The Fairfax County Police Helicopter Division provides tactical police aviation support, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, and other specialized air support as needed within Fairfax County and the National Capital Region to enhance public safety and welfare.
The Fairfax County Police Helicopter Division is committed to reducing aircraft noise. As such, the division employs the following flight characteristics whenever possible.
When responding from Fairfax Base to events that are not time critical, pilots should climb over the area of the landfill to an altitude of at least 1200 feet MSL before proceeding on course.
When returning to Fairfax Base, pilots should maintain a minimum altitude of 1200 feet MSL until intercept of a steeper than normal glide path to the base.
Flight operations between the hours of 1100 and 0700 are limited to essential police and medevac missions.
Vary landing and departure courses at Fairfax Base and remain over the landfill as much as possible.
Avoid noise-sensitive areas when possible.
Select routes over areas of high ambient noise levels when possible.
Maintain an altitude of at least 1,000 feet AGL when possible.
Avoid fast cruise speeds when not responding to missions.
Avoid sharp maneuvers.
Use steep takeoff and descent profiles.
The Fairfax County Police Helicopter Division maintains a 24-hour, 7 days a week, single-aircraft mission response capability. The standard duty crew is comprised of one pilot and two paramedic qualified police officers. If you listen to air traffic control for Dulles or National Airport you will routinely hear the crew communicate using the call sign "Fairfax 1."
Fairfax 1 provides tactical police aviation support, aeromedical evacuation, search & rescue, and other specialized air support as needed within Fairfax County, and through mutual aid agreements to other jurisdictions within the National Capital Region to enhance public safety and welfare.
The Fairfax County Police Helicopter Division maintains two Bell 429 helicopters purchased through funds saved over more than a decade. The helicopters are projected to last 20 years.
If the helicopter is circling your neighborhood it is on a mission. You can contact the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications at (703) 691-2131 and they will tell you what type of mission the helicopter is on. The Fairfax County Police Helicopter Division also posts recent missions on their website and that website is updated at least once a week.
The crew members take the noise produced by the helicopter into account on every mission flown. The division uses the Helicopter Association International's Fly Neighborly Guide as a model for helicopter noise reduction. Unfortunately, due to mission critical components of certain flights, the crew cannot always adhere to those guidelines.
No. There are many public safety, medevac, news, and military helicopters that operate in the Northern Virginia area daily.
If you are a member of a community organization based in Fairfax County, or a Fairfax County employee working in your official capacity, you can request a demonstration or fly-over. The crew can fly-out to a predetermined location to meet with your organization, fly over a special event, or meet your group at the hangar so you can see the helicopter firsthand. (Examples include Fairfax County Public Schools, scout troops, National Night Out events)
The division will provide a demonstration to any public safety agency as long as it is logistically possible. Working with our local, state, and federal partner is vital to our mission and we encourage those partners to contact us anytime.
The operation of unmanned aircraft (UA/drones), to include model aircraft, is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Information concerning the operation of UAs can be found on the FAQ section of the FAA website. Additionally, the District of Columbia and cities and towns within a 15-mile radius of Ronald-Reagan Washington National Airport are a No Drone Zone. This includes a portion of Fairfax County. Further information can be found at DC IS A NO DRONE ZONE.
