POLICE FORCES WERE SURVEYED TO IDENTIFY THE KINDS OF MISSIONS PERFORMED WITH AIRCRAFT, THE NUMBER OF FLIGHT HOURS LOGGED IN 1973, THE TYPES OF AIRCRAFT AND GROUND FACILITIES IN USE, AVIATION PERSONNEL EMPLOYED AND THEIR TRAINING, AND HOW THE AIRCRAFT FUNCTION WAS ACCOMODATED INTO THE DEPARTMENTAL ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE. THE SURVEYED COUNTRIES INCLUDE ARGENTINA, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, FRANCE, ENGLAND, INDONESIA, MEXICO, NIGERIA, JAPAN, SWEDEN, AND THE UNITED STATES. IT WAS FOUND THAT AIRCRAFT WERE MOST OFTEN USED FOR TRAFFIC SURVEILLANCE AND FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS. VARIOUS TYPES OF AIRCRAFT WERE REPRESENTED (E.G. SHORT-TAKEOFF, TWIN-ENGINE, AND FIXED-WING LIGHT AIRCRAFTS AND TWO-PLACE LIMITED RANGE HELICOPTERS). FLEET COMPOSITIONS DEPEND UPON POLICE BUDGETS, TYPES OF MISSIONS, AND NATIONAL GEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS. MANY POLICE FORCES HAD TRAINED PILOTS ON THEIR STAFF AND MOST FORCES HAD CREATED SPECIAL AIRBORNE UNITS FOR AIRCRAFT PERSONNEL. (DAG)