VOA常速英语2007年-Aviation Unit 'Eyes in the Sky' for NYPD's Coun

By Kane Farabaugh
New York City
19 December 2007
 

The New York Police Department Aviation Unit was founded in 1928, and is considered the first and longest-running police aviation unit in the United States. It is a unit that has transformed over the years from fixed¹ wing aircraft to high-tech² helicopters. As VOA's Kane Farabaugh reports, the Aviation Unit is now an important part of the counterterrorism effort of the NYPD.

Most police officers in New York City begin their day by reviewing their patrol area.

But for members of the NYPD Aviation Unit, whose patrol area is the entire city, the day begins by checking out the weather.

The patrol vehicle for the officers is a state-of-the-art helicopter, outfitted³ with surveillance equipment.

Lieutenant⁴ Wendell Sears, who serves as the Director of Flight Operations for the Aviation Unit, says the presence of the helicopter in the skies above the city is to enhance the course of regular police work. "Our role is to help the men and women on the ground."

With so much water surrounding New York City, historically one of the primary roles of the Aviation Unit is search and rescue operations.

But since the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S., priorities have changed. While search and rescue work is still a regular part of the Aviation Unit mission, more of the regular patrol work is keeping an eye from the sky on the city - on the lookout⁵ for anything unusual. It is part of a beefed-up counterterrorism effort initiated⁶ by Police Commissioner⁷ Ray Kelly and executed by people like Lieutenant Sears.

"We have various counterterrorism locations that we hit, bridges, buildings, various locations throughout the city that we pay a visit on a routine basis," Sears said.

One of those locations is the George Washington Bridge, a major artery⁸ for vehicle traffic entering and leaving Manhattan.

During one routine patrol, one of the pilots notices something unusual. Pilot transmission: "We've got people on top. We've got workers on top of the bridge."

What they are seeing on the top of the superstructure is cause for concern. The pilots were not notified of any scheduled work, and they begin an orbit around the bridge.

Pilot transmission: "Let's go around, I want to take a look at what's going on. Are they taking photos?" Yeah, I don't know what they're doing, or who they are or how they got up there."

As the pilots circle, they are closely monitoring movements.

Pilot transmission:  "Part of airborne patrol is to look and see, and obviously there is somebody here who we were not notified about so we're here to investigate what this is all about."

The pilots do not have the capability⁹ to physically¹⁰ intervene, and they call for land-based patrols with the New York and New Jersey¹¹ Port Authority to help them investigate.

Pilot transmission:  "They don't seem to be too alarmed to our presence, and I'm going out on a limb here to say that everything is OK, but it's best to have them checked out anyway."

After circling the bridge for ten minutes, word finally reaches the pilots that the people on the top of the bridge check out. It appears to be a routine inspection¹² of one of the light beacons¹³ on the top of the superstructure.

But since the 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S., Lt. Sears says there is no such thing as "routine" and the Aviation Unit can never be too cautious. "We're more proactive, our officers are going over locations… it's a different world."

When asked if there is tangible¹⁴ evidence that the work of the Aviation Unit is making a difference, Lt. Sears points to the record. There has not been a terrorist attack in New York City since the mission of the unit changed after the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, and patrols were beefed up to keep an eye on the city. "I do hope that we are making a difference. Every day that we don't see a tragedy like 9/11, maybe we are playing a role, and a major role, in the efforts of fighting terrorism."

1 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

2 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

3 outfitted   

v.装备，配置设备，供给服装( outfit的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They outfitted for the long journey. 他们为远途旅行准备装束。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• They outfitted him with artificial legs. 他们为他安了假腿。 来自辞典例句

4 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

5 lookout   

n.注意，前途，瞭望台

参考例句：

• You can see everything around from the lookout.从了望台上你可以看清周围的一切。
• It's a bad lookout for the company if interest rates don't come down.如果利率降不下来，公司的前景可就不妙了。

6 initiated   

n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入

参考例句：

• He has not yet been thoroughly initiated into the mysteries of computers. 他对计算机的奥秘尚未入门。
• The artist initiated the girl into the art world in France. 这个艺术家介绍这个女孩加入巴黎艺术界。

7 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

8 artery   

n.干线，要道；动脉

参考例句：

• We couldn't feel the changes in the blood pressure within the artery.我们无法感觉到动脉血管内血压的变化。
• The aorta is the largest artery in the body.主动脉是人体中的最大动脉。

9 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

10 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

11 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

12 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

13 beacons   

灯塔( beacon的名词复数 )； 烽火； 指路明灯； 无线电台或发射台

参考例句：

• A chain of beacons was lit across the region. 整个地区点起了一系列灯塔。
• Lighthouse and beacons flash at night. 晚上灯塔与信号台闪着光。

14 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。