Police Aviation News November 2008

Police Aviation News November 2008 20
More important is the news that the AW139 helicopters based on the south coast at Lee
and Portland have been grounded at night, until further notice, because of problems with
unspecified ‘specialist equipment’ on board. MCA crews declared that the AW139 was not
fully capable of undertaking the night mission and requested a return to flying the previous
equipment – the Sikorsky S61. This retrograde step will continue until they consider that a
full night-time capability is demonstrated on the AW139.
Even the doubters did not predict that development.
SKY WATCH CIVIL AIR PATROL: Tony Cowan MBE (an ex RAF Squadron
Leader and former Unit Executive Officer with the Cambridge Police Air Support Unit) was
elected as the new Chairman of Sky Watch Civil Air Patrol at the service¹s Annual General
Meeting held at Peterborough Connington airfield.
Peter Macintosh (ex RAF Red Arrows) was elected as Chief Pilot, moving from his post as
Safety Officer, a position which is currently vacant until a suitable replacement can be
found.
A new appointment is Chief Engineer, this post being filled by Robin Braithwaite, Chief Pilot
of No.8 (Kimberley) Unit, based at RAF Henlow. Robin is a Halton Brat having been trained
by the RAF as an Airframes &
Engines Technician, and is a
current LAA Inspector.
The retiring Chairman was Arnold
Parker, he Founded Sky
Watch as a private pilot and has
nurtured his baby and seen it
grow. He feels confident enough
to let go of the reins a little and
has every confidence in the future
of Sky Watch Civil Air Patrol
in the hands of a new team that
includes so many with the credentials
to take Sky Watch to
greater heights.
Arnold will remain active in Sky
Watch, running No.2 Unit at Rufforth,
Yorkshire, with its Observer
Training Programme and
continuing to edit the magazine
Sky Watch Report.
WEST MIDLANDS: The number of
emergency services acquiring and using
small hovercraft continues to grow. The police
in the West Midlands have set up their
own Shallow Water Operations Team
[SWOT] using a small hovercraft and caterpillar
amphibious wheel driven craft. The
SWOT set-up provides an alternative to
bringing in trained divers to recover objects
– including dead bodies – from water.
The new Chairman Tony Cowan presents retiring Chairman Arnold Parker
with an engraved commemorative tankard to acknowledge Arnold¹s tenure as
Chairman of Sky Watch.