Flight Design introduces law enforcement variant of LSA

German aircraft manufacturer Flight Design has unveiled a law enforcement variant of its CTLE light sport aircraft.

To be used by the Tulare County California Sheriff's Department in the US, the aircraft  has been christened with the call sign “Sheriff One” and will make its public debut at the Sebring US Sport Aviation Expo in 2012.

Costing about US$60,000 more than a standard Flight Design CTLS, Sheriff One boasts a high technology camera, digital recording equipment to store camera images, and additional controller and display screen including a glass-panel cockpit.

(Flight Design)

Captain David Williams, a recently retired member of the Tulare County California Sheriff’s Department, pushed for the law enforcement body to acquire the aircraft as a cheaper alternative to a helicopter.

“[CTLE] will do about 95 per cent of what a helicopter can do, short of landing and taking off at a single point,” Williams explained.

He added that the various cameras equipped to Sheriff One can remain focused on a single object – such as a car, a parking lot or a house – while the plane circles. A spotlight with a mile-long range and a video screen lets the tactical flight officer in the right-hand seat view what the camera sees.


Tulare County Sheriff Bill Wittman said one of the planned uses of the plane will be to search for suspected criminals taking apart farm machinery to steal copper wiring to sell it, as well as thieves taking crops, livestock and heavy equipment.

Williams said that between fuel, insurance, maintenance and renting hangar space at the local airport, Sheriff One will cost about US$34 for every flight hour used – not counting the salaries of the deputies flying it – which is reportedly only 10 per cent of the cost compared to US$300-$400 an hour for a helicopter.

CAPTION: Captain Dave Williams introduces the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department’s Sheriff One. (Ron Holman)