Joint Air Support Unit Operations Overview and Status Report

AIRSUPPORT

OPERATIONS OVERVIEW AND STATUS REPORT

SGT. JEFF ALBRECHT

For more than 51 years the Glendale Police Department has utilized helicopters in support of missions on the ground. After observing the success of programs at Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Los Angeles Police Department, and several other municipalities, the Glendale Police Department established its own program and took delivery of its first helicopter (Bell 47-G-5A) in December of 1972. The cost of that aircraft was $55,000.

Over the years, increasing successes caused helicopters to become an integral part of police operations and a valued asset for other city departments, including Fire, Code Enforcement, Planning, Water/Power, and Traffic Engineering. The observed effectiveness of helicopters ultimately led to the joining of forces with Burbank Police Department, the construction of a state-of-the-art heliport facility at Burbank airport in 1994, an upgrade from one 2-seat piston driven helicopter to three 4-seat turbine helicopters, as well as multiple technological upgrades that have greatly enhanced capabilities.

The successes of a well-established program, however, does not dispense the responsibility for regular assessment of program viability. For that reason, the following report was drafted to provide an overview of current Joint Air Support Unit (JASU) operations.

Bell 47-G-5A

The Mission of Air Support

Since 2007, the cities of Burbank and Glendale have pooled resources to provide airborne law enforcement services in support of other operational elements of the Burbank and Glendale Police Departments. Although the primary mission of the Joint Air Support Unit is to provide an observation platform in support of patrol operations (as per the JASU MOU), the unit’s flexibility permits support of specialized police investigative functions, police tactical operations, fire department operations, and emergency, security, and/or logistical support to other city divisions. The JASU operation maintains a team mindset in utilizing air assets to serve the city wherever possible. Some of those functions are as follows:

 Direct Support to Patrol Officers

 Calls for Service

 Pursuits –vehicleandfoot

 Suspect/Vehicle Tracking

 Overwatch at SWAT/Detective Operations – highriskwarrants,takedowns,etc.

 Critical Infrastructure Security Checks – includingthefollowing:

GLENDALE BURBANK

 Scholl Park

 Flint Peak

 GPD Firing Range

 Duekmejian Park

 GFD Scholl Training Center

 Event/Protest Management

 Crime Prevention

 Search and Rescue Operations

 SWAT Personnel Insertions

 Verdugo Mountain/Trails

 KABC/Dreamworks

 Brand Park/Trails

 Mt. Thom

 Mt. Lee

 BPD Firing Range

 Starlight Starlight Bowl/Mesa

 Nature Center

 Photo Missions – insupportofvariouscitydepartments

 Post Rainstorm Terrain Integrity Checks

 Traffic Management

 Traffic Enforcement –recklessdriving,streetracing,etc.

 Surveillance in Support of Criminal Investigations

 Long-line equipment Insertion/Removal to support:

 GFD fire operations

 Police Investigations

 Parks

 Emergency Personnel Transport –e.g.Northridgeearthquake(1994)

 Brush Fire Management –Mapping,sizing,andresponsecoordinationwithFirepersonnel

5/1/2024

Personnel

Sergeant(1)– 4-10workschedule(dayshift:Tues-Fri)

Albrecht (Glendale)–Pilot/TFO;Privaterating;(3yearsASU)

FlightCrewPersonnel(5)– 4-10workschedule(rotatingdays/shiftsmonthly)

Conaway (Burbank)–Pilot/TFO;Commercialrating;CFI(16yearsinASU)

Embleton (Burbank)–Pilot/TFO;Commercialrating;(12yearsinASU)

Hamblin (Glendale)–Pilot/TFO;Commercialrating;(6yearsinASU)

Brewer (Glendale)–Pilot/TFO;Privaterating;(4yearsASU)

Corrales (Glendale)–Pilot/TFO;Privaterating;(3years)

Mechanic(1)– 4-10workschedule(dayshift:Tues-Fri)

Weiser – Glendalesalariedemployee(cost split with Burbank; Burbank pays 100% of overtime). Burbankportionincludedinquarterlybilling.

Current Aircraft

TheJASUoperationcurrentlyownsthreeMD520Nhelicopters.

520PD (2015)

Hours on aircraft: 5,600

AccordingtotheJASUMOUwithBurbankPD(lastamendedin2017),theestablished service-lifeofourhelicoptersis 15k flight hours or 20 years (priorto2015- 15 years), whichever comes first. On April 16, 2024, City Council approved the overdue replacementofouroldestaircraft(102CG)atatotalcostofjustover$5M,whichwillbe splitwiththeCityofBurbank. Upondelivery,102CGwillbesold – thevalueofthese particularaircraftishardtopredict,howeverinitscurrentcondition102CGislikelyto sellforapproximately$200K.

Flight Schedule

Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon 1730,2030,2330(1.5hrseach)

TheJASUmaintainsa7day-per-weekflight schedulethatiscoordinatedwithPasadena PD Air Support to maximize coverage throughout what are typically the most active hours of the day (see “Tri-city Schedule” on page 6 of this report). The JASU schedule allows for1800 actual flight hours per year. A recent analysis of the current schedule using Glendale PD dispatch data confirmed that the JASU schedule continuestocoverthemostactiveportionsofeachdayoftheweek(see “Air Support Coverage vs. Calls for Service by Hour of Day” on page 7 of this report).

