The introduction of the helicopter in the Malta Police Service

Abstract

In a modern society surely no one can underrate the usefulness of the helicopter service - in our case it was proved that the helicopter has provided precious service to the whole nation. It was in the latter half of 1971 that the Maltese Government seriously tackled this problem and after obtaining the full support of the West German Federal Government this new venture was launched; volunteer student pilots and mechanics from both the Army and the Police Service were soon after selected and were sent on their way to Germany. At the German Airbase near the village of Fassberg these candidates immediately commenced their courses of study under German lecturers, and further to facilitate matters the German authorities took it upon themselves to provide English-speaking lecturers. In the meantime, four helicopters arrived in Malta ready to be used by the trained officials. The main roles of the helicopter squad of the Malta Police Force were marine patrols, control of sea-pollution, rescue operations, identification and tracking of vehicles used by criminals, and the transport of patients and medical resources between the hospitals in Malta and Gozo.