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Helicopter Unit

The Israel Police’s helicopter unit has been operational since 1993 as part of the force’s Policing and Security Division.

Helicopters enjoy advantages of altitude, peripheral vision and speed of response. The unit operates four Bell 206 B-3 helicopters with combat equipment tailored to police requirements. The helicopter unit provides support for all Israel Police operational activity.The unit’s helicopters are constantly on stand-by for calls from field units.

Fixed-wing aircraft will soon be purchased in order to extend the helicopter unit’s operational capacity.

In addition to the unit’s routine and planned operational activity, pilots are used for a range of unplanned events, such as helping to fight fires, to search for missing persons, to provide support for police officers called to deal with a robbery or kidnapping, and to help chase persons who break through barriers.

The Israel Police’s helicopter unit works in conjunction with other police units, including the Border Guards, as well as the IDF, in a range of tasks within the sphere of internal security and protecting the country’s borders, including the following:

· Crime prevention throughout the country.

· Chasing after criminals and persons suspected of involvement in criminal activity.

· Locating missing persons.

· Helping to deal with terrorist activity.

· Border Guard activity along the country’s borders, to prevent entry by territorial residents who do not have entry visas to Israel.

· Enforcement of traffic laws, including patrolling designed to maintain traffic laws which apply to users of motorcycles and mini-tractors.

· Keeping law and order.

· Catching thieves in the agricultural sector, and sand thieves.

· Catching car thieves.

· Taking part in activities to catch narcotics criminals and to locate narcotics.

· Aerial photography flights.

The helicopters have operational night vision equipment and a powerful search light (Night Sun) which allow them to carry out a range of missions at night while providing extensive support for ground units.

The helicopters work in cooperation with ground forces. On many operations, the helicopter crew includes an “air patroller” who is a police officer from the station that is responsible for the operation. The officer acts as a liaison between the pilot and the mobile units carrying out a range of police duties, such as: placement of barriers, directing traffic and pursuit of fugitives. The Israel Police’s helicopter unit carries out activities from a base located in the center of the country. This allows it to respond to calls in all parts of the country.

Police Helicopters

The police operate four Bell 206 B-3 helicopters and plans to purchase fixed-wing aircraft in the near future with a view to extending the operational capacity of the helicopter unit (Policing and Security division).

The helicopters have operational night vision equipment and a powerful search light (Night Sun) which allow them to carry out a range of missions at night while providing extensive support for ground police and IDF units.

Last update ‏04/‏04/‏2004