Kootenai Sheriff’s will Operate Bell 206 on $71,500/yr Budget
Kootenai county, Idaho has embarked on a different sort of fleet management after they purchased a 1994 Bell 206 with donated funds, planning to operate the unit on an all-volunteer basis with a limited budget. The Kootenai County Regional Air Support Unit was founded as a 501(c)(3), and will operate their $500,000 helo with volunteer pilots flying search and rescue missions. While the Bell 206 was purchased sans appropriate SAR equipment, the Sheriff’s office will put up $100,000 in asset forfeiture funding to purchase a thermal camera, spotlighting, and cabling.