The use of Aircraft in law enforcement
A surveillance aircraft is used for law enforcement purposes by governments and other legal authorities. We all know the importance of maintaining law and order, and Aircraft help the government to effectively play this role. Military forces use Aircraft to carry out surveillance as well as intelligence gathering in various areas.
Many government operations require the use of Aircraft. Such operations include; border patrol, traffic surveillance, fishery protection, battlefield surveillance, and airspace observations. The Aircraft used in law enforcement have unique features that are different from the features of regular commercial Aircraft.
What does a surveillance aircraft look like?
Surveillance aircraft carries little or no armament. It only carries the necessary defensive armament. They do not need high-performance capabilities compared to commercial Aircraft because they are used on rare occasions when surveillance needs to be done.
Surveillance aircraft have added military features such as night vision and tear gas dispensers. The Aircraft also have to flashlights, searchlights as well as police rescue equipment. Weapons are not permanently attached to the Aircraft to make it easy to modify their purposes. The Aircraft also comes with special seats for military personnel.
An aircraft can serve as a rescue aircraft today and serve as an air ambulance tomorrow. Flexibility is a key element in surveillance aircraft. We all understand that time is of the essence when it comes to all military operations.
Used commercial Aircraft can be modified to be used for reconnaissance. They are usually painted with the national colors of the government they serve in or the respective military forces colors. They also have moored balloons included in their features.
Aircraft used for reconnaissance
Below are Aircraft that are popularly used for law enforcement by many governments and government agencies:
Rotary Wing Aircraft
The helicopter is the most used form of rotary-wing Aircraft used by the defense forces for surveillance purposes. Other types of rotary-wing Aircraft are also used, especially if a helicopter is not available. Such types include the famous autogyros. For example, during the Winter Olympics in Utah in 2002, an autogyro was used for surveillance and law enforcement.
Fixed-wing Aircraft
This kind of Aircraft has a rigid wing making it more silent than a helicopter. For this reason, it is suitable for military operations that need to be secretive. The Aircraft is efficient because militants can carry out surveillance without people not knowing that they are being watched.
This type of Aircraft provides more flying time because of its low fuel consumption. It is also cheaper and more convenient to use for sensitive military operations. The Aircraft can also be used to transport prisoners because it is spacious. It can also be used to transport investigators to remote areas.
An example of an instance when a fixed-wing aircraft was used in military operations was during the Waco siege in 1993. The FBI used the Aircraft to carry out surveillance procedures on the Branch Davidian Compound before the siege. Military intelligence is easy to collect with this type of Aircraft because it does not make any noise.
Lighter than air aircraft
This Aircraft is cheaper to operate compared to a helicopter. It is also very quiet, and it works just fine in the surveillance of secretive areas. The Aircraft, however, does not operate well under harsh weather conditions, and it has been used very few times by military bodies across the globe. Such an aircraft was used to enforce law and order during the Atlanta Olympic games in 1996.
Final Remark
Military bodies choose the Aircraft to use for reconnaissance, depending on the nature of their operations. A fixed-wing aircraft is used when privacy and silence are needed. A helicopter can be used for short surveillance trips that do not need secrecy. The lighter than air aircraft can be used during good weather because, in the long run, it is cheaper to use than a helicopter.