With Hawk Circling Overhead, Vermin Should Lay Low

Groen Brothers Aviation told us Friday that the Utah Olympic Public Safety Command (UOPSC) will be using, under public use laws, a Hawk 4 Gyroplane for aerial observation to provide additional security for the Salt Lake International Airport and surrounding environs. The aircraft will be equipped with a FLIR systems Inc. day/night observation system, a SPECTROLAB Inc. SX-5 search light, an AVALEX Technologies flat panel display, a Broadcast Microwave Services live real-time video downlink system, and a law enforcement communications radio stack provided by Northern Airborne Technology. The Hawk 4 Gyroplane is expected to begin service with UOPSC, on January 20, 2002.

A high ranking member of UOPSC said, "We are looking forward to using the Hawk 4. The ability to have an aircraft like this, equipped with daylight and infrared cameras, live video downlink, and a searchlight will be very important to our security operations."

James P. Mayfield, Chief Operating Officer added, "The Hawk 4 is ideally suited for public use and law enforcement applications. We stand ready to produce these wonderful aircraft in large numbers. Government agencies can either purchase the aircraft outright, or we can provide an operational lease that includes the flight and observation crews. Phrased another way, we could, for example, provide perimeter security services to an Air Force Base, or provide harbor security services for the Coast Guard or border security services to the Border Patrol. The beauty of this program, for the user, is that we can provide a service that does not require the user to own and maintain the aircraft or train the crews. They lease the aircraft and crews, and we do the rest."

FMI: www.gbagyros.com