Helicopter with no navigation lights

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mdav056

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#295977 10-May-2022 21:36

--circling Glen Inness (as usual) the last few nights -- Turned its lights on presumably to track a car towards Remuera in the end. Guess it was the Police.

Is flying without Navigation lights legal? Even if it is Police? Seems bloody dangerous and bloody stupid to me.

gml

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Linux

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#2912498 10-May-2022 21:45

I am sure the Police know what they are doing! Flown in the Police helicopter a number of times and they know what they are doing

SATTV

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#2912499 10-May-2022 21:50

We used to get Helicopters without lights at 1am, my guess is that the air force was doing some training.

I have not seen the police helicopter without lights, we have one of them overhead most nights.

John

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johno1234

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#2912518 11-May-2022 06:43

The police helicopter is contracted out to a commercial operator. They have to follow the rules like any other operator.

Linux

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#2912522 11-May-2022 06:56

Contracted out please explain more?

Rust

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#2912526 11-May-2022 07:08

I'm not familiar with the rules so just guessing here, but logic says aircraft lights should be visible to other aircraft, not necessarily the ground (except perhaps when landing). So perhaps the in-flight lights are somewhat directional and difficult to spot from the ground.

xpd

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#2912530 11-May-2022 07:21

(Looks at the 4 helicopters in a hangar across from him) I could find someone who might know if I had time..... busy day today.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon

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GV27

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#2912534 11-May-2022 07:57

Seen this before out West. You hear the chopper but you can't see where it is.

After a while, they turn them on sometimes.

johno1234

122 posts

Master Geek

#2912537 11-May-2022 08:19

Linux: Contracted out please explain more?

Eagle is a name for helicopters owned by a civilian company and flown by civilian pilots with police observers aboard.

https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/new-contract-awarded-supplier-police-eagle-helicopters

Linux

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#2912540 11-May-2022 08:42

johno1234:

Linux: Contracted out please explain more?

Eagle is a name for helicopters owned by a civilian company and flown by civilian pilots with police observers aboard.

https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/new-contract-awarded-supplier-police-eagle-helicopters

@johno1234 Every time I have flown on Eagle a sworn Police officer is the pilot

Ge0rge

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#2912541 11-May-2022 08:46

So Police have it wrong on their website, @Linux?

johno1234

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#2912544 11-May-2022 09:02

Linux:

@johno1234 Every time I have flown on Eagle a sworn Police officer is the pilot

Then I am sorry that you have been misinformed.

https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/police-teams-and-units/air-support-eagle-unit

"Eagle normally operates with a crew of three - a civilian pilot, and two observers, both observers are sworn police officers."

I'm interested to hear how it is that you are going for jollies aboard the Eagle?

johno1234

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#2912545 11-May-2022 09:09

Eagle's Auckland helicopter contract was held by Heliwork out of Mechanics Bay until Advanced Flight won the contract and the base moved to their facility in Onehunga.

Linux

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#2912547 11-May-2022 09:15

johno1234:

Linux:

@johno1234 Every time I have flown on Eagle a sworn Police officer is the pilot

Then I am sorry that you have been misinformed.

https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/police-teams-and-units/air-support-eagle-unit

"Eagle normally operates with a crew of three - a civilian pilot, and two observers, both observers are sworn police officers."

I'm interested to hear how it is that you are going for jollies aboard the Eagle?

@johno1234 Pull your head in I was on Eagle doing radio testing over the mobile network, My good friend and brother in-law also flew on eagle for a number of years

All I mentioned was when I was on Eagle it was flown by a sworn police officer!

johno1234

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#2912550 11-May-2022 09:26

Well, that's rather hard to fathom when the Police themselves are quite clear that the aircraft are flown by civilian pilots. I think Advanced Flight would also be quite surprised to hear that someone else is operating their aircraft that they are contracted to operate...

I'll pull my head in now as you clearly are more authoritative on this than Advanced Flight and the Police. Nothing more to add, really.

MikeB4

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#2912551 11-May-2022 09:26

Why is this an issue?

Come on folks play nice or one of the Constables will make a visit 😄

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