Winnipeg Police Helicopter

[North Shore]

Any rumblings yet as to who gets to fly it, and how they'll select the crew?

[rotorfloat]

Interesting NS, good to hear.

Regardless if they conduct flight operations in-house or farm it out to a local operator (a la York's EC-120), they'll surely be expecting 3-5000 hrs, ATPL-H, and IFR. Extra points for exmil applicants.

A quick google search says they'll consider to train police members for the job. This may or may not put civvy pilots on a contract term or temporary basis.

http://www.winnipeg.ca/police/press/docs/wps_fou.pdf

[North Shore]

D'oh! Google is your friend

Can't really see them training officers off the street to fly - If it's anything like fire ops (Close to the ground, multiple radios, and obstacles etc..) then it's not really any place for a low-timer. Perhaps if civvy pilots were to apply for the police force, then they'd be accepted and trained as a copper, and then onto the bird. Or maybe just do what the RCMP has done, and make auxiliary members out of civilians who have the requisite skills. A good job, IMHO, if you wanted to fly, and have a semi-regular hour-ed job...