SURREY, B.C. - BC RCMP helicopters are now beaming live video straight to the front line. Air Services has upgraded its helicopter cameras with livestreaming, sending aerial footage in real time to the Real Time Intelligence Centre BC (RTIC-BC), where staff from multiple agencies feed intelligence to officers on the ground around the clock.
The RCMP says the live feed lets intelligence personnel watch an unfolding operation as it happens and pass immediate, accurate information to ground officers, improving situational awareness, coordination and safety for the public and police. Two Lower Mainland helicopters already carry the new cameras, and the rest of the BC fleet is scheduled to be outfitted by 2028.
The new camera system under an RCMP helicopter, a close-up of the camera pod, and the operator console that works the livestream. (Photos: BC RCMP)
“Timely information during unfolding and fast-moving incidents is vital to effective policing,” said Insp. Kevin Kilar, Officer in Charge of BC RCMP Air Services. “Having this ability to livestream footage from the sky, during and as a police incident is happening, gives us tremendous access to real-time observations from the pilot and Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) perspectives. We can share those directly with officers on the ground for a clearer picture of the situation, cutting down response times when it matters most.”
Spotted from the air: 160 km/h on Highway 1
The system has already produced a stop. On October 13, 2026, a pilot and tactical flight officer on a daily aerial patrol over the Lower Mainland spotted a black BMW 300-series speeding and weaving along Highway 1 in Burnaby at more than 160 km/h. The flight officer alerted BC Highway Patrol with the car’s details, including the novice driver “N” magnet wedged under the licence plate, and talked a patrol officer into position at the exit the BMW took. The driver was stopped safely and issued $788 in violation tickets.
BC RCMP Air Services released this video of the October 13 stop on Highway 1:
Video: BC RCMP Air Services footage of the black BMW tracked from the air on Highway 1 in Burnaby on October 13, 2026. (Video: BC RCMP)
BC Highway Patrol is a regular client of Air Services in the Lower Mainland, relying on the helicopters for excessive speeders and other dangerous driving. “Getting real time information from Air Services gives BC Highway Patrol a significant advantage in safely intercepting dangerous driving and enforcing the law effectively,” said Sgt. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “Our partnership with Air Services is extremely important. It makes our work more efficient, safer, and more transparent in court.”
Intelligence centre watches live
Through October, RTIC-BC staff monitoring live aerial footage identified and relayed critical evidence to frontline officers, strengthening investigative files and helping build prosecutable cases, the RCMP said. “Our goal in the RTIC-BC is to enhance public and officer safety by providing timely and actionable intelligence to support frontline law enforcement operations,” said Insp. Scott Grimmer, Officer in Charge of RTIC-BC. With a live aerial view, he said, intelligence staff can monitor a situation as it develops, feed crucial information to units and partner agencies on the ground, and help them change their approach as the situation requires.
Apna News
(Source: BC RCMP, November 12, 2026)
You Might Like
