Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
About NPAS
What is the National Police Air Service (NPAS)?
NPAS provides air support to all police forces in England and Wales. Learn more in our 'About us' or 'What we do' sections.
Who runs NPAS?
NPAS is delivered through a lead force model. West Yorkshire Police is the current lead force, ensuring the service is police-led and nationally coordinated.
What role do Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) play?
PCCs are parties to the NPAS Collaboration Agreement and help govern the service through the NPAS Strategic Board.
When was NPAS established?
NPAS was introduced in phases between October 2012 and January 2015.
How is NPAS funded?
All police forces in England and Wales, along with British Transport Police, contribute funding.
Air support and operations
Why do police forces need air support?
Air support helps with:
- Searching for suspects or missing persons
- Reconnaissance for planned operations
- Supporting public order and firearms incidents
- Assisting with vehicle pursuits
- Providing live video feeds to ground commanders
What are the benefits of air support?
- Searches large areas up to 20x faster than ground teams
- Reduces risk to officers and the public
- Provides real-time video to control rooms
- Can be rapidly deployed across the country
- Acts as a visible deterrent
- Supports evidence gathering with high-quality footage
Wouldn’t the funding be better spent on more officers?
Aircraft support ground operations by covering large areas quickly, accessing hard-to-reach locations, and providing vital intelligence - saving time and resources.
Aircraft and equipment
Where are NPAS bases located?
NPAS operates from a network of bases across England and Wales. View our base map.
What aircraft does NPAS use?
The fleet includes:
- Eurocopter EC135 and EC145 helicopters
- Vulcanair P68R fixed-wing aircraft
Do you operate drones?
Not currently. However, NPAS is trialling Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone technology as part of future planning. Some local forces operate their own drones.
How fast can NPAS aircraft fly?
- Helicopters: 120–130 knots (135–150 mph)
- Aeroplanes: 120–140 knots (130–160 mph)
How long can they stay airborne?
- Helicopters: up to 2 hours
- Aeroplanes: over 8 hours, depending on the mission
How often are aircraft serviced?
- Daily pilot checks
- Maintenance every 50–100+ flying hours
- Annual inspections
Why are NPAS aircraft yellow and blue?
The colour scheme improves visibility to other aircraft - yellow is visible from above, blue from below.
Do aircraft have registration numbers?
Yes. Each aircraft is registered with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and marked with a “G” prefix.
Flight activity and public concerns
Do police officers fly the aircraft?
No. All NPAS pilots are civilian staff.
Can aircraft fly over residential areas at night?
Yes. Aircraft are deployed when necessary, including at night, and crews use thermal imaging to assist. They fly higher at night to reduce noise.
Can I find out why an aircraft was flying over my area?
NPAS activity is tactical and directed by local police forces. Some forces may share information via their social media channels.
Can I fly in a police aircraft?
Only serving police officers, special constables, or police staff with operational involvement may fly in NPAS aircraft, in line with CAA regulations.
What is being done about aircraft noise?
We only fly when necessary - often to save lives or apprehend suspects. We aim to minimise disruption and always comply with CAA noise regulations.