CHP Air Speed Enforcement

[NWtoSFO]

If the fixed-wing is (or was) primarily used for speed enforcement, why have both it and H-20 up at the same time? I realize everyone is flying a lot less than in the past, but if they lose money doing speed enforcement, why put the plane up at all and just fly the helo? It seems like H-20 is much more useful when aiding local agencies with a call than the plane. Just wondering.

 

[tahoekid77]

I heard both on the radio yesterday in Sacramento. I also found it odd.

 

[inigo88]

I think you guys will enjoy this: EDIT: (my bad, tahoekid already beat me to it!).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC9d66Tf-OE

That's the FLIR footage from Sacramento CHP's fixed wing Cessna 206 "Air 21" from when they pulled over Tyreke Evans.

A couple things to note: Radio traffic in an air unit is always high. In this case, it sounds like they're monitoring at least two CHP dispatch channels plus the McClellan CTAF/UNICOM on 122.975 on the aircraft radio. In other words, you need to maintain situational awareness not only with what's going on on the ground but in the air as well, and it doubles your radio workload. Also once he gets overhead of the officer, you'll see them use the CHP-specific "Car-to-Car" radio mode (simplex on the Base frequency).

I also get the impression that the pilot is flying solo, without the aid of a TFO (I believe CHP calls them "Flight Officers"), because there's no intercrew intercom conversation heard. From watching the video, it seems like he's flying the airplane, controlling the FLIR with a thumb switch on the yoke (given how the camera kind of bobs around and cycles through different modes and zoom settings), and talking on the radio all at the same time. Hopefully I didn't just insult the TFO if it is a two crew op.

why put the plane up at all and just fly the helo?

I'm not sure of the specifics with Sac, but airplanes are much MUCH more inexpensive to operate than helicopters as a rule. Preventative maintenance alone is astronomically more expensive on helicopters (think of all the moving parts). The Eurocopter AS350B3 "A-Star" is powered by a Turbomeca Arriel gas-turbine ("jet") engine, which burns around 50 gallons of fuel per hour and produces over 700 hp. Compare that with the fixed-wing Cessna 206, which uses a six-cylinder Continental engine, produces around 300 hp and only burns about 15 gallons per hour of fuel. Clearly one is cheaper to operate than the other. I haven't been to Sacramento in a long time, but I always thought CHP tended to use the fixed-wing when possible since Sac PD Air 1 and Sac Sheriff STAR 1 are already staffed, and H-20 is mostly on the ground on a call when needed standby, but I could be way off.

I heard both on the radio yesterday in Sacramento. I also found it odd.

Maybe they were both up for training? Pilots have to keep a certain amount of currency. Not the most cost-effective though.

 

[stingray327]

I heard both on the radio yesterday in Sacramento. I also found it odd.

We don't hear much in the San Francisco Bay area anymore.

 

[stingray327]

I think you guys will enjoy this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC9d66Tf-OE

That's the FLIR footage from Sacramento CHP's fixed wing Cessna 206 "Air 21" from when they pulled over Tyreke Evans.

A couple things to note: Radio traffic in an air unit is always high. In this case, it sounds like they're monitoring at least two CHP dispatch channels plus the McClellan CTAF/UNICOM on 122.975 on the aircraft radio. In other words, you need to maintain situational awareness not only with what's going on on the ground but in the air as well, and it doubles your radio workload. Also once he gets overhead of the officer, you'll see them use the CHP-specific "Car-to-Car" radio mode (simplex on the Base frequency).

I also get the impression that the pilot is flying solo, without the aid of a TFO (I believe CHP calls them "Flight Officers"), because there's no intercrew intercom conversation heard. From watching the video, it seems like he's flying the airplane, controlling the FLIR with a thumb switch on the yoke (given how the camera kind of bobs around and cycles through different modes and zoom settings), and talking on the radio all at the same time. Hopefully I didn't just insult the TFO if it is a two crew op.



I'm not sure of the specifics with Sac, but airplanes are much MUCH more inexpensive to operate than helicopters as a rule. Preventative maintenance alone is astronomically more expensive on helicopters (think of all the moving parts). The Eurocopter AS350B3 "A-Star" is powered by a Turbomeca Arriel gas-turbine ("jet") engine, which burns around 50 gallons of fuel per hour and produces over 700 hp. Compare that with the fixed-wing Cessna 206, which uses a six-cylinder Continental engine, produces around 300 hp and only burns about 15 gallons per hour of fuel. Clearly one is cheaper to operate than the other. I haven't been to Sacramento in a long time, but I always thought CHP tended to use the fixed-wing when possible since Sac PD Air 1 and Sac Sheriff STAR 1 are already staffed, and H-20 is mostly on the ground on a call when needed standby, but I could be way off.

That's the same one we saw earlier with the Dodge Challenger silver in color with V6 engine. Thanks anyway.

 

[inigo88]

That's the same one we saw earlier with the Dodge Challenger silver in color with V6 engine. Thanks anyway.

I see tahoekid beat me to it. Enough pages have gone by in this thread I forgot what had been posted already.

 

[tahoekid77]

The SAC aircraft are based in Auburn. I was thinking of taking a field trip out there one of these days. I can use my pilot credentials to walk around the tarmac and ask silly questions if the CHP troopers are hanging around. (Hey, do you guys do ride-alongs?)

 

[tahoekid77]

We don't hear much in the San Francisco Bay area anymore.

I literally hear them every Sunday, weather permitting. The weather was a little dicey yesterday but they were still up. This time doing general patrols instead of speed traps. (Dispatch called them about a citizen's report 23103 two motorcycles weaving through traffic).

