Police Helicopters

[ECPD279]

Back to the original question of what the choppers are doing when they seem to wander aimlessly and then turn "like the pilot is drunk". If they see a patrol car on the ground they will usually do a quick circle to ensure that the unit doesn't need help. Around here we just flash four fingers at them, as in Code Four, and they go on their merry way, or if I want them to hang around for a minute I'll look up at them hold up my radio (that means "Come up on my channel"), or at night we'll flash them with a flashlight. Otherwise, they just kinda go wherever looks interesting and scan the radios.

 

[poltergeisty]

wouldn't a RC helicopter be cheaper. :lol: I mean I think about what was said and thats has to cost allot of money for fuel and maintenance when maybe 75 percent of the time is just flying around. For some places I guess, I know they also catch traffic offenders. Planes do this too believe me, thats how they catch'em in North Dakota. Can't even speed down a county road. :lol:

Sense I don't think any of this has to do with scanning I'll throw in these two questions. Do the helicopter pilots talk to other helicopter pilots in the area.? Do they have their own channels?

You know I have to say the helicopter has to be one of the safest air vehicles. I don't hear allot of them crashing on the news, well besides the recent one in the Florida everglades.

It seems allot in Iraq go down though. In war their probably not one of the safest things out there, but then again what is. I'd rather be in a jet to tell you the truth. Like the new F-22.

 

[AZScanner]

A funny story related to this thread: Usually when I'm at home and I hear an air unit do a tight orbit overhead, I'll wander out my door with the scanner on to see what's going on and if I see anything that can assist officers (they are usually looking for a suspect or missing kid, and I figure if I see anything I can call it in).

Well the crew of one local air unit caught on to this and decided to have some fun with me one night. It was a Friday night and I was doing my usual routine of staying up way late listening to the scanner. Around 2 AM, I hear the air unit start doing tight orbits RIGHT OVER MY HOUSE! :shock: I was a bit surprised, because I had been listening and it had been a really quiet night in my neighborhood, no calls at all going on at that moment (which was rare on a Friday night). So naturally, after the 4th or 5th orbit, I put on some shoes, grabbed a handheld, tuned it to the local precinct frequency and wandered out my front door, as the helo was coming around front for another pass....

"AH! THERE YOU ARE, MR. SCANNER!" I hear from the helo's PA as I get bathed in bright white light from the nightsun. "HAVE A GOOD NIGHT!" The light went out and the helo did a quick left, right, left wave to me as they departed. The neighbors didn't quite know what to make of it, they were all peeking out their windows wondering WTF was going on. It was a bit embarrassing, but also truly funny - I had to laugh. I wonder if they had a bet going to see if I'd come out or not... :lol:

-AZ

 

[poltergeisty]

AZscanner are you kidding me? Thats just too funny. :lol:

 

[Skylab]

A.S.T.R.E.A

San Diego County Sheriff's Office

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi guys,

Police helicopters fly in circles when they are lost.

They make erratic course changes when the pilot and observer are arguing over whether to get doughnuts or pizza.