State Trooper Aviation Unit
Pilot Qualifications:
RATINGS: Commercial Instrument - Single and Multi-engine airplane
and Helicopter
DUTIES: Range from marijuana eradication, narcotics surveillance,
traffic speed enforcement, missing person or manhunts, prisoner transports, law
enforcement related executive protection flights, photo, and investigative flights.
STATUS: Each pilot is a sworn State Trooper with a minimum of 3
years in the Highway Patrol Division before being qualified for the unit.
AVERAGE FLIGHT TIME: 60-120 hours a month depending on the time
of the year.
STATUS: Each pilot must stay current and is qualified to fly all
aircraft in inventory
TRAINING AND RE-TRAINING: Auburn University for Multi-engine
ADVANCED TRAINING ROTOR WING: Bell Helicopter
FACILITIES: The aviation unit is headquarted at Dannelly Field
Montgomery Alabama a second operation is based at Pryor field in Decatur Alabama.
HISTORY: In 1973 the Department received a Cessna T-41 single engine
aircraft through State Department of Civil Defense. In August 1974, the Department
acquired two Bell 47 helicopters. Four more model 47's were added in 1975. The aviation
Unit was officially formed in June of 1975. Through the years, troopers have utilized
a variety of aircraft. All but four of the current aircraft are either government
surplus or were confiscated in drug cases.
The aviation unit operates the following aircraft:
UH-1-H "Hueys", Beech King Air 200, Piper Navajo, Cessna C-182 , Bell
206L Long Ranger, Bell 206B Jet Ranger, OH-58A+
Beech King Air 200
UH-1-H "Huey"
Cessna 182
Bell Jet Ranger
An OH-58A+ helicopter is equipped with a NightSun, FLIR (Forward Looking InfraRed
thermal imaging camera), and microwave downlink for use for searches of escapees,
missing children and lost persons.
Marijuana Eradication
The Aviation unit provides support for the Departments Marijuana Eradication effort
under the command of the ABI's Division Narcotic unit.
During the 2002 Calender year 1,313 hours were flown in the support of the the marijuana
eradication program, 60,378 marijuana plants were found in 1,157 plots, and 9 indoor
grown plants were discovered. There were 175 arrests.
Airborne Law Enforcement Association
(ALEA)