training

  1. Familiarise the pilot with the Flight HUD and necessary commands

     1. Flight HUD

     2. /refuelaircraft

     3. /hover

  2. Demonstrate flying safely simulating all of the following scenarios:

     1. Pursuit Response

     2. Proactive Speed Enforcement

     3. Orbiting a stationary point/ structure

  3. Have the Trainee demonstrate competency in flying in all of the demonstrated scenarios.

• Trainee Exercise

1. Once the Trainee demonstrates a reasonable competency in all of the above, you may promote them to Air Support Officer.

1. General Knowledge

1. Ensure the Trainee is familiar with Minimum Altitude Restrictions, more importantly the exemptions with this particular operation.

2. Pilot Training

1. Demonstrate flying safely simulating all of the following scenarios:

   1. Search and Rescue (Low Altitude outside of city limits, in remote environments with frequent obstacles

   2. Remaining in control and steady for rappel 

   3. Landing in non-ideal environments without a clearly defined landing zone

3. Trainee Exercise

1. Once the Trainee demonstrates a reasonable competency in all of the above, you may grant them the Search and Rescue certification.

1. General Knowledge

1. Ensure the Trainee is familiar with Minimum Altitude Restrictions, more importantly the exemptions with this particular operation.

2. Pilot Training

1. Demonstrate flying safely simulating all of the following scenarios:

   1. Low altitude flying operations 

   2. Remaining in control and steady for rappel 

   3. Identifying and landing in non-ideal environments without a clearly defined landing zone

   4. Providing radio communications to the level of a full TFO without one present, showing ability to operate a one-manned flight. 

3. Trainee Exercise

1. Once the Trainee demonstrates a reasonable competency in all of the above, you may grant them the Tactical Insertion Pilot certification.