Key Facts
| Current Title: |
| Western Australia Police Air Wing |
| English Title: |
| Western Australia Police Air Wing |
| Abbreviation: |
| WAPAW |
| First Established: |
| n/a |
| ICAO Code: |
| (None) |
| Country: |
| Australia |
| Status: |
| Active |
History
Narrative Summary
The Western Australia Police was first established in 1834. The Air Wing commenced operations in 1974, using a hired Piper Tri-Pacer. A Cessna 182 was later purchased as a replacement. In 1982 the first twin-engined aircraft was obtained. Helicopter operations began in December 1989 using a chartered Bell 206L Long Ranger.
Key Dates
| 1 January 1834 | Western Australia Police first established. | |
| 1974 | Air Wing formed using leased aircraft. | |
| December 1989 | Start of helicopter operations. |
Current Status
The aircraft of the WAPAW are fully operational.
Future Plans
No plans known.
Markings
Special Markings
WAPAW helicopters operate in a blue and white colour scheme with the service titles POLICE on the rotor fairing and the Western Australia Police crest on the cabin door. The PC-12s have a silver and white colour scheme with a blue cheatline and the rear fuselage a reproduction of the blue bird insignia featured on the WAP official flag.
Aircraft Serial Numbers
Aircraft operating with the WAPAW initially carried standard Australian civil aircraft registrations in no special sequence, e.g. Piper PA-31 Navajo VH-DEQ, but more recent aircraft have VH-WAx and VH-WPx registrations.
Unit/Base Codes
Coding system not used.
Aircraft
Aircraft Designations
None – Manufacturers designations used
Current Aircraft Inventory
| Aircraft Type | Total Del’d | Total Active | Still on Order | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospatiale AS365N3 Dauphin | 1 | 1 | 0 | Policing |
| Cessna 182 Skylane | 2 | 1 | 0 | Policing |
| GippsAero GA8 Airvan | 1 | 1 | 0 | Policing |
| MBB BK117B2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Policing |
| Pilatus PC-12 | 1 | 1 | 0 | Policing |
All-Time Aircraft Used List
| Aircraft Type | Quantity | Service Entry | Out of Service | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospatiale AS355F1 Twin Squirrel | 1 | 1990 | 1992 | France |
| Aerospatiale AS365N3 Dauphin | 1 | ? | current | France |
| Beech 55 Baron | 1 | ? | ? | USA |
| Bell 206L LongRanger | 1 | 1989 | 2001 | leased |
| Cessna 182 Skylane | 2 | 197? | current | USA |
| Cessna 310R | 1 | ? | 2001 | USA |
| GippsAero GA8 Airvan | 1 | ? | current | Australia |
| MBB BK117B2 | 1 | 1992 | current | Japan |
| Partenavia P68 Observer | 1 | 1982 | ? | Italy |
| Pilatus PC-12 | 2 | 2006 | current | Switzerland |
| Piper PA-22 Tri-Pacer | 1 | 1974 | ? | leased |
| Piper PA-31 Navajo | 2+ | ? | 2006 | USA |
Aircraft NOT Used
No false reports known.
Aircraft Losses and Incidents
The WAPAW has suffered two accidents – an AS355 on 8 May 1992 and a Cessna 310 on 26 January 2001.
Organisation
Main Headquarters
Western Australia Police Air Wing, Jandakot Airport, Jandakot WA 6164.
Organisational Structure
Police Air Wing has two units based in WA with one covering the southern state and the other covering the northern state.
Current Unit Assignments
No subordinate units.
Historical Unit Assignments
Not applicable.
All-Time Flying Units List
Not applicable.
Air Bases
Current Air Bases
The WAPAW has a main base at Jandakot Airport, Perth, with one aircraft also based at Karratha Airport.
All-Time Air Bases Used List
As above.
More Information
Books
None known.
Magazines
To be added
Websites
wikipedia: Western Australia Police
Police Air Wing
Pilatus Aircraft Enthusiasts