halconplateado's video: Calgary Police Chopper

Part 1. These are exciting times for the Calgary Police Service's Air Services Unit. Last year marked a decade of continuous service for Canada's first municipal police helicopter, and today the unit is preparing to put a second helicopter into operation. Calgary's Helicopter Air Watch for Community Safety program began as a research project in 1992. Although the project was found to be highly successful, it was deemed too expensive to operate given the Calgary Police Service budget. The project was temporarily put aside until such an operation would become financially feasible. Tragedy struck the Calgary Police Service on Oct. 8, 1993 when Constable Rick Sonnenberg was killed in the line of duty while trying to stop a stolen vehicle. Lisa Barrett, the fallen officer's sister, stepped forward to establish a memorial fund to purchase a police helicopter. The Constable Rick Sonnenberg Memorial Society raised $1.8 million and purchased an MD 520N helicopter. On June 30, 1995 the society officially presented HAWC 1 to the Air Services Unit. The primary objective of HAWC 1 is to respond to situations where a life is at risk or a crime is in progress. The helicopter has proven particularly effective in responding to vehicle pursuits because it minimizes the risk to civilians and officers. The helicopter provides realtime information on road conditions and upcoming traffic to officers on the ground from a unique aerial perspective. In addition to its regular policing duties, HAWC 1 is often showcased at various community events in the Calgary area. The Calgary Fire Department and Calgary Police Service have an agreement that allows HAWC 1 to be used in any situation where it can be of assistance. The Calgary Fire Department purchased a Bambi Bucket to deal with local grass fires, which was donated to HAWC 1. The helicopter is often called for assistance in search-and-rescue roles on the Bow River and has saved many lives in the process. HAWC 1 patrols the city seven days a week and is on call 24 hours a day. In its 10 years of service, HAWC 1 has responded to over 35,000 calls, with an average response time of less than two minutes. Calgary's citizens are strong supporters of HAWC 1 and the community safety that it provides. After patrolling Calgary's skies for over 10 years, HAWC 1 is nearing a need for extensive maintenance. To avoid not having a lapse in aerial policing, the HAWC 2 lottery was started as a one-time event to address the need for a second helicopter. In partnership with the Rick Sonnenberg Memorial Society, the Calgary Police Service was able to raise over $1 million for the purchase of a second helicopter. Eurocopter's Colibri EC-120 was selected to complement the existing MD 520N. The EC-120 has grown in popularity with police forces around the world and has become the premier rotary-wing law enforcement platform. The EC-120 is already operated by the Edmonton Police Service, the RCMP in Vancouver, and the York Regional Police in Ontario. The EC-120 boasts modern technology and a strong support system from Eurocopter Canada. It is as quiet as the existing helicopter; although each aircraft has its own unique noise signature, both generate fewer noise complaints than conventional tail rotor-equipped aircraft. The EC-120 is larger than the MD 520N and will be fitted with updated crime-fighting tools. The Air Services Unit will soon move into a new hangar at the southeast corner of Calgary International Airport. The new facility will offer increased space for the second helicopter.