The State Police Aviation Division was formed on January 1, 1984, to provide for the administration and coordination of the department’s aviation resources. The Division’s primary mission is to provide aircraft for medical evacuation, search and rescue, and law enforcement. During its nearly 40 year tenure, the Aviation Division has recorded more than one hundred thousand flight hours responding to flight requests across the Commonwealth.
Division Commander:
Captain Gregory T. Mathias
Phone: (804) 482-4270
Fax: (804) 482-4239
Email:
Aviation@vsp.virginia.gov
Location:
Administrative Office
7521 Airfield Drive
North Chesterfield, VA 23237
The Division utilizes three operational bases and one Headquarters facility located in the following Virginia localities:
- Aviation Division Headquarters and Maintenance Facility
7521 Airfield Drive, North Chesterfield, VA 23237
(804) 482-4270 - Chesterfield
7411 Airfield Drive, North Chesterfield, VA 23237
(804) 743-2234 - Abingdon
18337 Lee Highway, Abingdon, VA 24210
(276) 676-5625 - Lynchburg
702 Hangar Road, Lynchburg, VA 24502
(434) 582-5170
The Division’s primary mission is to provide aircraft for:
- Medical Evacuation
- Search & Rescue
- Law Enforcement
The Virginia State Police Aviation Division operates the following types of aircraft:
- 5 Bell 407 Helicopters
- 1 Bell 412EPI Helicopter
- 1 Airbus EC-145 Helicopters
- 3 Cessna 206 Turbo Stationair Airplanes
Medical Evacuation
The Department operates two helicopter medical evacuation programs that serve Central and Southwest Virginia. These programs provide rapid response, advanced medical procedures, and transport for critically injured patients to level one trauma centers. Combined, these programs serve 43 hospitals and the people in 59 counties and 34 cities.
Med-Flight I began operations on April 1, 1984, and responds to calls for assistance in a 60 mile radius of Richmond.
Med-Flight II began operations on January 1, 1987 and responds to calls for assistance in a 60 mile radius of Abingdon.
Since 2022, on average, the Med-Flight programs have responded to over 1,800 calls a year and transported over 800 patients annually.
Search and Rescue
The Bell 407 helicopters all have a FLIR 8500 system, rescue hoist and 30 million candlepower searchlight, which all aid in the success of locating missing person, fugitives and lost children.
The Aviation Division responds to over 300 requests for searches for escapees, missing persons, criminals, and stolen property per year.
Surveillance
The Aviation Division averages 100 request a year to utilizes aircraft to conduct surveillances for drugs or narcotic, other criminal matters, as well as other miscellaneous calls.
Other Law Enforcement Duties
The Aviation Division provides aerial support to any Federal, State, or municipal agency whereby the solution of a police problem or mission may be obtained.
On average the Division provides aerial support to over 350 requests annually from agencies external to the Department of State Police. These flights included photographing crime scenes, providing support for presidential motorcades, participating in multi-agency task force efforts, and demonstrations of the capabilities of the Aviation Division’s aircraft.