I'm not sure why they have such a presence in Sacramento and less so (if at all) in the SF Bay Area.

 

[russianspd]

The SAC aircraft are based in Auburn. I was thinking of taking a field trip out there one of these days. I can use my pilot credentials to walk around the tarmac and ask silly questions if the CHP troopers are hanging around. (Hey, do you guys do ride-alongs?)

I've gone to my local CHP Office and have been told that they do not do ride alongs. However from time to time I do hear a unit going on duty with a rider, sort of tweaks my nerves everytime I hear it.

 

[russianspd]

I literally hear them every Sunday, weather permitting. The weather was a little dicey yesterday but they were still up. This time doing general patrols instead of speed traps. (Dispatch called them about a citizen's report 23103 two motorcycles weaving through traffic).

I'm not sure why they have such a presence in Sacramento and less so (if at all) in the SF Bay Area.

Have to protect the "capital".

 

[gmclam]

I'm not sure why they have such a presence in Sacramento and less so (if at all) in the SF Bay Area.

What I hear them stopping is the people going THRU Sacramento. Gotta go thru Sac to get to Tahoe from the Bay Area quickly.

 

[stingray327]

I literally hear them every Sunday, weather permitting. The weather was a little dicey yesterday but they were still up. This time doing general patrols instead of speed traps. (Dispatch called them about a citizen's report 23103 two motorcycles weaving through traffic).

I'm not sure why they have such a presence in Sacramento and less so (if at all) in the SF Bay Area.

Usually don't they do most of their aircraft speed enforcement in the mornings?

 

[KD6RRR]

This is completely uninformed uneducated wild guess, but I wonder if there is far less air ops in the Bay Area because the approach and departure patterns of San Jose, Oakland, & San Francisco International airports make trying to do the impressive multitasking the pilot in the posted video was demonstrating a complete nightmare with all the traffic buzzing around in the air?

 

[RadioGuy1951]

videos I captured in the last year:

CHP in the sky - Radar Detector & Laser Jammer Forum

FYI - I usually pick them on on these channels in SAC area:

CHP GOLD3 but mostly BLUE2 (44.84000)

Remember that "Blue-2" is on DIFFERENT freqs in different areas...

44.84 is VALLEY Blue-2

44.92 ia COAST Blue-2

So when you mention a channel color, you also need to include the location and or dispatch center...

With frequency agile radios in both dispatch and in the cars / cycles / aircraft just about ANY freq & PL tone can be used on a dynamic basis...(similar to how CDF assigns tac channels on a dynamic basis)

As to not being able to hear certain transmissions, besides what has been mentioned previously, note that some signals from dispatch centers to transmitter sites are sometimes delivered via VHF links, UHF links, microwave links, and fiber optic circuits might also be used in the future where infrastructure is in place...

As to calling out the speeds, it's really not that hard...all chp cars have precise calibrated speedometers, and some cars have a HUD (Heads Up Display)...

 

[russianspd]

Do those HUDS come with night vision like they do for Airliners?

 

[RadioGuy1951]

However, when I'm out in Nevada or some other western states, I find it most annoying, and illogical, that the speed limit is anything less than 90.

Hwy 80 & Hwy 50 is not an autobahn, and not everybody feels the need to drive 90+...some folks are happy to drive much slower... if I'm driving 60 and you come up at 90 (or more) that's a 30mph difference....

What if you blow a tire or have a mechanical situation arise while doing 90+ ...???

Even with perfect tires, tires can fail due to heat created when run at high speeds...and tires can also fail due to debris on the roadway...

Mechanical failure can occur at any speed...and cross winds are more dangerous because the faster you drive, the less apparent weight of each tire on the ground at any given moment (which is why it's easier to hydroplane the faster you go)...

The faster you go, the more likely it will be an 11-41 call, or even a 11-44 call...and head on collisions are worse the faster you go...as are roll-overs...and if you crash in "the middle of nowhere" it will be a long time before the medics, fire / rescue, & coronor can get to you

Nevada HP often will "tag team" with units separated by a mile or so, and hide behind objects...they also wait for people crossing the CA-NV border driving too fast...

I back up what ExSmokey says about small towns, and idiots racing through town, filled with highway adrenaline (which produces a tunnel vision effect visually & mentally)

 

[kma371]

all i know is they can take my license and all that jive, but I can't drive 55

had to do it

 

[RadioGuy1951]

I've gone to my local CHP Office and have been told that they do not do ride alongs. However from time to time I do hear a unit going on duty with a rider, sort of tweaks my nerves everytime I hear it.

Whenever I hear of a "ride-a-long" it's usually another LEO, often from a different agency (PD, Sheriff, D.A., etc), or the media...

 

[RadioGuy1951]

all i know is they can take my license and all that jive, but I can't drive 55

had to do it

Why not (if that's the posted speed limit)...???

Are you above the law...???

Are you too self important...???

Do you not know how to plan your trips & schedules...???

Driving is not an act of instant gratification, as much as some might want it to be...

If you are so outragous that you are going faster than traffic flow and stand out enough to draw attention to yourself, and get a ticket, it is your fault, the fault of the other drivers, the fault of the lawmakers, or the fault of the CHP...???

 

[russianspd]

I got onto the freeway the other day and this guy was taking his jolly time accelerating from the onramp in the midst of several streams of big rigs and I finally got over to the middle lane and as I was about to move over to the #1 there was a escalade and a smaller cutlass type playing chicken with one another at about 80-85 plus. Speed limit where I am with construction is a posted 55. But no one ever listens. 65 which is the normal is somewhat decent, but still doing anything over 65-70 in a posted 55 because it's what you are used to is pretty ignorant. Let alone chicken on the freeway at 85 through a construction zone.