Initial development of aviation as an urban policing tool was rooted in national security concerns stemming from the United States' entry into World War I. Early 20th century fears of foreign sabotage in the US were compound… See more

Most of the unit's annual flight hours are accumulated through daily patrol duties, which often include general surveillance or support of NYPD street officers conducting manhunts and suspect pursuits. These missions ar… See more

As of February 2021 , NYPD Aviation had 76 members. Prospective new hires are drawn from the department's force of existing police officers, and new pilots reportedly average 5 years of seniority with the depart… See more

• On the night of August 27, 2004, an NYPD Bell 412EP equipped for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) was used to film a couple having sex on the roof of their home. The helicopter was dispatched … See more