NPAS training attracts international interest

Image courtesy NPAS

Sergeants Ken Capina and Jonathan Chevalier (above) are working on behalf of the Ottowa Air Service to modernise and standardise the training they provide to their officers in Canada.

On researching the TFO programme delivered by NPAS from its Doncaster air base, the two RCMP officers requested a visit and NPAS welcomed them onboard to learn more about what NPAS do.

The National Police Air Service is an Approved Training Organisation (ATO), which is the highest level of approval a training provider can receive.

The NPAS Flight School covers the training of officers for its rotary and fixed wing aircraft and delivers courses specific to the specialised policing operations it conducts. The delivery of all NPAS training is set against strict standards that its internal training providers are examined against.

Sgt Capina said: "We knew of the high standards of training and the structured programme provided by NPAS to flight officers in England and Wales and were keen to learn from your approach. We are looking at ways to modernise and standardise our training."

They joined five NPAS officers, who are destined to work at NPAS Lippitts Hill, Biirmingham and Hawarden, on week one of a four-week Tactical Flight Officer Foundation course.

Their first week is split between an organisational induction and aviation topics, such as:

• Weather  
• Crew resource management
• Operations manual
• Fitness to fly
• Flying Clothing & PPE
• Aviation charts and mapping
• Target acquisition and identification
• Basic navigation

The RCMP operates 38 aircraft - a mix of helicopters and aeroplanes - from 19 bases across Canada. Alongside operational support to frontline officers, some of their flights are for transportation purposes, flying personnel and supplies to and from isolated detachments.