Massachusetts State Police - Air Wing

Massachusetts State Police

Air Wing

The Massachusetts State Police Air Wing has provided the Commonwealth with airborne support for over three decades.

It is the largest and most comprehensive full time public safety aviation unit in New England. Aircrews stand ready to respond from three strategically located Air Bases within the state.

Mission

Aircrews are routinely called to work in collaboration with State and Local Incident Commanders to search for wanted, missing, or endangered persons, to conduct airborne incident and scene assessment, aerial photography, or investigative support and surveillance.

Utilizing specialized on board equipment the aircrew can provide on-scene Incident commanders with real time video imagery. Electronic tracking equipment makes the aircraft a key player in the recovery of stolen vehicles and when responding to emergency locate transmitters (ELT) from downed aircraft or individuals in distress.

Homeland Security

The Massachusetts State Police Air Wing plans extensively with Federal, State, and Local agencies to integrate the interoperable capabilities of the aircraft in to the State's Homeland Security Initiatives. One such initiative is the preparation for aircraft to assist on the rapid transport or priority assets and materials between locations within the New England area, a critical function in the event of a real world disaster or incident response. Aircrews routinely conduct overflight patrols to ensure the security of the Commonwealths infrastructure and critical resources when not directly engaged in the support of a specific event