https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/about_us/organisational_structure/units/aviation_support_branch

PolAir - NSW Police Force Aviation Command, Bankstown (2025)

14/07/2025

PolAir have assisted in the arrest of a man following a pursuit from Nowra to Bombo.
MORE INFORMATION ➡️
https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/news/article?id=119598

19/06/2025

Nepean Police Area Command & PolAir Visit Holy Family Primary School, Luddenham

On Tuesday the 17th of June, the inaugural Police Legacy Day was launched and will be celebrated each year to honour our fallen officers and to pay tribute and thanks to the sacrifices the families of Police Officers make to allow them to go to work each day to keep the community safe.

Police helicopter PolAir 3 along with local police from Nepean Police Area Command had a special visit to Holy Family Primary School in Luddenham, a small rural suburb on the outskirts of the new Western Sydney Airport.

Local Police and PolAir 3 were greeted by over 240 excited students who got to learn about what we do at the Aviation Command and ways to keep each other safe in the Community.

Our Commander Superintendent Nicholson was a fan favourite, spotted swapping hats with a future police recruit and we received some beautiful pictures from kindergarten to hang around our helicopter base.

Thank you for having us Holy Family Community...

Holy Family Primary Luddenham

16/06/2025

On 17 June 2025, we proudly join the nation to honour the very first National Police Legacy Day 👮‍♂️👮‍♀️

For 54 years, Police Legacies have quietly stood by police families - offering care, comfort, and support when it’s needed most. It’s a legacy built on strength, resilience, and unwavering compassion that helps families through life’s toughest moments.

But this support relies entirely on donations from people like you. Today, we ask you to make a difference by donating directly to NSW Police Legacy 👉 portal.policelegacynsw.org.au/donations

Your generosity ensures no family faces loss or struggle alone. Together, we keep this legacy alive. 🙏💙

06/06/2025

Newcastle: Operation OVERWATCH – Police Helicopter PolAir 1 in Action Across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter Valley

Did you see PolAir 1?

From May 15–18, the NSW Police Force’s PolAir 1 police helicopter was deployed to the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter Region as part of Operation Overwatch, responding to over 50 incidents and assisting in 16 arrests over 4 days.

Operation Overwatch strategically positions police aircraft at regional airports across NSW to better support local police operations utilising the advanced technology on the aircraft. On this occasion, PolAir 1 operated in the day and at night alternating two teams of police aircrew.

Support was provided to vehicle pursuits, missing persons searches, reports of violence, proactive patrols and more...

PolAir 1’s presence at night, helped disperse large groups involved in street racing and anti-social behaviour, provided real-time updates during emergencies, and supported ongoing investigations with local detectives.

The Aviation Command plans to continue operations like this in the future.

The Aircrew were able to capture these shots in between tasks of what they saw from the air.

23/05/2025

TAREE FLOODS - The NSW Police Force Aviation Command PolAir aircrew had another busy night and then day on Friday working in the Taree area. HIGHLIGHTS: Thursday night PolAir helicopters, patrolled using night vision goggles, searchlight and FLIR camera along the Pacific Highway for any more stranded truck drivers, then worked with SES personnel to winch them from where they had been working during the night, transporting them back to the Taree Emergency Operations Centre.

Today PolAir checked for vessels in distress on the still fast-moving river, before searching for and confirming the safety of people in houses within the flood zone, who had been reported to be missing by family and friends, it was good to see lots of thumbs up and even some houses being resupplied with food. We were able to quickly pass on that people were safe, to the concerned family and friends. The aircrew then checked the Pacific Highway, in preparation for its re-opening. Tonight, the aircraft is continuing to help in the area by quickly responding to 000 calls and the aircrew have commenced proactive crime patrols, just-in-case! Thanks for all the support over the past couple of days, it's an amazing team effort and we have really enjoyed helping out the Taree community.

