ShawnCowden
Member
I can't believe laurel county has two of these things and lex is just now to get one how behind are they hehe
Lexington police helicopter still grounded
Bennett Haeberle
WTVQ-TV, Action News 36
Nov 10, 19:01 PM EST
Lexington police won't be able to patrol the skies for a few more months, as the surplus military helicopter the city acquired in July still needs several repairs and upgrades -- including an engine overhaul.
Asst. Chief Ronnie Bastin with Lexington police said Thursday he doesn't expect the helicopter to be ready for use until February.
Bastin said several upgrades: including a paint job, a new radio system and work to its interior are all needed before it could be considered operational. But the refurbishment can't be made until the Division of Police's purchasing department approves the bid of a vendor, he said.
Yesterday, the city released the bids of five vendors whose upgrade estimates range from $225,000 to more than $400,000.
Nicholasville-based R.J. Corman Railroad Group was the only Kentucky company to put in a bid for the refurbishment. A spokeswoman with the company's aircraft maintenance department declined to discuss specifics of the company's estimate.
Others included Keystone Helicopter Corp, in West Chester, PA; Heli-Dyne Systems Inc., in Hurst, TX; and Wysong Enterprises, Inc. and Edwards & Associates -- both based in Tennessee.
"We knew about what we were looking at," Bastin said, referring to the cost of upgrading the helicopter.
The OH-58C jet helicopter was donated to the police department earlier this year by the U.S. Military. A new helicopter would have cost around $1.1 million, Bastin estimated.
Some of the additional cost of operating the helicopter will be offset by homeland security grants, according to Ed Lane, an Urban County councilman for the city's 12th district, who has largely supported the need for a helicopter.
"This will increase the efficiency of the police and fire departments," Lane said.
Lane added that the helicopter could also deter some from committing criminal acts because police would be able to pursue perpetrators with relative ease as compared to the risks associated with a vehicle pursuit.
Several police agencies within the state -- including state police -- already use helicopters in their police work, including in such activities as trying to spot and then eradicate marijuana.
Lexington police helicopter still grounded
Bennett Haeberle
WTVQ-TV, Action News 36
Nov 10, 19:01 PM EST
Lexington police won't be able to patrol the skies for a few more months, as the surplus military helicopter the city acquired in July still needs several repairs and upgrades -- including an engine overhaul.
Asst. Chief Ronnie Bastin with Lexington police said Thursday he doesn't expect the helicopter to be ready for use until February.
Bastin said several upgrades: including a paint job, a new radio system and work to its interior are all needed before it could be considered operational. But the refurbishment can't be made until the Division of Police's purchasing department approves the bid of a vendor, he said.
Yesterday, the city released the bids of five vendors whose upgrade estimates range from $225,000 to more than $400,000.
Nicholasville-based R.J. Corman Railroad Group was the only Kentucky company to put in a bid for the refurbishment. A spokeswoman with the company's aircraft maintenance department declined to discuss specifics of the company's estimate.
Others included Keystone Helicopter Corp, in West Chester, PA; Heli-Dyne Systems Inc., in Hurst, TX; and Wysong Enterprises, Inc. and Edwards & Associates -- both based in Tennessee.
"We knew about what we were looking at," Bastin said, referring to the cost of upgrading the helicopter.
The OH-58C jet helicopter was donated to the police department earlier this year by the U.S. Military. A new helicopter would have cost around $1.1 million, Bastin estimated.
Some of the additional cost of operating the helicopter will be offset by homeland security grants, according to Ed Lane, an Urban County councilman for the city's 12th district, who has largely supported the need for a helicopter.
"This will increase the efficiency of the police and fire departments," Lane said.
Lane added that the helicopter could also deter some from committing criminal acts because police would be able to pursue perpetrators with relative ease as compared to the risks associated with a vehicle pursuit.
Several police agencies within the state -- including state police -- already use helicopters in their police work, including in such activities as trying to spot and then eradicate marijuana.
