Sgt. Dave Thompson, Sonoma City Sheriff's Office - Helicopter Unit

"We've been flying NVGs since 2001, and we were the first 407 cockpit to be certified NVG in the nation, so that's our connection to ASU. There's story after story that starts with 'It's a dark and stormy night' for everyone else, but not for us because we're wearing these goggles and see right through it. We're in the blackest of black areas where you can't see your hand in front of your face but pop those goggles on, and it's like daylight out there. We've had lots of stories of hikers being lost in dark areas, and we'll fly in and see the glow from their phone while their on the phone with dispatch, we see the phone against their face with the NVGs and boom, we've got em. Without the NVGs we'd be searching with a spotlight for a long time but with the NVGs it dials us right in, we get to the people, get them out of there, it's not drama--it's done."

Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Inc. (ASU) provides various services that include specialized airborne law enforcement solutions for government entities. ASU has proven experience in providing professional turn-key airborne operations employing specially equipped helicopters and experienced pilots necessary to successfully respond to a variety of missions. ASU's helicopters can rapidly survey large areas for lost individuals or fleeing suspects. Services available include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Law Enforcement — ASU has demonstrated experience in participating in missions to pursue suspects, perform surveillance and photographic missions, counter drug operations, aerial command and control for critical incident management, special operations missions, emergency response missions, show of presence in known drug and gang areas, river and lake patrol, dam and water supply patrols, night time lighting of accident scenes and traffic control.
2. Airborne Surveillance and Security Operations — ASU has operated an airborne surveillance contract in the country of Colombia, South America. Throughout the 4 year duration of our contract our Cessna C337 aircraft provided surveillance and security for the petroleum pipeline that is vital to the economy of Colombia.

ASU requests the opportunity to show you just how effective a turn-key airborne law enforcement or surveillance operation can be for you and your agency/company.