Police plane?

Question

Were I live in the uk we have some times a police plane that flys around what good are they when they cant hover like a helicopter ?

Answer 1

Aside from the answers already given I'd like to point out that we have police helicopters here and I never see them hover.  They circle over the things on the ground that they are watching.  I assume that hovering requires enough concentration that the pilots can't comfortably pay attention to what's on the ground at the same time they hover.

Answer 2

Aircraft are used for observation, so landing in neighborhoods is not a requirement. Airplanes can circle to keep an eye on those they are observing. Planes are cheaper and quieter than helicopters. I wish they would use them stateside.

Answer 3

Fixed wing aircraft are used because one they are cheaper to operate and can stay in a certain area for long periods of time.  Police aircraft are equipped with many different types of surveillance electronics installed like TV cameras to telephone receivers and etc.  They can circle at high altitude unnoticed for long periods of time collecting data.  

Another important factor is the sound they produce the helicopter sound signature is much more than a fixed wing (airplane).  The main rotor blades on the helicopter make a load sound when they pass over the helicopter tail section.  And to stay in one area the helicopter is always at 100% torque (makes lots of noise).  The airplane can throttle back and be unnoticed circling over heard.

Here in the states we call them a “bear in the air”.

Answer 4

i will start by saying you have a good point and there are many reasons why the police use planes as well as helicopters the cost of training pilots local area budgets for doing jobs that would not be done by helicopter the list goes on but you will find in some areas that planes take on other jobs like traffic control to