WORLD AIR WAR HISTORY


 
  Bahrain   Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) • سلاح الجو الملكي البحريني
Kingdom of Bahrain (Mamlakat al Bahrayn)

Bahrain Air Force  •  Naval Aviation  •  Air Defense Force  •  Amiri Royal Flight  •  Police Air Wing  •   •   •  Foreign Air Forces
F-16C --- F-16D --- F-5E --- F-5F --- AH-1E ---Bo-105 --- RJ-85 --- T-67 Firefly --- UH-60l --- Gulfstream IV --- Hawk MK.129 ---Boeing 727 --- Boeing-747SP ---
AF NEWS  •  AF HISTORY

Bahrain 2012: Police Aviation emerges from the shadows

Bahrain 2012: Police Aviation emerges from the shadows

Aviation in independent Bahrain began with a small helicopter unit that formed part of Bahrain Public Security (the former Bahrain State Police), from which today's Police Aviation is directly descended.

But little has been written about the force, and even its name is frequently mis-reported.

The Flying Wing of the Bahrain Public Security Force (controlled by the Bahrain Ministry of the Interior) has operated a variety of helicopter types over the years, including Hughes H269Cs, Hughes H500Ds, Sikorsky S-76s, a McCulloch J2 Autogyro, and even a Bell 427.

But since 2004, when the Flying Wing was renamed as Police Aviation, the unit has been exclusively equipped with the Bell 412, and today has eight aircraft on charge – one ‘classic’ 412, one Bell 412SP and six Bell 412EPs.

Colonel Waleed R Alsenan, commander of Police Aviation, said: “The Bell 412 suits our weather, can cope with our environment (which is hot and humid) and is capable of performing all of our main roles.”

These roles include search and rescue (SAR), photography (assisting other departments and ministries, as well as the police and Ministry of the Interior), traffic work, and the transport of casualties to hospital. The unit is also training for the fire-fighting role, using under-slung Bambi buckets, and has an aspiration to embrace a fuller helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) role.

Search and rescue is the major role and Police Aviation’s commander is particularly proud of a recent rescue in which a Bell 412 plucked 17 people from a life raft after their Dhow sank in poor weather. “No-one else wanted to go,” Colonel Alsenan said. “There was poor visibility and it was very windy – 30kts or so.” 

The unit maintains one aircraft on 24-hour SAR standby, but is usually able to scramble at least two aircraft.


About Bahrain Public Security Force Air Wing

The Bahrain State Police was first established in 1962, to address internal security. In June 1965 it acquired its first helicopter, a Westland Scout for patrol and ferry duties. At independence from Britain in 1971, it was renamed Bahrain Public Security Force and became an element of the Bahrain Defense Force. Aviation support operations are conducted by the Flying Wing. It also co-operates with the Royal Bahrain Air Force and Royal Bahrain Navy.

Based at Manama Fort, near the capital.



Source: 21 January 2012 - International Defence News (arabianaerospace.aero)

Photo:
The Flying Wing of the Bahrain Public Security Force Bell 412EP (BPS 8) (Photo by dtvmovements.co.uk)


(20.01.2012)


 
Boeing-747SP-21 (RBAF)
RBAF F-16C Block 40 Fighting Falcon
RBAF AH-1E Cobra
RBAF F-5E Tiger II
RBAF Bo-105
RBAF BAE 146 / RJ-85
Bahrain AF
Scheme
RBAF BAE Hawk MK.129
 

 
  CONTINENTAL NEWS:

American Air Force News
African Air Force News
Asian Air Force News
European Air Force News
Middle Eastern AF News
Ocean Air Force News


• US DoD awards Bahraini Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters contract

(8.02.2019)
Bahrain will receive 12 Bell AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters by the end of August 2022, under a contract announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 7 February....>>

• Bahrain's Blockbusters

(14.09.2018)
David Oliver looks at how the small Royal Bahraini Air Force is big on using new technology....>>

• New Cold War Takes Shape in Arabian Gulf

(26.03.2013)
Something that looks very much like a new Cold War is forming up here in the Arabian Gulf region....>>

• Iraq, Bahrain Eye Bell’s AH-1Z Attack Helicopter

(1.02.2013)
Bahrain and Iraq have requested pricing and availability data for the newly upgraded H-1 utility and attack helicopters built by Bell Helicopter, said two sources familiar with the...>>

• Bahrain 2012: Showing off the UH-60M Black Hawk

(21.01.2012)
Bahrain was the first export customer for the UH-60M Black Hawk, currently the most advanced variant in the UH-60/S-70 family, and is proudly displaying one of its new helicopters ...>>

• Bahrain 2012: Police Aviation emerges from the shadows

(20.01.2012)
Aviation in independent Bahrain began with a small helicopter unit that formed part of Bahrain Public Security (the former Bahrain State Police), from which today's Police Aviation...>>

 




       info@xairforces.net Webmaster: REFLX DESIGN - © 2011 xairforces / Aviation Society,