Onondaga County is getting ready to write a $7.4 million check to order a new sheriff’s helicopter. The legislature’s Ways and Means Committee Tuesday approved the bonding needed to replace the current chopper known as Air-1, which has been in operation for 27 years. Sheriff Toby Shelley told lawmakers it’s time to push the program into the future.
“Although it's an expensive program, I realize that, but when you look at the work this aviation program does, and you divide that work over the amount of time we'll have the helicopter, the cost isn't that much," he said. "When you look at lives it's saving, the program justifies itself.”
Shelley called for Air-1's replacement when he took office over three years ago. Last fall, the county executive included it in his 2026 budget. Legislator Tim Burtis said he’s glad to support the purchase.
“Whenever I talk about the helicopter, I always say that I think it is reasonable that size of our community here would have a helicopter," he said. "And yes, there's a cost and we see it here. And it is a lifesaver and it helps also do the job that the sheriff's office is tasked to do.”
Despite the current helicopter’s outdated electronics, Sheriff Shelley said the well-maintained unit could still fetch $1.2 million. He said it’ll take about two years to build a new one. The full legislature votes on the bonding next week.
