The Aviation Unit of the New York City Police Department is a specialized division within its Special Operations Bureau and is widely regarded as the oldest police aviation unit in the world. Established in 1929 at Floyd Bennett Field, it was initially created to regulate early air traffic and monitor barnstorming activity. Over time, its mission has evolved into a multifaceted operational role encompassing counterterrorism, aerial surveillance, search and rescue (SAR), and tactical support for ground-based law enforcement units.
The New York City Police Department began incorporating helicopters into its operations in 1948 with the introduction of the Bell 47, one of the earliest practical helicopters used in law enforcement. This marked a significant step in the evolution of police aviation, enabling aerial patrol, traffic monitoring, and rapid response capabilities that would later expand into more advanced roles such as search and rescue, surveillance, and tactical support.
The unit operates as a critical airborne asset for New York City, maintaining 24-hour readiness and the capability to reach any location within the five boroughs in approximately ten minutes from its Brooklyn base. It also serves as the only dedicated air-sea rescue provider within a 50-mile radius of the city, frequently deploying specialized teams—including SCUBA divers—for maritime emergencies across the Hudson River, East River, and surrounding coastal waters.
Headquartered at Floyd Bennett Field, the unit benefits from strategic positioning that enables rapid access to the city’s dense urban environment, complex airspace, and extensive waterways. Its fleet primarily consists of rotary-wing aircraft such as the Bell 429, used for patrol and tactical missions, and the Bell 412EP and Bell 412EPX, which support heavy-lift operations including search and rescue and firefighting. The unit also operates a fixed-wing Cessna 208B Caravan configured for specialized missions such as radiological detection and counterterrorism surveillance.
Personnel within the Aviation Unit typically include sworn police officers trained as dual-rated pilots, tactical flight officers (TFOs), and aviation maintenance technicians who may also serve as crew chiefs during operations. Core responsibilities include providing real-time aerial intelligence using technologies such as Forward Looking Infrared systems and high-intensity searchlights, conducting hoist-based rescues and maritime response operations, deploying Emergency Service Unit teams via fast-rope insertion onto elevated structures, and supporting firefighting efforts in coordination with the New York City Fire Department through the use of external water delivery systems such as Bambi Buckets.
As of 2020, the unit operated a fleet comprising four Bell 429, four Bell 412, and one Bell 407 used primarily for training.
See also NYC DEP Police.
The New York City Police Department began incorporating helicopters into its operations in 1948 with the introduction of the Bell 47, one of the earliest practical helicopters used in law enforcement. This marked a significant step in the evolution of police aviation, enabling aerial patrol, traffic monitoring, and rapid response capabilities that would later expand into more advanced roles such as search and rescue, surveillance, and tactical support.
The unit operates as a critical airborne asset for New York City, maintaining 24-hour readiness and the capability to reach any location within the five boroughs in approximately ten minutes from its Brooklyn base. It also serves as the only dedicated air-sea rescue provider within a 50-mile radius of the city, frequently deploying specialized teams—including SCUBA divers—for maritime emergencies across the Hudson River, East River, and surrounding coastal waters.
Headquartered at Floyd Bennett Field, the unit benefits from strategic positioning that enables rapid access to the city’s dense urban environment, complex airspace, and extensive waterways. Its fleet primarily consists of rotary-wing aircraft such as the Bell 429, used for patrol and tactical missions, and the Bell 412EP and Bell 412EPX, which support heavy-lift operations including search and rescue and firefighting. The unit also operates a fixed-wing Cessna 208B Caravan configured for specialized missions such as radiological detection and counterterrorism surveillance.
Personnel within the Aviation Unit typically include sworn police officers trained as dual-rated pilots, tactical flight officers (TFOs), and aviation maintenance technicians who may also serve as crew chiefs during operations. Core responsibilities include providing real-time aerial intelligence using technologies such as Forward Looking Infrared systems and high-intensity searchlights, conducting hoist-based rescues and maritime response operations, deploying Emergency Service Unit teams via fast-rope insertion onto elevated structures, and supporting firefighting efforts in coordination with the New York City Fire Department through the use of external water delivery systems such as Bambi Buckets.
As of 2020, the unit operated a fleet comprising four Bell 429, four Bell 412, and one Bell 407 used primarily for training.
See also NYC DEP Police.
Locations
| 1940- | NYPD Air Operations Heliport |
Models
| 1986-1997 | 412SP |
| 1995- | 412EP |
| 2003-2015 | A119 Koala |
| 2014- | 429 |
| 2024- | 412EPX |