The Baltimore County Police Department Aviation Team began as a part-time, fixed-wing-only program in 1983.
Today the Aviation Team provides 19 hours of patrol coverage per day with 24 hour on-call availability.
Currently the Team operates three American Eurocopter AS350B3 Helicopters, with designated call signs “County Air” 1, 2, and 3.
Since 1988, the Team has flown more than 24,000 helicopter flight hours without an accident.
The Aviation Team operates out a state of the art hangar at Glen L. Martin State Airport, in the Precinct 11 – Essex Area.
The Aviation Team consists of a Sergeant (who is also a pilot), six full-time pilots and four Tactical Flight Officers (TFOs). The pilots are also proficient TFOs.
Pilots are required to posses an FAA commercial pilots license and have a minimum of 1,000 Pilot in Command turbine helicopter flight hours as a minimum requirement for selection to the Team.
Pilots and TFOs are sworn Baltimore County Police Officers with a minimum of five years of patrol or investigative experience prior to their assignment to the Aviation Team.
The patrol helicopters are equipped with an array of multi-frequency radios and mission equipment. The radios enable the crew to simultaneously communicate with air traffic control and nearby flying aircraft, departmental ground units, neighboring law enforcement agencies, joint multi-jurisdictional Task Forces and Federal Agencies.
The aircraft mission equipment includes an SX-16 Nightsun 30 million candle power search light, an optical thermal imager (FLIR), a color video camera, a moving map, electronically stabilized binoculars, a LOJACK signal receiver, video downlink antennae and a rescue hoist.
The Air Team is considered crucial to officer safety, providing command and control or valuable information with regards to critical incidents, crimes in progress, barricaded suspects, or suspects fleeing on foot or in a vehicle.
In 2007 the Aviation Team flew over 2,000 flight hours and responded to 3,979 calls for service. Over 1,900 searches and 547 patrol unit back-ups resulted in 438 arrests, 30 missing subjects found, and the recovery of 40 LOJACK equipped stolen vehicles.
The Aviation Team continues to work toward the overall goal of excellence and a dedication to deliver the best possible service to the citizens of Baltimore County.
To become a member of the Aviation Team you must first become a Baltimore County Police Officer. After you have been a patrol officer for a minimum of five years, and there is a position posted for a member in the Aviation Team you, will be eligible to apply for the position.
If you would like more information regarding the application and hiring process for a Baltimore County Police Officer, you can call the Baltimore County Police Department Human Resources at 410-887-3135. If you have further questions about the Aviation Team, please call 410-887-0280.
Revised July 21, 2008
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