2011 Alliance Award Winner - J. Robert Havlick Award
From its onset, the use of the PPG by the SOAR unit was never intended to be a replacement for commonly used forms of police aviation, such as an airplane or helicopter. Rather, the PPG supplements these tools by providing an aerial platform that is portable (weighing approximately 60 lbs.), easily deployable from any open field with sufficient area, inexpensive to operate (costing as little as 5 dollars per hour) and able to remain in air for up to 4 hours (with a 3-5 gallon fuel capacity). In addition, the PPG is legally permitted to operate below the 1000 foot minimum altitude for general aviation. Flying between 20-30 mph (depending on wind direction) the PPG can cover a distance of up to 70 miles. The “low and slow” principle allows the PPG to have both maneuverability and an unobstructed view of objects on the ground. The use of the PPG is restricted to favorable wind/weather, but it fills a roll that no other tool in the current police arsenal can. An officer operating a PPG is capable of covering a larger area more thoroughly and in a shorter amount of time than multiple officers in patrol cars or on foot. Using radio contact with the officers on the ground the pilot can direct them to specific locations to further investigate any sightings made from the air. The PPG can be transported in the back seat of a standard patrol car with minimal effort and does not require a traditional hangar, runway or airport.
