Il ISP Car Designators

[VASCAR2]

Probably a situation where pilot was not in the military and wasn’t accustomed to using the phonetic alphabet. Sometimes you hear ex military use military phonetic alphabet instead of the typical LE phonetic alphabet in LE communications. Old habits are hard to break and slip out.

As long as the information is copied correctly I don’t think it really matters but some people are sticklers for protocol.

 

[RTmed519]

That is correct, ISP plates with L designator are pilots but once airborne they use the P-Paul disgnation assigned to the airplane.

I took my Grandson to Capital Airport last week and one of the ISP Cessna 172’s was parked outside the hanger so I took a photo. Notice the FLIR mounted low below the rear window and rearward of the left landing gear. I can’t remember for sure but I think the pilots use the plane tail number when communicating with the FAA tower and not the Paul designation which is used for LE communications. The tail number is N551SP or 551Sierra Papa.

This is very interesting, also correction to my post (not that it matters) - a Caprice and Charger. They looked pretty sick though! I normally don't take pictures of police cars, but I thought this was too interesting to pass up...

 

[GTO_04]

I have not been to Illinois for a couple of years, and prior to this image I have never seen an ISP Charger. Sharp looking ride BTW.

GTO_04

 

[west-pac]

Correct, they use the tail number when on their VHF air radios. I've also heard the "SP" phonetically given as "Sugar Pop" on the aircraft radios.

The SP represents 'State Police'. Medical helicopter tail numbers typically correspond to the hospital network, or name of the service as well.

 

[EiriAmach]

Not all SP tail numbers are for state police though