Tues, Weds, Thurs, Fri 1300,1600,1900(1.5hrseach)

Flight Profile/Noise

Forpersonsontheground,thenoisiestpartofhelicopterflightistakeoffandlanding. Inadditiontothesafetymarginsitprovides,operatingfromahomebaseontherunway at the Hollywood-Burbank Airport negatesthat issuefor Glendale residents. In-flight noiseismitigatedby useof quieteraircraft and higher altitudeflightwhilecrewsare overthecity. Advancementsinexternalmountedcamerasandinfraredtechnologynow allowscrewstoflyconsiderablyhighertoreduceannoyanceontheground. Generally, when not ona call forservice, crews will fly at altitudes 1100 –1800 feet above the ground. However, while on calls for service, crews may drop as low as 500 feet, depending on circumstances of the call. JASU Air crews are keenly aware of noise concernandmakeeveryefforttominimizedisruptiontothecommunity.

FlyNeighborlyProgram-

All JASU pilots have obtained certificates of completion from the Federal Aviation Administration’s“FlyNeighborly”program. Thetrainingprovideshelicopteroperators with flight techniques, noise abatement procedures, and situational awareness tools thatcanbeusedtominimizehelicopternoiseforthecommunity.

Budget

AircraftDepreciationFund

The City of Glendale has set aside an “island account” to cover the scheduled replacementofJASUaircraft,aswellasmaintenanceandoperationalcosts. Allofthese costsaresplit50/50withthecityofBurbank.

Flat-lineBudget

ThecostoftheJASUcanfluctuatedrasticallyyear-to-yearbasedonmaintenanceand aircraftreplacement. AttherequestofCityofGlendaleFinancea flat line budget has beenestablishedthroughtheyear2035. Accountingforanannualinflationrateof3%, the total annualflat line budget is approximately $963k. Split with Burbank PD, that amountstoayearlyaverageof $481,500 foreachcity.

MaintenanceCosts

A major portion of the annual budget is associated with the direct maintenance of aircraft. Thosecostscanvarydrasticallyyeartoyeardependinguponwhenlargeritems come due. The JASU supervisor ishighlyengagedin the maintenance processand is constantlymakingprojectionstoallowforbudgetingandpartsacquisition.

Recent Activity

TheBurbank-GlendaleJointAirSupportUnit(JASU)flewatotalof605.4hoursduring the2023calendaryear.Primarilyduetomaintenancechallenges,thisfellwellshortof the annual scheduled flight time of 1,876 hours. Nevertheless, while operational, aircrewswereabletokeeppacewithactivityfrompreviousyears,exceedingtheannual goaltobefirstonscenetoatleast75%ofcallstowhichtheyrespond.Theywerefirst onsceneat79.5%ofthosecalls. See2023and2022activityandflighthoursbreakdowns onpages8–11ofthisreport.

While operational in 2023,the JASU contributedto amonthly averageof 13.7 felony arrestsand11misdemeanorarrests.Theywereinvolvedin8pursuits,contributedto therescueof4lost/injuredhikers,located14GTA’sand/orFlockhits,andconducted 3,426 security checks at critical infrastructure sites where checks via ground are impractical.

Tri-City/FAST/Pomona Flight Schedule

(Updated 11/02/2017)

Monday

Pasadena 1130-1300

Pasadena 1430-1600

Bur/Glen 1730-1900

Pasadena 1830-2000

Bur/Glen 2030-2200

Pasadena 2130-2300

Bur/Glen 2330-0100

Pasadena 0000-0100 (standby/0200)

Tuesday

Pasadena 1130-1300

Bur/Glen 1300-1430

Pasadena 1430-1600

Bur/Glen 1600-1730

Pasadena 1730-1900

Bur/Glen 1900-2030

Pasadena 2030-2200 (Standby/ 0200)

Wednesday

Pasadena 1130-1300

Bur/Glen 1300-1430

Pasadena 1430-1600

Bur/Glen 1600-1730

Pasadena 1730-1900

Bur/Glen 1900-2030

Pasadena 2030-2200 (Standby/0200)

Thursday

Pasadena 1130-1300

Bur/Glen 1300-1430

Pasadena 1430-1600

Bur/Glen 1600-1730

Pasadena 1730-1900

Bur/Glen 1900-2030

Pasadena 2030-2200 (Standby/0200)

Friday

Pasadena 1130-1300

Bur/Glen 1300-1430

Pasadena 1430-1600

Bur/Glen 1600-1730

Pasadena 1700-1830

Bur/Glen 1730-1900

Pomona 1830-2000

Bur/Glen 1900-2030

Pasadena 2000-2130

Bur/Glen 2030-2200

Pomona 2130-2300

Pasadena 2230-0000 (Standby/ 0200)

Bur/Glen 2330-0100

Pomona 0030-0200

Saturday

Pasadena 1630-1730

Bur/Glen 1730-1900

FAST 1830-1930

Pasadena 1900-2030

Bur/Glen 2030-2200

FAST 2030-2200

Pasadena 2200-2330 (Standby/ 0100)

Bur/Glen 2330-0100

FAST 2330-0100 (Standby0 0200)

Sunday

Pasadena 1600-1730

Bur/Glen 1730-1900

Pasadena 1900-2030

Bur/Glen 2030-2200

Pasadena 2200-2330 (Standby/ 0100)

Bur/Glen 2330-0100

Hours Flown