The new Eagle helicopters are a fantastic acquisition which will significantly increase the capability of our Air Support Unit (ASU), says Commissioner Mike Bush.
Since 1 July, the ASU has been serviced by three twin-engine Bell 429 helicopters, which replace the three AS355 Squirrels previously used.
The new fleet was officially launched - at the new ASU base at Onehunga - by Commissioner Bush and Police Minister Stuart Nash.
“These new helicopters allow for increased passenger capacity and have greater fuel carriage,” says Commissioner Bush.
“As a result, these Eagle helicopters have the capability to fly from Auckland to Wellington without needing to refuel.”
The change in aircraft follows the appointment of a new contractor, Advanced Flight Ltd, selected in late 2018.
The ASU will maintain 24/7 coverage, which equates to approximately 3300 planned flying hours annually.
“The public can expect the same excellent service provided by our Air Support Unit and we look forward to working with our new supplier,” says Commissioner Bush.
“I want to acknowledge the extremely vital and important role within Police that the Air Support Unit does in helping to keep our community safe 24 hours a day.”
In the past year, Eagle has attended more than 6,000 incidents across Tāmaki Makaurau and further afield.
As well as helping track and locate countless offenders, Eagle has also helped locate and rescue dozens of missing people, on land and at sea.
These included tragedy averted in May when Eagle located two adults and a child in darkness after their boat capsized crossing the Port Waikato bar, who were then rescued with the support of Surf Lifesaving crew and the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter.
“Our helicopters also provide us with the ability to respond to incidents within minutes, which was evident when Eagle landed on the Auckland Motorway earlier this year to allow officers to provide first aid to a person who was critically injured,” says Commissioner Bush.
The helicopters will be located at the new Onehunga base, following the ASU’s relocation from Mechanics Bay.
The move will have minimal impact on response times by Eagle to jobs around Tāmaki Makaurau and beyond.