Projects
Running an aviation service is a complex business which relies on a wide range of skills, knowledge and expertise.
But we are no regular aviation service - our core role is to deliver policing, when and where it is needed.
To do this, our teams need the best equipment to work collaboratively with police forces and other emergency services, gather evidence, communicate and stay safe, in the air and on the ground.
Our Project Delivery Team is an integral part of our service to deliver policing, from the air.
The team has a wide scope, from arranging upgrades and the replacement of aircraft equipment, to managing improvements at bases. We call this 'keeping the show in the air.'
Alongside this everyday work, we have several major projects underway too, such as procuring new aircraft.
Keeping a large fleet of specialist aircraft up-to-date and fit for purpose involves expert skills, experience and the coordination of many teams, inside and outside of NPAS.
With this in mind we have recruited additional project professionals to join our in-house team.
Major change projects underway in 2024/25
Procurement of new aircraft
In February 2025, the UK Home Office confirmed funding to purchase seven new helicopters to replace some of the NPAS rotary fleet. A contract was placed in March 2025 with Airbus Helicopters UK for new EC135 T3H helicopters. Detailed planning is under way, and it is anticipated the new aircraft will enter service in 2027.
Obsolescence
Essential work was undertaken to address immediate concerns about the continued supply and upkeep of some aircraft mission equipment. This included the last 'right to purchase' of required hardware from suppliers, proactive identification and early replacement of key components before failure, and enhanced fault reporting processes to help with the future assessment and planning of replacement equipment and upgrades.
Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) contracts
An extended fixed wing MRO contract with GAMA Aviation commenced on 1 April 2024, and an extended rotary MRO contract with Airbus commenced on 1 October 2024. Both contracts were extended for two years following a procurement exercise led by Blue Light Commercial (BLC). Working with BLC, we are now planning the procurement retender of both contracts with 'market engagement' beginning in April 2025.
Keeping the show in the air in 2024/25
London A-Z mapping
In November 2024, the Metropolitan Police Service adopted the 'A-Z Master Atlas of Greater London' for determining locations within Greater London. This resulted in a change to the London airspace grid used in NPAS systems. We coordinated a switch over to the new system, liaising with the National and London Air Traffic Control Service, Helicopter Emergency Medical Service and the Metropolitan Police Service.
Base improvement programme
A new helipad was laid at NPAS Husbands Bosworth and a full site refurbishment of NPAS Birmingham base was completed in September 2024. Minor works were completed at
NPAS Barton.
Service Improvements
In 2024, we planned service improvements to various aircraft systems for implementation in 2025. They include improved signal quality of our aircraft downlink video imagery, better capability of the public announcement system and updates to the moving map mission systems.