Metro Aviation unit PAC International recently upgraded a Bell 407 for Michigan State Police with a new Aeronautical Accessories/Garmin G1000 NXi retrofit kit. The avionics upgrade features dual navigation, communications, air data, attitude, and heading reference systems (ADAHRS), WAAS GPS, synthetic vision, and helicopter TAWS. PAC also installed an Aeronautical Accessories enlarged instrument panel and Genesys Aerosystems HeliSAS autopilot. Upgrades to the original mission suite include Wulfsberg & Motorola tactical radios, Shotover ARS700 mapping system, and Airborne displays.
The Michigan State Police Aviation Unit operates a mixed fleet of helicopters and airplanes from bases in Lansing, Saginaw, and Ypsilanti. Aircraft include a Beech King Air 90, Cessna 182R, Bell 206L3, two Bell 407s, two Bell UH-1H Hueys, and three Aeryon SkyRanger Unmanned Aircraft Systems. It also uses a downlink truck, which receives live video from the helicopters or UAS. The unit supports local law enforcement agencies and works with the National Guard and Coast Guard air stations in Traverse City and Detroit.
PAC International, officially known as Paradigm Aerospace Corp., is a subsidiary of Metro Aviation. PAC's capabilities range from maintenance and avionics to paint, component repair, and overhaul.
