LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — A “monumental” upgrade takes to the skies over Las Vegas Tuesday morning as a new Leonardo AW139 helicopter measures radiation levels before the New Year’s Eve celebration in Las Vegas.
The National Nuclear Security Administration’s aerial radiation survey begins at 8 a.m. on Dec. 31 with flights over the Strip, downtown and other areas of the Las Vegas valley. The mission: observe normal environmental radiation levels so the government can monitor for spikes during the celebration, which is expected to bring nearly 350,000 visitors to Las Vegas this year.
The helicopter will perform low-altitude sweeps over the valley. The flights are described as routine, but agencies announce them each year so the public isn’t alarmed by low-flying helicopters.
In place of the Bell 412 helicopters used for nearly 30 years: the AW139, shown in this photo released by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on Monday:
It’s a new tool for the Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST). That’s the umbrella designation for all U.S. Department of Energy radiological and nuclear emergency response assets and programs, according to a Nov. 19 news release announcing the helicopter as “mission-ready.” That announcement came as monitoring for the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix began.
“This AW139 will strengthen NEST’s capabilities and enhance our ability to protect our nation,” said Dr. Wendin Smith, the Deputy Under Secretary for the Office of Counterterrorism and Counterproliferation at DOE.
The flights have taken place for years in the build-up to New Year’s Eve on the Strip. Other big events, including the F1 race and Super Bowl LVIII, also get NEST’s participation.
Within NEST, the Aerial Measuring System (AMS) is operated by the Nevada National Security Sites’ (NNSS) Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSL), based out of Nellis Air Force Base and Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The new AW139 joins the AMS fleet, which consists of multiple aircraft equipped with advanced instruments to detect and measure radiation.
“This is a monumental event in the timeline of RSL’s more than 60 years of service to our nation,” NNSS Global Security Senior Director Dr. Alexis Reed said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the team that supported this acquisition effort and of the men and women who provide their expertise to our aerial measuring mission every day.”
The AW139 modernizes NEST’s aerial capabilities through enhanced radiation detection capability, which improves data collection. The new helicopter speed and longer range allow a swifter and more effective response, according to the NNSA news release.
