Click here to email LT. Renkens , or LT. Eakins of the Palm Bay Police Department.
Palm Bay, Florida. — The Palm Bay Police Department was recently
granted the use of a Powrachute Powered Parachute as a low cost
alternative to conventional higher cost helicopters or fixed wing
aircraft.
Palm Bay Police is one of seven agencies nationally that recently
received a Department of Justice grant to acquire a powered
parachute at no cost to the City. The grant provided $30,000 in
equipment and training from the Rural Law Enforcement Technology
Center.
The powered parachute will help in searching for missing persons
and aid in various police operations where an aerial view of the
crime scene or missing person can make a difference between life
and death while at the same time keeping costs in line with other
ORV or Marine patrol vehicles. One pilot in the air can do the job of
several officers on the ground.
Every year, the Department receives several calls to find lost and
missing people. With the use of this technology Palm Bay Police will
be able to cover a large area in just a few minutes. In town, Officers
will be able to see an entire neighborhood rather than just one street
when searching for missing children.
The aircraft can take off in less than 100 feet. It can fly at 35 mph in
calm weather, slower when flying into the wind. It has a 10-gallon
capacity gas tank that holds standard automotive gas.
Lieutenant Renkens and Lt. Eakins volunteered to get pilot training,
and are now certified to fly the powered parachute. The air machine
weighs just over 400 pounds and can carry both officers. The big
advantage is that it costs about 30 dollars an hour to fly, which
includes fuel and maintenance. That compares to up to $1,500
dollars an hour for a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft.
The powered parachute is stored in a trailer and can be deployed in
15 minutes once it arrives at a scene. In an emergency, the pilots
can use several city parks or schools for take-off.
granted the use of a Powrachute Powered Parachute as a low cost
alternative to conventional higher cost helicopters or fixed wing
aircraft.
Palm Bay Police is one of seven agencies nationally that recently
received a Department of Justice grant to acquire a powered
parachute at no cost to the City. The grant provided $30,000 in
equipment and training from the Rural Law Enforcement Technology
Center.
The powered parachute will help in searching for missing persons
and aid in various police operations where an aerial view of the
crime scene or missing person can make a difference between life
and death while at the same time keeping costs in line with other
ORV or Marine patrol vehicles. One pilot in the air can do the job of
several officers on the ground.
Every year, the Department receives several calls to find lost and
missing people. With the use of this technology Palm Bay Police will
be able to cover a large area in just a few minutes. In town, Officers
will be able to see an entire neighborhood rather than just one street
when searching for missing children.
The aircraft can take off in less than 100 feet. It can fly at 35 mph in
calm weather, slower when flying into the wind. It has a 10-gallon
capacity gas tank that holds standard automotive gas.
Lieutenant Renkens and Lt. Eakins volunteered to get pilot training,
and are now certified to fly the powered parachute. The air machine
weighs just over 400 pounds and can carry both officers. The big
advantage is that it costs about 30 dollars an hour to fly, which
includes fuel and maintenance. That compares to up to $1,500
dollars an hour for a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft.
The powered parachute is stored in a trailer and can be deployed in
15 minutes once it arrives at a scene. In an emergency, the pilots
can use several city parks or schools for take-off.
For more information about how this program can work for your
police force or to schedule a product demonstration contact:
Powrachute Corporation LLC.
lawenforcement@powrachute.com
Phone 616 647 7171
police force or to schedule a product demonstration contact:
Powrachute Corporation LLC.
lawenforcement@powrachute.com
Phone 616 647 7171
| Powrachute for Law Enforcement |
| Copyright © 2009 Powrachute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. |
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