The East Midlands Air Support Unit has become the first police operation in the UK to go live with the whole crew now working with Night Vision Goggles under new Civil Aviation Authority regulations.

The Unit, which provides aerial cover for police forces in Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire, has purchased three sets of Fenns NG2000 Night Vision Goggles and had its helicopter’s internal lighting fully converted to be compatible with the eyewear.

The East Midlands Air Support Unit’s main aims from the introduction of the night vision technology are: to enhance operational effectiveness and, importantly, to increase flight safety.

The goggles improve the aircraft crew’s spatial awareness at night, allowing the pilot and two air observers to see the ground, buildings, other obstructions and even wires, which was previously near impossible at night, particularly in very dark rural areas, or ‘black holes’, where there is little ambient light such as street lights, building lights or vehicle lights.

Now, thanks to the high quality optics of the Night Vision Goggles (NVG), the crew will be able to spot offenders or people who are missing at night, through just tiny amounts of light, such as the glow of a cigarette or the lit-up display on a mobile phone, some distance away.

Similar to North Wales Police’s air unit, air observers from the East Midlands unit have been using the Night Vision Goggles since last June, but now new Civil Aviation Authority and Air Accidents Investigation Branch rules and regulations have allowed for the pilot to wear NVG and for the aircraft lighting to be converted.

In an emergency call to the East Midlands Air Support Unit last July, the crew, wearing Night Vision Goggles, managed to locate a man who had hidden his car in woods and was attempting to take his own life in the North East of Leicestershire. The crew spotted a glimmer of reflected light on the numberplate of the man’s car and were able to guide in officers on the ground who were able to save the man, who was believed to be just a few minutes away from death.

Mick Dunn, Executive Officer of the East Midlands Air Support Unit, said: “We are thrilled that the whole crew is now able to use the Night Vision Goggles which has taken us two years to achieve under Civil Aviation Authority and international aviation rules because of the fact that we are the first police operation in the UK to use the technology under the new rules and regulations.

“As well as the air observers extending their nighttime operational capabilities through the use of both Night Vision Goggles and the onboard thermal image cameras, it also greatly enhances flight safety for the pilot, particularly when operating in very dark rural areas.

“We cover three fairly rural shire counties where there are a lot of dark holes and previously nighttime searches were extremely difficult.

“With the Night Vision Goggles, the pilot is able to improve his spatial awareness being able to see visual references including, importantly, the ground. The goggles need just a small light source - if there is enough ambient lighting from the moon, the pilot will get an image.

“The aircraft required significant alterations to make sure that all internal lighting, including the officers’ Airwave terminals, are compatible with the goggles to prevent flaring.”

The introduction of the night vision system has cost a total of £160,000, which includes nearly £50,000 for the three sets of goggles and the remainder spent on converting the aircraft lighting.

The bulk of the cost has been funded by a £121,000 Home Office grant with the rest having been jointly funded by Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire police forces.

The decision to invest in Night Vision Goggles followed recommendations by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Home Office, for police air support units to consider night vision technology to improve flight safety. The East Midlands Air Support Unit considered the technology would enhance their operational effectiveness and flight safety and worked closely with the CAA, the Home Office and various manufacturers and suppliers in order to obtain the correct equipment and have the aircraft lighting converted to achieve the required certification.

The East Midlands Air Support Unit has always endeavoured to be very proactive and forward looking, and has led the way nationally in the development of digital mapping and helmet tracking systems, attracting the attention of colleagues from around the UK. It is expected that many other police air support units will now follow this la-*test*-('") step in investing in night vision technology.

Where is that transfer request form

Scrotes at night, near helicopters? Not likely!

If God had meant mules to fly he would have forced them to keep fit by jumping to conclusions more often than they do at present! What the hell do the think the will see up there? A scrote on the way up from a gas explosion? Big boys toys or mules tools - you tell me. An appearance on Police, Camera, Action to entertain the chattering class in the local boozer is about the total use. Officially it will be a complete success regardless of the actual truth.