Airplane Surveillance

[Ignacio]

Washington State Patrol owns and operates 5 planes...generally considered to be 3 that work west side and 2 in Eastern Washington.

Their tail numbers are below and could theoretically be tracked via FlightAware if they file flight plans.

N3532K Cessna 182T in

.N305RC Cessna 182T 2001

N102LP Cessna 182T

N305DK Cessna 206H

N2446X Cessna 206H

Example, N3532K shows as having been flown to Ephrata, WA on July 8th, 2009. This could mean I-90 in the Moses Lake area could be patrolled in the coming days.

The larger 206 planes tend to be used less for speed enforcement and more for on-demand chasing like DUI's and eluding pursuit. They have $375,000 FLIR systems and a technician onboard besides the pilot.

 

[LDRydr]

Example, N3532K shows as having been flown to Ephrata, WA on July 8th, 2009. This could mean I-90 in the Moses Lake area could be patrolled in the coming days.

Hmmm, I wonder if they'll be flying at 6am this Saturday when I just "may" be in the area? In any case I think I'll print those tail numbers out and post them on my bulletin board here beside the computer for future "reference". Thanks Iggy!

 

[Bike Effects]

I doubt that they would file Flight Plans if they are patrolling.

 

[Bugnatr]

Bastages!

 

[painman]

You could wear camo gear and paint your helmet and bike camo. Just a thought....now I wonder where they'll be around the last weekend of July.....PM. <>< :grin:

 

[Patriot]

You could wear camo gear and paint your helmet and bike camo. Just a thought....now I wonder where they'll be around the last weekend of July.....PM. <>< :grin:

geez, stealth motorcyclist :blink: :glare: - just sayin'

 

[RenoJohn]

I doubt that they would file Flight Plans if they are patrolling.

I know nothing about aviation except getting high ....but don't all planes need to file a flight plan?

if these planes do, me thinks knowing when they're in the air would be a good thing to know.

 

[SouthernCruizer]

I doubt that they would file Flight Plans if they are patrolling.

I know nothing about aviation except getting high ....but don't all planes need to file a flight plan?

if these planes do, me thinks knowing when they're in the air would be a good thing to know.

***************************************************************

Planes flying by visual flight rules do not need to file a flight plan. Patrolling planes would be flying VFR, so no flight plan is required. Most VFR pilots that fly "local" dont file a plan, but some that are flying long distances will file, mostly for safety and peace of mind. If I am flying more than one hour away from my home base, I file a flight plan.

 

[Ignacio]

Planes flying by visual flight rules do not need to file a flight plan. Patrolling planes would be flying VFR, so no flight plan is required. Most VFR pilots that fly "local" dont file a plan, but some that are flying long distances will file, mostly for safety and piece of mind. If I am flying more than one hour away from my home base, I file a flight plan.

I'd concur with that. They're only going to be doing enforcement on VFR days...or they're not going to be able to see the cars to time.

Looking at the history it looks like when the plane cross the state (we've got some substantial mountains bisecting the state) they tend to file a plan. I bet when they go back and forth to Olympia (the state capitol) they're doing it for administrative or plane maintenance reasons.

Still one might be able to gleen some detail of a fresh enforcement series. If they move from Ephrata to Pasco...they likely will be doing enforcement in SE Washington. Spokane likely means Eastern Central WA.

 

[airboss]

You could wear camo gear and paint your helmet and bike camo. Just a thought....now I wonder where they'll be around the last weekend of July.....PM. <>< :grin:

geez, stealth motorcyclist :blink: :glare: - just sayin'

Next time I visit my sis in Seattle, guess I'll just have to ride the VFR, it's called Asphalt, 04 factory color.

 

[sportsguy]

You could wear camo gear and paint your helmet and bike camo. Just a thought....now I wonder where they'll be around the last weekend of July.....PM. <>< :grin:

geez, stealth motorcyclist :blink: :glare: - just sayin'

Next time I visit my sis in Seattle, guess I'll just have to ride the VFR, it's called Asphalt, 04 factory color.

They'll just shine a black light down on the road and track the brightly glowing helmet as it zips up the highway...

 

[SacramentoMike]

You could wear camo gear and paint your helmet and bike camo. Just a thought....now I wonder where they'll be around the last weekend of July.....PM. <>< :grin:

geez, stealth motorcyclist :blink: :glare: - just sayin'

Next time I visit my sis in Seattle, guess I'll just have to ride the VFR, it's called Asphalt, 04 factory color.

They'll just shine a black light down on the road and track the brightly glowing helmet as it zips up the highway...

Not if he sticks to roads that have a white centerline, and stays in the middle. . .

 

[exskibum]

Used to know a guy out here (Manteca, CA) who had convex mirrors mounted above his knees on the fairing of his 2001 Blackbird. Warchild would remember Randy ("BDAZ_XX" on the forum we all used to frequent). Randy was a great guy, extremely knowledgeable and one of the best riders I've ridden with -- AMA expert, still racing in his 40s after growing up racing with some real stars of the sport. Riding behind him in serious twisties was always a treat if you wanted to know how a real pro carves lines on pavement. Randy got married again a couple years ago and moved to Virginia Beach, VA with his new wife in the early summer of '08, I think.

I spotted those mirrors shortly after meeting him on a ride at the "Hookers XX" meet in Reno in '05 and asked about them. He told me that they were for spotting planes, and that the angle of the top surface of the XX fairing where he'd mounted them was perfect for that from where the bars put his helmet. Said that if there was something big enough and low enough to show up in those mirrors, chances are that it was a LEO aircraft.

 

[Gary]

The larger 206 planes tend to be used less for speed enforcement and more for on-demand chasing like DUI's and eluding pursuit. They have $375,000 FLIR systems and a technician onboard besides the pilot.

Sheesh, no wonder states are broke...

 

[SnowAviation]

FlightAware only tracks aircraft on IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) aircraft, No VFR (Visual Flight Rules)

flight plans, and law enforcement aircraft on surveillance NEVER file flight plans of ANY kind.

Trust me, I know.

 

[dustyrains]

What a waste of taxpayer dollars.

 

[n1acguy]

FlightAware only tracks aircraft on IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) aircraft, No VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight plans, and law enforcement aircraft on surveillance NEVER file flight plans of ANY kind.

Trust me, I know.

I show up on it when I use flight following.

 

[Checkswrecks]

FlightAware only tracks aircraft on IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) aircraft, No VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight plans, and law enforcement aircraft on surveillance NEVER file flight plans of ANY kind.

Trust me, I know.

I show up on it when I use flight following.

As you should.

Traffic enforcement and most public-use is usually just VFR without flight following unless near a city where traffic may be a concern and the pilot wants traffic calls.The States get those airplanes for multiple missions and traffic spotting is usually just filler while waiting for other calls. It's amazing how fast they rack up hours.

As for cost, compare the cost of running a C-182 to any turbine helicopter, which is the typical alternative. The airplane's a bargain.

 

[meosborn]

FlightAware only tracks aircraft on IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) aircraft, No VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flight plans, and law enforcement aircraft on surveillance NEVER file flight plans of ANY kind.

Trust me, I know.

That is no doubt the truth but it would seem to be useful to know what area the plans are in at least.