If you're interested in helicopters, then something you might want to look into are all of the different police helicopters in Melbourne and what they're used for. The Air Wing of the Victoria Police is the aviation unit that operates within metropolitan Melbourne and provides service to all of Victoria.
There are several helicopters in this fleet, with one main model currently in use, this being the Leonardo AW139.
Today, we're here to provide you with a comprehensive overview of police helicopters in Melbourne. Will focus on the various models they use, what they are used for, and the history of the use of helicopters in Melbourne police operations.
Table of Contents
- What Are Police Helicopters in Melbourne Used For
- History of Police Helicopters in Melbourne
- The First Official Helicopter
- Two More Helicopters Join the Fleet
- Introducing the AS350B Squirrel
- The Outsourcing of Helicopters
- The Introduction of New Aircraft in 2021
- Three New Helicopters Purchased in 2016
- A Closer Look at the Leonardo AW139
- Examples of Police Helicopters in Action in Melbourne
- Police Helicopters in Melbourne – Final Thoughts
What Are Police Helicopters in Melbourne Used For?
The Air Wing of Victoria uses helicopters for a variety of purposes, including the following:
- To perform search and rescue missions for people that are missing in remote places or at sea.
- These helicopters are also used to provide air to ground direction to guide police officers on the ground to help intercept targets.
- They assist in police pursuits, providing aerial surveillance and coordination to help ground units apprehend suspects.
- Police helicopters in Melbourne are also used to perform traffic surveillance in major traffic thoroughfares.
- These helicopters can also be used for regular patrols with the aim of preventing and detecting crime.
- Police helicopters in Melbourne are often used for photographic tasks. In other words, they can be used for surveillance, to take photographs of crime, traffic, and more. They can also be used to plan operations.
- In some cases, police helicopters in Melbourne may also be used for tactical deployments for various missions.
- The helicopters are also used to support emergency services during critical incidents, such as natural disasters or large-scale emergencies, enhancing the overall response capabilities.
- In some cases, the police may work together with the fire department and equip their helicopters with a fire bucket to use as an aerial fire bomber.
If you’re interested in knowing more about what police work in Melbourne helicopters is like, check out this informative video about a day in the life of Air Wing.
History of Police Helicopters in Melbourne
The Air Wing of the Victoria Police Department was formed in 1975, and in the beginning, it was fixed wing aircraft that did the majority of the work. However, in 1976, the Air Wing used its first helicopter, and later, in 1978, leased a Hughes D500 for nighttime operations. Later that year, in 1978, the decision to purchase a helicopter was made.
The First Official Helicopter
The first official helicopter on the Victoria Police Force was the Aérospatiale SA365C1 Dauphin 2 (VH-PVF), this helicopter could hold up to 12 passengers weighing up to 4300 kg, with a maximum speed of 306 kilometres per hour, a range of 827 kilometres, and a service ceiling of 5865 metres.
Two More Helicopters Join the Fleet
Two more aircraft were purchased in 1986 from the Romanian government, the VH-PVA and VH-PVK, both respectable machines in their own right. Later that year, the VH-PVA, the air ambulance, was a part of the Hoddle Street Massacre, where it was hit by gunfire and forced to land in a park.
Introducing the AS350B Squirrel
The Aerospatiale AS350B Squirrel was then added to the fleet in 1988, and it was used for a variety of routine operations, such as traffic control and surveillance. This helicopter has a maximum capacity of 6 passengers and a maximum takeoff weight of 2249 kg. It features a cruising speed of 245 kilometres per hour, a range of 662 kilometres per hour, and a service ceiling of 4,602 metres.
The Outsourcing of Helicopters
In 2021, the Air Wing began re-equipping its fleet with its own helicopters, mainly the AS365N3 Dauphin, and the Squirrel was replaced by the Eurocopter EC135 T2+.
The Dauphin
The Dauphin features a capacity of 12 passengers, along with the maximum takeoff weight of 9480 lbs. This helicopter also featured a maximum speed of 306 kilometres per hour, a maximum range of 827 kilometres, and a service ceiling of 5865 metres.
The Eurocopter
The Eurocopter was a respectable aircraft in the fleet, often used for basic operations. It was also often used for air ambulance operations. This helicopter has a capacity of up to seven passengers, or up to two crew and two patients.
It features a maximum takeoff weight of 2909 kg, a cruising speed of 254 kilometres per hour, a range of 635 kilometres per hour, and a service ceiling of 6,096 metres. Some of the most important developments that these helicopters had were FLIR or forward-looking infrared, as well as NVG or night vision goggles.
