Projects

Operating a police aviation service involves much more than just putting aircraft in the sky.

Our teams need the best equipment to gather evidence, communicate and stay safe, which is why our Project Management Office is an integral part of our service.

Its work ranges from arranging replacement and upgrades of aircraft equipment to managing major improvements to base infrastructure. Much of the work involves dealing with complex systems, especially around communications.

Governing the National Police Air Service and setting its strategic direction is the National Strategic Board.

Operations are delivered via a lead force model, which was established as part of a National Police Collaboration Agreement.

The Mayor of West Yorkshire is currently the lead policing body and legal entity of NPAS, with West Yorkshire Police the lead force and operator.

In June 2021, the Mayor gave notice to cease the arrangement, in accordance with the terms of a National Police Collaboration Agreement.

Here just a flavour of some of the work we do.

NPAS is the only holder of a Police Air Operator's Certificate (PAOC) in England and Wales.

To retain our PAOC we are required to employ nine European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Civil Aviation Authority-approved Form 4 holders, also known as nominated persons.

They must demonstrate they fully understand their accountabilities and are capable in the delivery of safe and compliant flight operations.

Response times

In 2022/23, our aircraft crews were deployed to 4,621 priority one incidents.

These are when there is an immediate threat to a life, a crime is in action or there is a national or terrorism incident.

The average time to reach a scene from receiving a call was 12 minutes, 18 seconds.

For priority two incidents, which are incidents where deployment will lead to the prevention or detection of crime, 9,502 were attended, with the average time to reach the scene being 21 minutes and 54 seconds.

This report highlights the valuable and unique work of the ground and air crews of the National Police Air Service (NPAS).

NPAS is the UK’s largest non-military operator of onshore helicopters.

Since its formation in 2012, it has provided vital air support to every police force in England and Wales from its regional bases and HQ Operations Centre.

The National Strategic Board (NSB) sets the overall direction for the National Police Air Service (NPAS) and holds the lead Local Chief Constable accountable for the operational delivery of the service on behalf of all police bodies across England and Wales.

Below is the current list of board members and the regions they represent (updated May 2025):

North East

• Police and Crime Commissioner: Jonathan Evison, Humberside
• Chief Constable: Rachel Bacon, Durham Constabulary

North West

The Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) of West Yorkshire, Mark Burns Williamson, plays a lead role in the governance of the National Police Air Service (NPAS) and chairs the NPAS National Strategic Board. Because NPAS is a concept rather than a legal entity, it cannot own property or employ people - this has to be done by the PCC and the Chief Constable (CC) in West Yorkshire on behalf of the rest of England and Wales. The Office of the PCC for West Yorkshire owns the airframes and the contracts under which NPAS operates while the CC is the employer of the staff.