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In Auburn, officers with the California Highway Patrol Valley Division Air Operations run emergency response missions from Butte County to San Joaquin County, a coverage area of 13 counties.

In Auburn, officers with the California Highway Patrol Valley Division Air Operations run emergency response missions from Butte County to San Joaquin County, a coverage area of 13 counties.

Last March the division added the Australian-made GippsAero GA8 Airvan to their fleet — the only aircraft of its kind currently being used in California.

Last March the division added the Australian-made GippsAero GA8 Airvan to their fleet — the only aircraft of its kind currently being used in California.

“Emergency response is the aircraft’s top priority,” says Sergeant Jeff Watkins, aerial supervisor and pilot for CHP. “Valley Division also covers homeland security missions, rural patrol, enforcement and transportation.”  

“Emergency response is the aircraft’s top priority,” says Sergeant Jeff Watkins, aerial supervisor and pilot for CHP. “Valley Division also covers homeland security missions, rural patrol, enforcement and transportation.”  

Watkins, who has 25 years of flying experience, wanted to be a pilot since the age of five. “There is no other job like this,” he says. “I love the diversity of the day. No two shifts are the same.”

Watkins, who has 25 years of flying experience, wanted to be a pilot since the age of five. “There is no other job like this,” he says. “I love the diversity of the day. No two shifts are the same.”

Flight officer Troy Marks operates a large sensor system, with multiple cameras inside of it, that extends from the belly of the aircraft. One camera has a long-distance lens designed specifically for low light, another has a daytime color lens, one is an infrared, heat-detecting camera.

Flight officer Troy Marks operates a large sensor system, with multiple cameras inside of it, that extends from the belly of the aircraft. One camera has a long-distance lens designed specifically for low light, another has a daytime color lens, one is an infrared, heat-detecting camera.

The cameras also connect to two touchscreen monitors located in the flight officer work station.

The cameras also connect to two touchscreen monitors located in the flight officer work station.

The new technology enables officers to zoom in on locations up to over 10 miles away, depending on conditions. This provides officers in the air and on the ground with accurate, real-time accounts of emergencies in progress.

The new technology enables officers to zoom in on locations up to over 10 miles away, depending on conditions. This provides officers in the air and on the ground with accurate, real-time accounts of emergencies in progress.

Using the plane’s high-tech system of sensors and cameras, air crews are able to provide officers on the ground with location, images and videos of an accident site — all of which enable faster response times.

Using the plane’s high-tech system of sensors and cameras, air crews are able to provide officers on the ground with location, images and videos of an accident site — all of which enable faster response times.

“It is great to feel like you are doing the public well providing safety,” Watkins says. “I think I speak for every officer here when I say that.”

“It is great to feel like you are doing the public well providing safety,” Watkins says. “I think I speak for every officer here when I say that.”

Zeroing In

Take a ride in CHP Valley Division Air Operations' GippsAero GA8 Airvan— the only aircraft of its kind currently being used in California.

Back SNAP Jan 28, 2016 By Kelly Higdon

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