20-Dec-2023 Source: Trakka Systems
Since its inception in 1953, the Dutch Police Aviation Service has relentlessly served as the nation’s eyes in the sky.
Operating around the clock with their fleet of aircraft that includes nine helicopters, the Air Support Unit serves as watchful guardians, covering a vast expanse of 16,000 square miles on a mission to protect and serve.
The Dutch Police Aviation Service is not merely an airborne patrol. It actively upholds aviation law by ensuring compliance with regulations and guaranteeing a high standard of safety and efficacy in every mission — from search and rescue tactics to safeguarding national borders through aerial surveillance.
Cutting-edge technologies are essential to the success of the unit. GPS, radar, advanced navigation instruments, electro-optical and electro-mechanical systems, high-intensity searchlights (HISL), and mission mapping and video management software are some of the crucial tools of modern aerial policing.
Equally crucial to their operations are the Tactical Flight Officers (TFOs) who orchestrate numerous procedures, including the efficient operation of equipment, navigating strategically, and providing situational awareness.
These officers handle myriad responsibilities, from facilitating on-scene management to processing evidential material, all within an environment that demands exceptional skill and spatial awareness.
Trakka Systems, a leading player in providing critical vision technology to law enforcement and government agencies, has equipped the Dutch Police Aviation Service with state-of-the-art searchlights.
Recent midlife updates and equipment upgrades to the Air Support fleet have included the installation of five TrakkaBeam® TLX high-intensity searchlights on the EC135 aircraft and two TrakkaBeam® TLX units on the AW139s. These additions significantly enhance the nighttime capabilities of the helicopters, enabling TFOs to execute crucial operations more effectively.
TrakkaBeam® searchlights provide exceptional illumination while drawing less power on the aircraft than previous systems. The compact size, lightweight, and ergonomic design make them ideal for integration into a wide variety of rotary aircraft, leading them to be widely chosen by agencies and OEMs around the world.
By utilizing our multi-spectral and Covert-IR filters, our searchlights minimize visible light output, enabling clandestine operations by units equipped with NVGs. Alternatively, the exceptionally bright 22,000 lumens of white light our TrakkaBeam® units produce act as a beacon of safety during public emergencies and search and rescue operations.
From illuminating disaster zones in search and rescue missions to piercing the darkness for critical nighttime surveillance, TrakkaBeam® high-intensity searchlights empower the Air Support Unit with unparalleled performance, flexibility, and versatility.
TrakkaBeams’® reliability and advanced features empower these units to execute their tasks with efficiency and improved effectiveness, ultimately contributing to enhanced safety and successful mission outcomes. As night blankets the Netherlands, the vigilant eyes of the Dutch Police Aviation Service pierce through the darkness, ensuring safety and security from the skies.
With the latest technologies empowering their aircraft, including Trakka Systems high-intensity searchlights, this powerful airborne unit stands ready to respond and protect, enhancing law enforcement and public safety for the nation.