Three New Helicopters Purchased in 2016
To a tune of nearly $64 million, the Air Wing replaced its old helicopters in 2016 with three Leonardo AW139 helicopters, as well as the Beechcraft Super King Air 350ER (fixed wing aircraft). This new helicopter was introduced because it has greater endurance and a longer range compared to the older models. The first of the AW139 helicopters entered service in June 2020, with the other two shortly following.
The addition of the Beechcraft Super King Air 350ER introduced a fixed wing capability to the Air Wing, enhancing their ability to provide statewide aerial support and rapid response to various tasks.
The Leonardo AW139 is a particularly impressive machine, as it has a 15-person capacity. There are various configurations of it, including civilian, medical, and police. This is currently one of the most advanced helicopters in the world, and a welcome addition to the Victoria Air Wing.
Besides having a large capacity for passengers, it also features an impressive maximum speed of 310 kilometres per hour along with a range of 1061 kilometres. Its service ceiling is 6,096 metres. On that note, the Eurocopter EC135 was retired from service in 2019. The Leonardo AW139 is now the official police helicopter used in Melbourne.
A Closer Look at the Leonardo AW139
To give you a better idea of what the Victoria Air Wing is working with, let’s take a closer look at the Leonardo AW139. Originally, this helicopter was designed by a partnership between Bell Helicopters and Agusta in 1997, at first calling it the AB139. However, Bell left the venture in 2005, and AgustaWestland renamed it AW139.
This helicopter had its first flight on February 3rd, 2001, and officially entered service in 2003. The AW139 has a modular air frame that is made out of composite materials and aluminium, which helps make it strong yet lightweight. It features a five-blade main rotor along with the four-blade tail rotor.
The state-of-the-art glass cockpit includes a variety of advanced avionics, as well as an integrated flight management system. What is very beneficial about this type of helicopter is that it has a spacious cabin that is configurable and can be used for a variety of roles, including police, search and rescue, emergency medical services, and passenger transport.
The AW139 is equipped with dual Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6C-67C turboshaft engines with both being able to produce 1679 shaft horsepower. This allows it to achieve a maximum speed of 306 kilometres per hour, along with a maximum operational range of 1061 kilometres.
It also features a service of 6,096 metres, with a climbing rate of 655 metres per minute. Its maximum takeoff weight is 6,400 kg, with a cabin capacity of 15 passengers. Although often used by law enforcement, it's also used for emergency medical services, for military purposes, search and rescue, and commercial transport.
Examples of Police Helicopters in Action in Melbourne
One of the most commonly referred to examples of police helicopters in use in Melbourne is when the VH-PVA was struck by gunfire as it played its role during the Hoddle Street Massacre in 1987. Due to this, it was forced to land in a nearby park.
Another popular example of police helicopters in use is when the Air Wing of Victoria used helicopters during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race to rescue sailors that were endangered due to severe weather conditions. Tactical flight officers often work alongside pilots to provide aerial support during various police operations, including rescue missions and assistance to ground units.
The helicopters also play a crucial role in transporting the major collision investigation unit to serious crash scenes, especially in rural areas, to expedite the investigation process.
More recently, in 2011, the Western Australia Police used the AS65N3 Dauphin helicopter to maintain order and control during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
Even more recently, a police helicopter was used to capture footage of Gareth, Nathaniel, and Stacy Train during the Wieambilla Massacre, where two police officers and a civilian lost their lives.
Most recently, Melbourne police helicopters have been used to locate a missing 11-year old child in a creek bed, to apprehend a criminal attempting to jump over a backyard fence, and to monitor criminal activity (such as finding out who rammed Debbie Soley’s tobacco store with their car) in 2023.
Interesting to note is that although one might think that people would be wary of police helicopters, there are some trouble-makers out there who take it upon themselves to be nuisances to law enforcement.
For example, here we have a story of two less-than-intelligent men shining an extremely powerful green laser at several police helicopters. This is very dangerous as it can blind helicopter pilots and lead to crashes. However, thanks to the advanced technology onboard the helicopter, the perpetrators were quickly apprehended.
Police Helicopters in Melbourne – Final Thoughts
The bottom line is that the new AW139s in the Victoria POLAIR fleet are wreaking havoc on criminals across Melbourne and the greater Victoria area.
Through the use of special equipment, such as high-definition and long-range cameras, night and infrared vision, and other advanced surveillance equipment, criminals in Melbourne are having a tougher time getting away with crime than ever before.
Although helicopters are often used for police work, remember that there are plenty of scenic helicopter flights around Melbourne for you to enjoy!
