The WA Police Force’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) Expansion Project has reached the Wheatbelt District, with four local police officers undergoing training to become police drone pilots.
WA Police said the 12-month training program commenced in July last year with several police officers from specialist units trained in the first phase of the delivery program.
“The Wheatbelt District officers are the third group of regional officers to take part in the training, with officers from Great Southern District and South West District trained in recent months,” the Police said.
“The officers who have been selected to undergo the training are required to complete the same theory and practical training that any other RPAS Pilot needs to complete under Civil Aviation Safety Authority requirements,” it said.
“Upon completion of the training the Wheatbelt District will be allocated two RPAS assets, or drones, to deploy locally when they are required.”
The Police said the new drones would significantly increase local air support capability and the capacity to provide aerial support to local police, including for emergency response to land search and marine search operations.
It said local police drones wouldn’t replace traditional aircraft deployments and the Police Air Wing, along with other aircraft, would remain available for emergency needs.
“Police in the Mid-West Gascoyne District are next to receive their RPAS Pilot training and drone assets, with the regional training rollout expected to be completed by the end of June,” it said.
“By the end of the training rollout it is expected there will be 60 trained RPAS Pilots and 40 drones deployed across the State,” WA Police said.
