Newport Beach : Council Votes to Replace Copter Lost in Collision

Despite some public opposition, the City Council has voted unanimously to replace a helicopter destroyed in a mid-air collision with another police helicopter.

At its meeting Monday, the council appropriated $317,820 to purchase a used 1982 Hughes 500D to replace the helicopter lost in the March 10 crash over Irvine.

Councilman Donald Strauss said the council made a concession to helicopter opponents to discuss such issues as how low the copters should fly and the noise they create.

One opponent, Mike Hilford, a Newport Beach engineer, has called the helicopters unsafe and has said funds to replace them should be used to buy additional squad cars.

Strauss said the city needs police helicopters because of its “unusual configuration,” which makes it difficult for police to rely solely on patrol cars.

“Helicopters can be very effective,” he said. “People feel very good that police up there can at any moment or two bare (their) lights and can cooperate with ground people.”

Police officials have said the Hughes 500D produces less noise and has more capacity than the Hughes 300 involved in the crash.

The March 10 crash, during a high-speed auto chase, killed two police officers and a civilian observer who were riding in a Costa Mesa helicopter. The two officers in the Newport Beach helicopter survived.