Thierry Dubois is a freelance writer specializing in helicopters, business aviation and aerospace technology. He earned a degree in fluid dynamics from an engineering school in Toulouse, France in the mid-1990s. At an unexpected crossroads, he found his first job in journalism. In 1997, he started working for French aerospace weekly Air &amp; Cosmos in Paris. This lasted until 2000, when he moved south to Lyons. He then became a freelancer, working for various aerospace publications and has been part of the AIN team since late 2000. In addition to writing about business aviation, Thierry shares responsibility for the rotorcraft section. He also is a regular on-site writer for AIN’s daily editions at international airshows such as the Paris, Farnborough, Dubai and Singapore shows, as well as at EBACE in Geneva.
In 2007, he won the Honeywell award for “Best systems or technology submission” at the Aerospace journalist of the year awards. In 2013, he won an Aerospace Media Award for the "Best Safety, Training &amp; Simulation Submission."
In other activities, Thierry moderates international conferences on aviation technology topics. Thierry is married and has three children, who seem to begin enjoying the mountains–as their parents do.

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Thierry Dubois

Reorganization of Great Britain’s police helicopter bases is well under way, in a campaign to provide “more efficient and accessible” air support to police forces in England and Wales. Although the number of bases is being cut, the improved efficiency of the system should eventually ensure that 98 percent of the population is within 20 minutes’ flight time of a base.


The new National Police Air Service (NPAS) is “a national service, regionally coordinated for local delivery.” In practical terms, the “borderless service” will eliminate “artificial boundaries” that created geographic restrictions and yield reduced response times; of the revamp is intended to save £15 million ($23 million) annually. Chief constable Alex Marshall, in charge of the NPAS at the Association of Chief Police Officers, told AIN, “[To satisfy] the Civil Aviation Authority, there must be one owner of all air assets and a clear line of accountability for aspects such as maintenance and finance.”


The West Yorkshire police are the “lead force” to implement the new NPAS and are employing the crews and operating the helicopters on behalf of all regions, which are represented by a strategic board. The aircraft will be made available 24/7.


Implementation began last October and under the current agreement is scheduled to run through January 2015. The plan is progressing on track, Marshall added, with the Northwest region on board since January, the Northeast region joining this month and London slated to follow suit in January next year.


There will be 23 bases, fewer than the previous 30 “police air support units.” There will eventually be “61 rostered crews, plus leave cover,” Marshall said, adding that this is “a net reduction of four pilots.” A crew consists of a pilot and two “tactical flight officers” (observers).


At 28 (including three reserve aircraft), the planned fleet of helicopters will be reduced by five from the previous 33. Some, on lease, will be returned and one will be sold. One aircraft, in Redhill, will be shared with an emergency medical service. Once the plan is fully implemented, the NPAS will have 16 Eurocopter EC135s, four EC145s, seven MD Explorers and one AgustaWestland A109.


In the longer term, further savings are expected, notably through “an optimized fleet.” Marshall downplayed the possibility of a tender for a fleet order but acknowledged that the strategic board may one day make a decision on using fixed-wing aircraft, too.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

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