22/05/2025

DAY & NIGHT RESCUES TAREE FLOODS - 22 rescues by NSW Police Force Aviation Command PolAir - Police Rescue Helicopters as flood emergency response continues today...

The PolAir police aircrew have completed 18 winch rescues and 4 land rescues from flood-affected homes and roads on the Mid North Coast through the day and the night on Wednesday, with work continuing today (Thursday).

Since Tuesday 21 May 2025, the NSW Police Force Aviation Command (PolAir) has had a day and night presence on the Mid North Coast based out of the Emergency Operations Centre at Taree as record-breaking floods impact the community.

In the 24 hours until 8am today (Thursday 22 May 2025), PolAir performed a total of 18 winch rescues and four rescues from a bridge on the Pacific Highway at night along with an Australian Navy Sea Hawk helicopter, along with four dogs and one cat being rescued along with their owners.

In addition to these rescues, the police helicopter crews have been directing rescue boats from all agencies into people in need.

Incidents of note include,
Seven people – a woman and her two-year-old child, an elderly man, and four other people – have been rescued from three homes in River Road Coolongolook,

About 11.15am (Wednesday 21 May 2025), PolAir responded to reports of two people – both aged in their 70s – stuck on the roof of their vehicle after driving through floodwaters. The pair were winched to the safety of a nearby paddock before being assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics.

About 11.30pm yesterday, four truck drivers were rescued after the police helicopter landed on the bridge on the M1 at Ghinni Ghinni

PolAir transported essential medication from the Emergency Operation Centre to paramedics at Old Bar, and about 4pm, a person suffering an asthma attack was winched off Oxley Island.

Thursday morning is already very busy, we will keep posting throughout the day.

20/04/2025

A message from the PolAir Aircrew on duty: When you're rock fishing or on a boat, jet ski, paddle board or kayak, please wear a life jacket. Life Jackets save lives, by keeping you afloat until help arrives.

We had a recent incident, where a rock fisherman fell into the water wearing a life jacket and was able to stay afloat and use his mobile phone to call 000 for help, he was successfully rescued.

20/04/2025

PolAir 3 Midnight Search and Rescue Operation in Wog Wog NSW

On the evening of April 19th, 2025, two men found themselves lost in the dense bushland 6km east of Wog Wog Campground in Morton National Park, whilst on the scenic rim walking track, along Wog Wog creek. Despite their best efforts, they became disoriented and were unable to find their way back to the campground.

At around 8:00 PM, the men contacted Triple Zero on their mobile phone, reporting their situation, using the phone to provide a GPS location. Equipped with only light clothing, they started a small fire to signal for help. One of the men experienced respiratory difficulties, adding urgency to their rescue.

PolAir 3 was deployed by Police Radio in consultation with the NSW Ambulance Service at 9:30 PM and arrived on the scene from Bankstown Airport by 11:29 PM. Using the Aviation Command's advanced night vision technology (night vision goggles and FLIR camera), the Police Aircrew located the men who signalled for help and landed approximately 500 meters away due to dense vegetation. The crew navigated rugged terrain to reach the men, providing them with water and a space blanket for warmth.

After a trek through the bush back to PolAir 3, both men were safely flown back to the Wog Wog Campground Command Post, which was established by local police, where they were assessed by waiting NSW Ambulance Service paramedics and reunited with their friends and family.

This mission highlights the importance calling 000 early when in need, teamwork, a rapid response, advanced equipment, and coordination between ground and air units.

The two men, took with them some key tools which ensured that they were quickly located, including a charged mobile phone and a lighter to start a small fire. In the FLIR images, you can see how effective a small fire is, when seen by the camera.

A great easter story.... have a great day

NSW Police Force NSW Ambulance South Coast Police District Monaro Police District

17/04/2025

PolAir 2 Rescue Mission in Olney State Forest, south of Cessnock

Early this morning, a distress signal was received from a lost bushwalker in the Olney State Forest near Wollombi Brook. The bushwalker had been bushwalking and became lost, spending the night in the bush before activating their Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). The beacon was received by AMSA's JRCC in Canberra and the NSW Police Force was activated.

