South Dakota Highway Patrol Aviation Unit

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South Dakota Highway Patrol Aviation Unit Trooper Sarah Schumacher Introduction • Pilot since 2005 • B.S. in Aviation from South Dakota State University • Airplane Single and Multi-Engine Land, Instrument airplane, CFI, CFII,MEI, Remote Pilot • FAA Safety Team Representative and FAAST “Drone Pro” • Law Enforcement: dispatcher from 2013- 2015, SDHP Academy Class 59 in 2016 • Grew up in Watertown, living in Pierre, SD since 2017 Sir I’m giving you a citation today. Best traffic stop ever!! History of Aviation in South Dakota Highway Patrol • 1960’s – Speed enforcement began. SDHP leased a Super Cub. Pilots and spotters utilized stop watches to determine speed over distances. • 1970’s –Speed enforcement continued. In the late 1970’s, SDHP purchased a used Cessna 182 Skylane. • 1981 – SDHP replaced the Skylane with a new Cessna 182 Skylane RG. • Late 1980s – “Drug War”, the SDHP started working counter-drug operations including marijuana identification and eradication. • 1995 – SDHP added OH-58C Bell Helicopter for marijuana eradication, emergency relays, natural disaster response, etc. • 2007 – SDHP purchases 2004 Cessna T206 to replace the aging 182 Skylane RG. • 2014 – SDHP purchases first FLIR system and fits to both helicopter and airplane. SDHP Aviation Unit Today • Average of 353 hours flown a year over 81 different “unique” missions, increasing every year • 81% of use is directly related to missions/enforcement, rest is training and transportation and emergency relays. • Over the last 3 years, HP500 has utilized 60/75 (80%) of public airports in the state for enforcement or services What we actually“do” • Traffic enforcement (speed, stop sign, passing zone, following too closely) • Traffic complaints • Aggressive/reckless driving/DUI • Search and rescue • Pursuit management • Drug interdiction • Emergency response/relay • Tactical overwatch • Traffic control, fire spotting, etc • High profile events Why an airplane? • SD is a BIG state ~77,000 square miles • Helicopters are limited by weight, range, speed • Helicopters are very high liability • Helicopters require significantly more maintenance, which means more down time and more money • Cessna T206 is a good balance of speed, payload, range and simplicity HP500 • 2007 Cessna T206 • Turbocharged 310 horsepower Lycoming IO-540 • Configured for pilot plus 3, can add rear seating for pilot plus 5 • Extended-range fuel tanks = 117 gallons of fuel (~6.5 hours-10 hours) • TKS ice protection Airport Operation selection • Main considerations: • Runway surface • Weather reporting/winter maintenance • VFR only or IFR approaches available • Fuel, hangar, services available • Proximity to operations • Easy in and out Easy Changes • Issue and update NOTAMs regularly, especially for runway conditions and closures. • Weather reporting and runway information is critical South Dakota Highway Patrol Aviation Unit What everyone thinks the Aviation Unit is like What the Aviation Unit is actually like Tactical Flight Officer Program (TFO) • Specialized training in systems and techniques • Thermography training • Aerial Search and Rescue training TFO Training Program • TFO’s must possess a variety of skills: • Ability to work in and around small aircraft • Good spatial orientation • Location, location, location! • Law enforcement tactics – MFF, SWAT, Use of Force FLIR 230-HD • thermal imaging system, utilizes “day time”, “low light” and “Infra-red” camera sensors • Purchase and installation was approximately $500,000 in 2014 for “sensor pod”, aircraft mounting, monitors and controllers, radio upgrades, weight and balance changes for helicopter and airplane • This is where the SDHP began shifting from primarily speed enforcement towards “tactical” enforcement. What is Forward Looking Infra- Red? (IR) • A thermal, or infrared camera, is a non-contact device that detects infrared energy (heat) and converts it into a visual image. • That image is interpreted by the operator. Different functions We utilize different: • Color palettes • Settings • Sensors To achieve our goal. Tracking a vehicle on a drug interdiction operation is different from searching for a suspect after a pursuit, which is different from a high-risk fugitive warrant. IR color palettes Different color palettes allow different details to “pop” on an image. This is especially important in low-contrast situations Histogram • Graphical depiction of amount of “light” in an image – can be over-exposed (washed out) or under-exposed (too dark) • Histogram increases contrast of an image – adjusts the intensity of the whites/blacks • Useful for IR images where there is both light and dark in the same image – shows different detail Auto Histogram Histogram Examples • Washed out • Too much gray – not enough true black and white Digital Detail Enhancement Aircraft Missions • SDHP airplane flies year round, in all seasons and all weather conditions • Operates in and out of 60/75 public airports in SD • Examples of missions include: • Traffic enforcement • Motor carrier enforcement • Pursuit management • Drug Interdiction • Traffic control • Tactical overwatch Traffic Enforcement “putting cars on the side of the road” • Stop sign violation, speeding, passing, reckless/aggressive driving, traffic complaints, following too closely, move over violations, DUI enforcement • SDHP Aircraft has made multiple DUI and drug arrests from the air by observing violations and getting a trooper in position to stop vehicle. Pursuit Management High Speed Pursuits • Vehicle pursuits are a very high liability law enforcement function. • Pursuits can last anywhere from a few seconds to 2+ hours in South Dakota. • Aircraft allows units in pursuit to slow down and fall back while aircraft follows the vehicle. This decreases dangerous driving behavior of driver and LEO • Low risk of aircraft being out-run by suspect • If aircraft is tracking and vehicle stops, crashes, or occupants run on foot, we are