Local

Questions (and some answers) about APD helicopter crash

November 6th, 2012

The investigation into last weekend’s police helicopter crash in Atlanta is underway. Mayor Kasim Reed says it will take one year for the National Transportation Safety Board to thoroughly investigate. In the meantime there are questions about the use and age of police helicopters.

First the use question. The Atlanta Police Department was told a 9 year old boy was lost at night. But, why use a helicopter to find him? At a press conference yesterday, Atlanta Police Department deputy chief Renee Propes said they use helicopters to find missing kids, stolen cars…

“This is a routine call that the air unit would go and respond to in support of the ground units,” said Propes.

Helicopters aren’t the only tools used in these cases. There are also police trained dogs according to Deputy chief Shawn Jones.

“It could a situation where a dog maybe used,” said Jones. “It could be a situation where… say if a dog is not available than definitely a helicopter would be used to assist us.”

When asked if APD’s K-9 unit was on the ground searching for the boy, Jones said “not to my knowledge”. Jones also did not say if the K-9 unit was unavailable Saturday night.

There’s also the age question. As WABE first reported Sunday night, the helicopter that crashed first saw service in the military in 1967. Why was APD using a 45 year old helicopter especially when the city bought a brand new helicopter in 2002? Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said the helicopter that crashed had been totally renovated in 2005. Plus, he said pilots called that helicopter the most maneuverable in their fleet.

“We spent a substantial amount of money refurbishing that helicopter and that one of our most experienced helicopter pilots felt comfortable using that helicopter and we trusted his judgment,” said Reed.

The pilot, Officer Richard Halford, who died in the crash, had been an APD pilot for 16 years logging nearly 3,000 flight hours. Deputy chief Shawn Jones said APD helicopter mechanics have performed routine maintenance on it since 2005.

“They were comfortable that they aircraft they put in the air would perform what we needed it to do,” said Jones.

The city says its 3 remaining police helicopters have been on routine maintenance schedules and get annual maintenance service.