North Midlands Helicopter Support Unit

The North Midlands Helicopter Support Unit was a joint consortium established in 1998 to provide police aviation for Derbyshire Constabulary and Nottinghamshire Police.[1][2] It was managed by John Jameson[3] and operated a Eurocopter EC135 from Derbyshire Constabulary's headquarters in Ripley, Derbyshire.[2]

Operations of the unit were taken over by the National Police Air Service in 2013. NPAS closed the unit in early 2016.[4]

Aircraft

The first aircraft operated by the unit was G-NMHS, a Eurocopter AS355N 'Twin Squirrel'.[5] This aircraft served with the unit from 1998-2004 when it was replaced by G-NMID, a Eurocopter EC135 T2.[6]

G-NMID landing at Ripley.
G-NMID at Ripley

Aircraft Details

Eurocopter AS355N Ecureuil 2 G-NMHS

  • S/N - 5502
  • Year Built - 1991
  • Year Delivered to NMHSU - 1998
  • Year Sold - 2004
  • Previous Operators - Dyfed-Powys Police

Eurocopter EC135 T2 G-NMID

  • S/N - 0300
  • Year Built - 2003
  • Year Delivered to NMHSU - 2004
  • Engines - 2 x Turbomeca Arrius 2B2

Following the takeover of operations by NPAS G-NMID remained at the base until closure. It has since been refurbished and re-registered as G-POLD[7] and is still operating for NPAS.

See also

References
  1. "Helicopter Unit". Website of Nottinghamshire Police. Nottinghamshire Police. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  2. "Our Helicopter". Website of Derbyshire Constabulary. Derbyshire Constabulary. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  3. "Helicoptor's halcyon year". Ripley and Heanor News. 24 December 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  4. "Police helicopter service to close Derbyshire base to save cash". Derby Telegraph. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  5. "UK Emergency Aviation - Police Helicopter Gallery - G-NMHS". www.ukemergencyaviation.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  6. "UK Emergency Aviation - Police Helicopter Gallery - G-NMID". www.ukemergencyaviation.co.uk. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
  7. "CAA G-INFO Page". Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
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