The blue guardians

摘要

With more than 17 million people in a relatively small space, the Netherlands is one of the most densely populated areas in Europe. Helping protect its inhabitants and vital infrastructure while supporting police- and government-related missions is the 'Afdeling Luchtvaart van de Nationale Politie' (Police Air Support Unit). AIR International spent some time with the unit and its helicopter fleet - six Airbus H135 P2+s and three Leonardo AW139s.Based in a heavily protected part of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, the Police Air Support Unit has 165 employees divided into various teams: flying service;air surveillance; flight preparation; aviation engineering; aviation monitoring; unmanned aerial vehicles; and aviation desk. The set-up has changed enormously since the early 1950s when the first steps were taken towards the use of aircraft and helicopters to fulfil certain police missions. On March 1, 1953, the Dienst Luchtvaart (aviation service), was established at Schiphol, reporting to the Federal Police Corps. A year later the first aircraft entered service; this was a Taylorcraft Auster Mark Ⅲ acquired from the Royal Netherlands Air Force and registered PH-POL. A second Auster Mark Ⅲ entered service later in 1955 with the same registration after the first was damaged beyond repair. The Auster was primarily used for traffic surveillance and was in 1961 complemented by a Reims Cessna 172 registered PH-RPL. After retirement of the Auster Mark Ⅲ in 1963 a total of six different Cessna 172s served with the Police Aviation Unit.