Eight police officers and two Airbus H145M helicopters make up the Luxembourg Police Air Support (SUPA). Our colleagues at RTL paid them a short visit.
One of the two helicopters is always ready for departure, with the stand-by team being composed of two police officers and an air rescue pilot that can be called at any given moment. Whether a burglar is on the run, a person has gone missing, or traffic analysis is needed, the team is always ready to go.
The new helicopters are equipped with the latest technology, including a digital camera, a second infrared camera and a light source capable of illuminating a football field. Within fifteen minutes, the police can be anywhere in Luxembourg thanks to the H145M.
On quieter days, the helicopter is used for preventive missions, for example over neighbourhoods often targeted by burglars in order to show a certain presence.
'A helicopter has been circling above us for ten minutes!'
Some people have been reporting the presence of a police helicopter over their house on social media, wondering what reasons could be behind this. The simple answer to this is that the helicopter is either coming to assist ground crews during an intervention, or waiting for clearance to land at Findel airport.
But why does the helicopter circle instead of hovering? Continuous flight is easier for the pilot than staying in one place, which is quite a complicated exercise for a 2.5 tonne machine. Fuel consumption is also lower when moving around in circles.
