ABLE — the Airborne Law Enforcement Unit of San Diego Police Department — needs new helicopters. The current ABLE team consists of three Airbus AS350B3 aircraft that have been flying over the city for 18 years and one new copter.
Like with an aging car, according to the department, the upkeep costs are trending up with the three older copters’ “major components reaching life limits.” At least ABLE is also flying a newer H125 helicopter that went into service in 2020, paid for by Seized Asset Forfeiture Funds.
Both the newer copter and the older ones are made by Airbus Helicopters. It’s a subsidiary of Airbus, the large aeronautic company in Europe that also makes jetliners. Airbus sells its helicopter models in thirty countries.
The San Diego Police Department wants to add three new H125s to the ABLE team. Officials are asking the City Council and Mayor to approve a lease deal costing just under $18 million.
The older AS350B3s are valued at about $800,000 each, a potential “trade in credit,” but “prices do not include the credit,” according to a presentation that’s been prepared for the Public Safety Committee hearing Wednesday.
Six years ago the city commissioned a report to evaluate its two aviation units — police and fire — and in 2019 signed a deal with Airbus to purchase four new H125 helicopters to replace the SDPD’s fleet. At that time it was recommended the fleet be replaced by August 2023, but “unexpected pandemic and world events paused the purchase” of the helicopters.
Fast forward to this week, with the renewed police request for three helicopters, not four, as one H125 is already flying over San Diego.
The Public Safety Committee will be evaluating the costs of maintaining older helicopters, such as $577,000 for the last engine overhaul. The cost of unplanned maintenance is rising because avionics are aging, there are corrosion issues, and the length of time the helicopters are sitting on the ground and not over the city is increasing due to maintenance issues.
Maintenance expenses for the current fleet this fiscal year will be $1,635,000, with 2,630 flight hours by the team. There are also safety concerns as detailed in the department’s report, such as a lack of crash-resistant fuel tanks, no backup hydraulic systems and no autopilot. All of these deficiencies would be addressed with the new helicopter fleet, police said.
Given the recent public outcry over surveillance technologies employed by San Diego Police, the department is providing information on helicopter sensors.
“The helicopters will be equipped with existing video technologies subject to the Transparent and Responsible Use of Surveillance Technology Ordinance,” according to the police.