Welcome to the Maryland State Police Aviation Command website. We hope that you find the site to be interesting and informative.

Since 1961, the Aviation Command has provided the Maryland State Police and our allied law enforcement partners throughout the State with aerial search and rescue support and airborne law enforcement support. In 1970 we added a third mission profile when we completed the first civilian medevac mission in the country; we have transported over 130,000 patients to date, none of whom have received a bill for this lifesaving service. Since September 11, 2001, we have taken on a fourth mission profile through providing aerial support focused on protecting our homeland.

Our pilots, trooper flight paramedics, helicopter maintenance technicians, and staff personnel are all highly trained and dedicated. We fly 11 state of the art twin engine helicopters, which are based strategically at eight locations across the State. We are positioned to quickly respond to emergencies located anywhere in Maryland ranging from the Atlantic Ocean to the Chesapeake Bay to the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas to the Appalachian Mountains. We also operate two fixed wing aircraft in support of our multi-mission profile. All of our aircraft are maintained by our in-house Maintenance Section.

Our services have not come without a price. We shall always remember the selfless sacrifices of our Aviation Command personnel who have given their lives in the line of duty while serving the citizens of Maryland: Trooper First Class Arthur W. Plummer, Jr., Trooper First Class Phillip L. Russ, Trooper First Class Thomas A. Noyle, Trooper First Class Donald E. Parkerson, Jr., Trooper First Class Charles S. Rathell, Trooper First Class Carey S. Poetzman, and Corporal Gregory A. May.

The Aviation Command suffered several additional painful losses in 2008. In September, Pilot Stephen H. Bunker, Trooper First Class/Flight Paramedic Mickey C. Lippy, and Emergency Medical Technician Tonya Mallard gave their lives in the line of duty in the crash of Trooper 2, which was transporting two patients from the scene of an automobile crash to a trauma center in Prince Georges County, Maryland. In November, First Sergeant/Flight Paramedic Tobin T. Triebel lost his life after being struck by a vehicle.

Our heroes' sacrifices only strengthen our resolve to continue providing the finest aeromedical, aerial search and rescue, airborne law enforcement, and homeland security services available anywhere in the world.

Please enjoy your visit to our website and thank you for your interest in the Aviation Command. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please feel free to email us at aviation@mdsp.org with your questions.

Sincerely,
Major Andrew J. (A. J.) McAndrew
Commander