PolAir 2 a Bell 412 Police Search and Rescue helicopter was dispatched and arrived on scene promptly, managing cloud and rain in the area. The crew initiated a systematic search and successfully located the bushwalker, who was signalling with a torch through a dense canopy in a creek line. A winch operation was conducted, and the bushwalker was safely retrieved by the PolAir Aircrew. Polair 2 returned the bushwalker to a waiting Tuggerah Lakes Police Area Command police vehicle at Wyong to transport the bushwalker from the area. We are happy to report the bushwaker was happy to be quickly found and does not have any injuries.

This is another good example of good preparation, leading to a good outcome, in this case the beacon and the torch saved the day.

Five leaches were found on the crew and the bushwalker at the end of the mission...

A big thank you to everyone involved in this successful rescue operation! 🙌

Tuggerah Lakes Police District Hunter Valley Police District Australian Maritime Safety Authority - AMSA

16/04/2025

PolAir 2 - Rescue of Bushwalker in Kanangra-Boyd National Park - 25km South of Katoomba

On Sunday, 13th April 2025, an experienced bushwalker, set out from Katoomba intending to walk to Kanangra Falls an amazing area within the Kanangra-Boyd National Park.

On Tuesday, 15th April 2025, at approximately 3:30 PM, the bushwalker became disoriented and activated the distress function on his Garmin inReach Mini satellite communication device. The AMSA Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC) in Canberra was alerted, and the GPS coordinates of the device were obtained along with a message stating, "LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY - SEND HELP I AM HEALTHY AND CAN LAST A NIGHT. I AM LOST AND UNABLE TO GET BACK."

The JRCC sought assistance from the NSW Police Force to locate the bushwalker. The Radio Communications Group (thanks always for your help!), local police, Police Rescue, and the Aviation Command responded.

At 4:00 PM, POLAIR 2 a Bell 412 police search and rescue helicopter departed base to assist.

By 4:30 PM, POLAIR 2 arrived overhead and located the bushwalker within dense and very remote bushland approximately 25 kilometres south of Katoomba. A PolAir Aircrew member was winched into the location and made contact with the bushwalker, who advised that he was uninjured but unable to find his way out. He was subsequently winched from the bush by the PolAir Aircrew and transported to a landing area at Kanangra Walls Road, where he was met by local police and NSW Ambulance Paramedics.

We are pleased to report that the bushwalker was uninjured and did not require medical treatment.

This job highlights the benefits of being well prepared with the right equipment and plan when venturing out into the great outdoors in the National Parks of NSW.

Great teamwork by all involved! 👏

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service NSW Ambulance Blue Mountains Police Rescue - NSW Police Force Blue Mountains Police Rescue - NSW Police Force Australian Maritime Safety Authority - AMSA

07/04/2025

Training Exercise Parramatta - (Tuesday 8th April & Wednesday 9th April 2025)

The NSW Police Force Aviation Command will be conducting a training exercise around NSW Police Force Headquarters - Parramatta on Tuesday the 8th of April and Wednesday the 9th of April 2025.

During the training exercise police aircraft will be operating within the area, for short periods of time between 3:30pm - 4:30pm and 7:00pm - 8:00pm both days. The exercise will involve PolAir helicopters hovering over the building; there is no emergency or risk to the public.

28/03/2025

Job Vacancy at Aviation Command
Chief Engineer - Full Time
https://www.seek.com.au/job/82924082
We have an opportunity for a Chief Engineer to be part of our NSW Police Force Aviation Command team. The Chief Engineer is responsible for managing the Aviation Command Engineering department within a highly regulated legislative and budgetary framework in order to ensure ongoing safe operations.

Photo: Ned Dawson from HeliOps Magazine

PolAir - NSW Police Force Aviation Command

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