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 (NPAS) in 2013. NPAS closed the unit in early 2016.[4]

Aircraft

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The first aircraft operated by the unit was G-NMHS, a Eurocopter AS355 Écureuil 2 'Twin Squirrel'.[5] This aircraft served with the unit from 1998 to 2004 when it was replaced by G-NMID, a Eurocopter EC135 T2.[6]

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

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 by NPAS.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Helicopter Unit". Website of Nottinghamshire Police. Nottinghamshire Police. Retrieved 5 April 2011.
  2. ^ a b "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.