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On November 1,1999, the Illinois State Police Air Operations Bureau will celebrate its 40th year of aerial police support. With headquarters or your local a long, proud history, early Illinois State Police activities began in 1951 District. when the first actual air-to- ground operations were rIeii|opter conducted using Depart¬ Operations ment of Aeronautics air¬ craft and pilots. These initial activities clearly On January 1,1995, demonstrated the benefits based at Capital Airport in the Illinois State Police of using aircraft; however, Springfield will begin serving began a helicopter program, practical police work from the central Illinois in late 1998. known as Air One. Serving all air did not materialize in the police agencies in Cook and Land of Lincoln until eight neighboring counties, Air One billed Wing years later. compliments fixed-wing opera¬ Opemtions tions by deploying a helicopter In 1958, Trooper Norman to fly missions better adapt¬ Halliday, our first trooper pilot, ISP airplanes are used for a able to a rotorcraffc platform. repeatedly demonstrated the variety of missions, including The high-visibility of the value of an aerial platform airspeed checks, photography, helicopter, equipped with a 30 using his personal airplane. manhunts, surveillances, missing million candlepower search¬ These creative demonstrations person searches, marijuana light, creates a successful eventually led to budget ap¬ eradication, commercial vehicle deterrent to criminal activities. proval for the purchase of ISP enforcement programs and Air One is also fitted with aircraft. The following Novem¬ executive and prisoner transpor¬ forward looking infra red ber, Illinois became only the tation. The slow-flight character¬ thermal imaging equipment (FLIR) enabling crew mem¬ third state police agency in the istics of our single-engine air¬ nation to use airplanes when planes make them extremely bers to detect the presence of three single-engine and one useful for police applications. people or objects by sensing twin-engine aircraft were Also, their ability to pressed into service. remain aloft for long periods is particularly Today, the ISP operates a useful for lengthy fleet of four single-engine missions. Our services airplanes, one twin-engine are available to any airplane and one helicopter. agency with a legiti¬ The airplanes are strategically mate need for an aerial based in Carbondale, Spring- platform by contacting field and West Chicago. The the airplane com¬ helicopter operates from the mander, the bureau Illinois National Guard Armory at Chicago Midway Airport. Another helicopter — to be 3 1129 00859348 5 heat differential. Most heli¬ Network (ISPERN) or calling enjoyed by the Air Operations copter missions are requests District Chicago. Bureau is a direct result of the for immediate assistance from dedication and professional¬ local agencies. Additionally, The outlook for the future of ism of its personnel. No Air One crews monitor emer¬ ISP air operations is bright. matter the mission, bureau gency police frequencies and Expanding programs, additional members meet the challenge can usually respond to a personnel and a commitment to with a “can-do” team spirit, situation within minutes. Air community policing standards continuing to “serve and One can be reached by calling make the bureau available for a protect” from the air. the Air One office, making a wider array of missions to an request over the Illinois State ever-expanding number of users. Police Emergency Radio The four decades of success ILLINOIS DOCUMENTS Illinois State Police Air-Operations Bureau 1100 North Airport Drive UN IV E Springfield, Illinois 62707 RS UIN°IS state library ITY 217-782-2206 OF IL L IN O IS -U R B Air One Helicopter Unit Dupage Airport Carbondale Airporl A N A Chicago West Chicago Carbondale 773-838-5751 630-584-3563 618-529-5171 Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois ISP Central Printing Section ISP 5-590 (8/98) »*ouee state wn\%v w«lw*aa # ILLINOIS ES STATE POLICE Jim Edgar, Gene P. Marlin, Governor Acting Director AIR OPERATIONS