Move Essentially Grounds State's Two Helicopters

The state of Western Australia has found itself without any aerial coverage after two of the state's senior police pilots started the new year by resigning their positions.

Chief pilot Rohan Armstrong and deputy chief pilot Kenny Kross both resigned Saturday, leaving three vacant pilot positions out of five, according to au.news.yahoo.com.

While Assistant Commissioner Nick Anticich said that the resignations were not due to differences of opinions within the police Air Wing, rumors of tension and infighting in the unit persist.

Even with two pilots, the state's two helicopters are grounded because regulations require that the unit's air operator's certificate be held by the chief pilot, and not the organization. Currently, the organization does not have a chief pilot.

Anticich said that the department was working with air civil aviation authorities in an effort to work out a solution to allow the aircraft to fly under a "private license" until a new chief pilot can be hired and trained.

FMI: www.police.wa.gov.au/Specialistunits/PoliceAirWing/tabid/1006/Default.aspx