Police Air Cover Gets a Boost with Four New Planes Added to Fleet
Police aerial support just got a major upgrade. Four brand-new bespoke aeroplanes are joining the national police air fleet, flying out of Doncaster sheffield/" title="Sheffield" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Sheffield Airport. These planes will now back up the 43 police forces across England and Wales, providing faster, further-reaching coverage than ever before.
Faster, Farther, and Ready for Action
The new planes boast quicker speeds and longer endurance compared to helicopters. They’re designed to reach some of the UK’s most remote areas, boosting police response times and improving safety from the skies.
- Based at a custom-built base at Doncaster Sheffield Airport
- Covering all corners of England and Wales
- Doing the same critical jobs as the helicopter fleet
Two of the four aeroplanes are already operational, having tackled 100 tasks in the last two months alone.
Game-Changer for National Police Air Service
Doncaster Sheffield is one of 14 National Police Air Service air bases supporting police forces across England and Wales. Together, they respond to around 20,000 incidents annually.
“Providing a unique aerial view to police officers on the ground, the addition of aeroplanes to the National Police Air Service helicopter fleet has already boosted our ability to respond to policing needs across the UK,” said Ian Vause, Assistant Operations Director for the National Police Air Service.
He added that air support is vital for:
- Locating suspects and vehicles
- Finding vulnerable missing people
- Managing large public gatherings like sports events
“We save local police time when it really matters,” Vause said. “And now, with the addition of these planes, we can do it more often and in more places.”
