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Media Release November 6th 2011
Heliwest has begun operating Queensland's first Police helicopter on the Gold Coast.
Michelle Lacey - Gold Coast Bulletin
Media, police, councillors and passersby stopped to admire the launch of the long-awaited $1 million police helicopter -- 'Long Ranger' -- in Main Beach yesterday.
To show off the chopper in action, Mayor Ron Clarke and Assistant Commissioner Paul Wilson were flown around the Gold Coast for about 20 minutes by Heliwest pilot Matthew Wallace.
Once they landed safely at the Gold Coast Water Police Headquarters, which is where the chopper will be stored, Cr Clarke's smiling face said it all.
''It is phenomenal,'' he beamed.
''The most important thing was that you could see such detail so high up.''
The single-engined Bell 206, which is supplied by Perth-based company Heliwest, is due to start its $500,000 six month trial tomorrow.
The helicopter will gather intelligence from its bird's-eye view of the city and perform duties such anti-graffiti patrols, tracking high-speed car chases and locating armed robbers hiding from police.
It will be on standby for 40 hours a week and operate up to 20 hours a week.
Assistant Commissioner Wilson said the helicopter would bring an innovative layer to policing in the region.
''It is a historical day in the history of the Queensland Police Service,'' he said.
He said the police helicopter would be operational from Thursday to Monday, as these days were often known to be high-crime times.
Further Coverage of the machine on from the ABC can be found here.