The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) today shared lessons learned and reforms it instituted after the fatal crash of its AW109E helicopter on June 9, 2009, during a search-and-rescue mission in night instrument meteorological conditions and mountainous terrain. NMSP chief pilot Tom Long told an audience at the Heli-Expo show in Orlando that the agency took a hard look at itself and its policies and procedures following the issuance of a critical report on the accident by the National Transportation Safety Board. The NTSB has placed public sector helicopter safety on its “ten most wanted list,” noting 130 accidents among operators in that sector over the last decade.
Long said that the NMSP reforms were instituted in conformance with industry standards using best practices established by the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA). The NTSB report also triggered the implementation of a comprehensive operations and risk-management program and improved communications including utilization of a joint tactical air controller (JTAC) who can be deployed with a ground unit.
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