The Police Air Wing operates a BK117 Helicopter and 3 fixed wing aircraft. The fixed wing aircraft are two Pilatus PC12 and a Cessna 182.

The Police Air Wing supports frontline police in many ways. These include the deployment of police personnel, crime detection and prevention, search & rescue and medical transfers. The Police Air Wing operates at two locations in Western Australia, Jandakot Airport where the helicopter, Cessna 182 and PC12 are based, and Karratha where the second PC12 is based. 

The Pilatus PC12 is a single engine turbo-prop aeroplane, which can carry a maximum of eight passengers 1800kms (as far as Broome). It can cruise up to a height of 30,000ft and can travel at approximately 500km/hr. The PC12's primary role is to transport staff state-wide, but it can be utilised for search and rescue (SAR) and disaster relief efforts. The Cessna 182 is mainly used for surveillance and patrol work and can be fitted with a Leo400 FLIR unit. It is also used for inshore and land SAR searches.

The BK117 is a twin engine helicopter and was recently upgraded to B2 specification. The aircraft's role is police patrol, surveillance, search and rescue and officer deployment. It is fitted with a Star Safire III FLIR unit with downlink capabilities, Avalex digital recorder, Avalex moving map system, 4 monitors, Wulfsberg tactical radio, Nitesun search light and a double lift 600lb rescue winch.  

Forward Looking Infra-Red cameras track heat sources, such as a vehicle or human body in darkness and have a high powered zoom video camera for daylight hours.

Online images

The Western Australia Police Air Wing is a member of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA) and our images can be viewed at the ALEA website.

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