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Helicopter

Helicopter:

In January 1967 the press carried a report of helicopter trials for police work. It was reported that a helicopter landed in the Wagon Yard car park at Farnham. On board acting as an observer was Sergeant John House of Farnham. It also said in the press report that, ‘the helicopter went within a foot of the ground when searching a barn to test it’s effectiveness’, the mind boggles… At a press conference held at Mount Browne, Chief Supt. V Rignell, (Home Office), said, ‘this is not a panacea for all police problems but it was another way of strengthening crime detection and prevention’. Supt. J.C. Maskell of Guildford said that, ‘once it was on to a vehicle it could not be shaken off’. As far as Surrey was concerned it was part of a six-month trial in the southeast to experiment with helicopters. The Metropolitan Police were also involved. During this period Surrey had three helicopters flying out of the sports field at HQ for a fortnight. The helicopters were normally based at Netheravon in Wilts. It was stated that the helicopters could stay in the air for two and a half hours and were capable of flying at 70 knots. A ground crew of ten were based at HQ to keep the aircraft flying and local Sergeants received training in 'air observation and communications’. The local officers were used because of their local knowledge of the area. When flying, the sergeant wore blue overalls with a badge stating ‘Police Helicopter Unit’ on the shoulder. They also had to wear helmets ‘due to the noise of the chopper making communications difficult therefore necessitating the use of an intercom’. It would appear that the main sticking point was a financial one, (as always), because, (and this will make the modern helicopter crew laugh), ‘to buy one would cost around £10,000 and to run would cost between £12 and £25 an hour’.Air observation was not new as the Met had borrowed the airship R33 to watch the traffic on Derby Day in 1921. Trials with helicopters had also taken place in 1953 with a car trying to lose a helicopter along country lanes without success. However, later it was shown that a traffic car on a motorway was faster than the available helicopter in a pursuit along the M6.Many arguments were used in favour of the use of helicopters and in the late 80's C/C Brian Hayes authorised an experiment. A six month contract was given to McAlpine Helicopters at Heathrow, (the Editor initiated the paper and did the work that gained this experiment). A Twin Squirrel mark SAS was used (Surrey Air Support). As Ops “owned” traffic the first observers came from that department with a number of volunteers going to McAlpine for selection. The aircraft was based at Dunsfold. It closed down after six months but was re-born as a part of the South East Air Unit which comprised the Metropolitan Police and Surrey with an aircraft being based at Fairoaks. (This work done by Ch. Insp. Weedon). The same crews were used with Met pilots.

Sgt. John House

Chief Ins. Ray Searle off for a flight

Chief Constable Brian Hayes checks out one of the first aircraft

The first Constabulary Crew

Coming in to land at H.Q.

Over Surrey

Army 'copter trials at HQ

Surrey Constabulary

'For those who served'

1851 - 1992

Editor: Robert Bartlett. Website Design & Maintenance: Denis Turner.

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