Air 1

Mission Statement

The mission of the San Andreas Aviation Detail is to protect the homeland, reduce crime, enhance officer safety and mitigate natural or man-made disasters through professional airborne law enforcement in the safest manner possible.

San Andreas Aviation Detail Objectives:

• Enhancing patrol coverage and domestic security over areas of the City inaccessible to ground details (i.e. fenced compounds, roofs, parking lots.)

• Searching for lost or stranded persons and/or suspects and enhancing search and rescue operations for persons and vessels in distress.

• Reducing the inherent liability to the City for certain police activities (i.e. high speed vehicle chases)

• Enhancing officer safety by illuminating nighttime operations.

• Transportation of detectives and other City and Departmental personnel, when appropriate.

• Providing aerial security of V.I.P. and foreign dignitaries as required 

• Ensure that mishaps involving the helicopter are properly investigated. 

• The primary duty of the Pilot is the safe and effective operation of department aircraft in accordance with Departmental Orders, SOP's and all pertinent laws when applicable. 

• Scan for air traffic during flight, departure, approach and landing. 

• Monitor the police radio. (High level of active listening)

• Observe activity on the ground.

• Safety and security of the aircraft while in the air and on the ground.

Standard Operating Procedures:

• AUTHORIZED LANDING SITES 

  • Any Helipad that has a safe approach.

  • At any location when providing emergency services, where the site is free of obstructions, and precautions have been taken to prevent personal injury or property damage.

• EMERGENCY LANDINGS

  • Should an emergency require the pilot to make an immediate landing. The pilot will make every effort to safely touchdown. 

  • Radio the ground units of a general location. 

Responding to calls for service:

• Air one is authorized to respond to a multitude of situations. 

  • Big Bank

  • Fleeca Bank

  • Jewelry

  • Drug sales (multiple sales in one area, not single reports)

  • Officer down (Panic Button)

  • Code 5 felony stops, may circle the area in case a 10-80 begins.

• Other calls / procedures

  • Calls that are smash and grabs such as stores and houses. Air 1 may respond to get a visual. Once a ground unit attaches then air one will break off. (In finer detail, If AIR 1 makes a visual and the subject stay on scene, ground units arrive and make contact then AIR 1 breaks off. If the suspect flees from the scene, its now fleeing to elude and AIR 1 may remain attached to the 10-80)

There is no reason for Air One to be attached to a store or house.

Air One May be Deployed:

• Six Cops on duty, one Air One may be deployed. If air one is not required and another priority comes in, you may need to switch to a ground unit.

Other Key Points.

Remember, You will not be the only officer with Air One certification. Use the time in Air One wisely, and allow fellow officers the ability to utilize their certification.

The Air One Certification is earned. Disciplinary action will be handled if the above standard operating procedures are not followed. 

• If abuse of the certification is noted. You will first be warned and advised to refamiliarize yourself with the SOP's.

• Second: you will be warned and made to put the Air Unit up for the shift. and refamiliarize yourself with the SOP's 

• Last: Further abuse of the certification with result in your certification being revoked. You may re-express interest after 30 days.