Police Heliport

Primarily economic. The department's single helicopter, a 1974 Bell OH-58A+, had become prohibitively expensive to maintain and operate due to its age. The estimated cost for a replacement helicopter was around $4.5 million, with annual operating costs of approximately $500,000, which was deemed financially unsustainable for the city budget.

The heliport is permanently closed and non-operational, as the WPD Air Section it served was disbanded. The coordinates (37.6642, -97.348701) point to the downtown area of Wichita, near the Sedgwick County Courthouse and Public Safety Center. This area is now used exclusively for judicial and administrative government functions. Any physical infrastructure or markings for a helipad at this specific location, if they existed, have been removed or repurposed.

This heliport identifier was associated with the Wichita Police Department (WPD) Air Section. The unit was established in the early 1970s and operated for over 40 years, providing critical aerial support for law enforcement. Its primary mission included searching for fleeing suspects, monitoring high-risk situations and vehicle pursuits from the air, conducting surveillance, and assisting in search and rescue operations. The Air Section primarily flew surplus military aircraft, most notably the Bell OH-58A Kiowa helicopter. The specific coordinates likely denote a designated landing zone near the downtown police headquarters or the Sedgwick County Jail, used for operational or transport purposes, rather than the unit's main maintenance and hangar facility.

None. There are no known official plans or active discussions to reopen the heliport or reinstate the Wichita Police Department's Air Section. The decision to close the unit was a long-term financial one, and there has been no indication of a reversal. Air support needs for the region are handled by other agencies, such as the Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Highway Patrol, which operate from different facilities.