The Queensland Police Service has formally launched its second police helicopter, Brisbane-based BO 105 VH-PVK, which is scheduled to begin operational policing duties from July 5.
The 1996 model BO 105 CBS-5 will be operated for Queensland Police by Surf Life Saving Queensland on a two-year contract through until July 2015, and has been extensively refurbished and outfitted with a Garmin G500H avionics suite, FLIR, searchlight and loudspeaker.
Polair 2 joins the similarly configured BO 105 Polair 1, which is based on the Gold Coast and has been operational since August 2013.
“It has proven valuable in performing a range of policing functions such as searching for offenders and missing persons, identifying drug crops and managing traffic and major events,” Commissioner Ian Stewart said on Tuesday.
“Deploying a second police helicopter within south-east Queensland will be a significant boost for policing in the area.”
“It also makes the job safer, not just for our police, but for the community as well.”
Both aircraft are crewed by a civilian Surf Life Saving Queensland pilot and two police aircrew officers comprising a mission coordinator sitting opposite the pilot, and a FLIR operator in the rear left seat.
