PSNI currently have 3 Eurocopter Helicopters (1 x EC135; 2 x EC145) operating from Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) Flying Station, Aldergrove. Provision of aerial support is a province wide asset managed by Crime Operations Air Support Unit. The assessment of PSNI's Senior Command Team is that the current threat posed is severe. Historically these aircraft have been maintained through the establishment of a number of Direct Award Contracts (DACs) approved accordingly within PSNI and DoJ. The direction of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) states that an operator (PSNI) of an aircraft must have a maintenance agreement in place with suitability licensed contractors to provide maintenance services and without these arrangements in place the PSNI would not be permitted to fly their helicopters.