Kelowna RCMP trade one of their helicopters for an airplane

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Kelowna RCMP are trading one of their two police helicopters for an RCMP fixed wing airplane from the North District.

Insp. Nigel Bushe of E Division Air Services says the swap is simply a matter of common sense.

“B.C.'s Air Services fleet are strategically placed throughout B.C. in order to support our policing services and unique geography. We have re-aligned these resources more effectively by moving one of two helicopters from the Southeast District to our North District that did not have a helicopter and moving one of our fixed wing aircraft from North District to our Southeast District that did not have a fixed wing aircraft.”

A media release from B.C. Air Services Chief Superintendent Lesley Bain, the North District commander, says a helicopter is a necessary asset for patrolling the North District, which comprises 73 per cent of B.C.’s geographic area.

The North District comprises over 40 detachments and support units across a diverse area that includes coastal communities, mining towns, major cities and isolated Aboriginal communities, summer getaways and traffic corridors. More than 1,100 RCMP employees work and live in North District, according to the B.C. RCMP website.

RCMP Air Services provide air assistance with surveillance, personnel transport, evidence and supply movement, searches, delivery of emergency response and containment teams and operational support for frontline members.

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