By August 1980, all six of our Bell Jet Ranger Helicopters were involved. Over the years the actions of the Section and its members have been exemplary. The Pennsylvania State Police operates seven Bell Jet Ranger helicopters from strategically-placed locations throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Each helicopter can carry up to four passengers depending on circumstances, has the capacity for a medical evacuation configuration for two litter patients and is capable of mounting a 30 million candlepower search light for night operations. The helicopters are available 24 hours a day.
Limiting factors are manpower and machinery availability and weather.
Each Aviation Patrol Unit has a minimum of three pilots for scheduling. This makes it possible to have the helicopters available from sunrise to sunset. For incidents which occur outside this time frame, pilots may be called in. Nighttime operations require a more critical evaluation of weather than daytime operations. With the search light mounted, the helicopter can effectively illuminate an area the size of a city block.