NPAS to begin fixed-wing trial
The UK’s National Police Air Service (NPAS) has awarded a contract to deliver a police role-equipped fixed-wing surveillance aircraft to Airborne Technologies of Wiener Neustadt, Austria.
The aircraft, a Vulcanair P68R fitted with modifications by Airborne Technologies, will be used during a six-month trial. The test aircraft will be launched on live tasks alongside a helicopter in order to assess its performance. Compared to helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft offer greater endurance and lower operating costs.
Captain Oliver Dismore, flight operations director of NPAS, said: “I was tasked by the NPAS Strategic Board to explore opportunities around introducing new generation fixed-wing aircraft to the fleet to enhance our capabilities at modest additional cost. The cutting-edge surveillance equipment (Wescam MX10 and Churchill Augmented Reality System) proposed by Airborne Technologies is fully integrated into a mission system presented in an ergonomic working environment. This will reduce the workload of the single tactical flight officer crew and will enable the aircraft to perform tasks normally carried out by our helicopters, freeing them up for more time-critical missions.”
For the trial, Airborne Technologies said its team will provide a tailored aircraft with ‘a sophisticated working environment’. Airborne Technologies has previously delivered a Vulcanair P68 to the German Police.