Air Support Unit

The Air Support Unit is based at the City Heliport, next to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) in Glasgow. This location is ideal for providing the best air support coverage for the Strathclyde Police area, some 5,348 square miles, with more coastlines than France.

The aircraft is available 365 days a year and can be requested by any Strathclyde Police officer through the duty officer at Force Control.

The helicopter has an initial response time of just two minutes (overhead) to any incident in the Greater Glasgow area, and Airdrie, Coatbridge and Hamilton are only six minutes' flying time away. If required, it could be helping beat officers in Oban in 30 minutes' time.

The Flying Crew

Each crew consists of two police officers and a civilian pilot. All the unit's pilots have a great deal of operational experience under their belts - essential if the unit is to comply with and operate under the terms of a Police Air Operators Certificate, which allows certain exemptions from normal flying rules.

The pilot drives the machine. The front-seat observer is responsible for navigation, communication with Force Control and the operational control of the aircraft. The rear-seat observer communicates with divisional control rooms, takes aerial photos and operates various items of equipment.

Because safety is paramount, all crew members are equipped with flying helmets, flame-retardent flying suits and life vests. All crew are also trained in underwater escape techniques.