CHP opens base at Moffett CHP opens base at Moffett (August 13, 2004)

Response time to Mountain View will be shorter

The California Highway Patrol recently opened a new helicopter base at Moffett Field to help improve emergency response time to the Peninsula and the South Bay, officials said.

CHP signed a lease on a hangar near the NASA Ames Research Center last month. The state agency has one helicopter stored in the hangar and shares the space with the San Jose Police Department and the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department.

The Moffett-based helicopter is one of two that patrols the San Francisco Bay Area. The other helicopter is stationed at the Napa Airport.

Since 9/11, the CHP has increased its security measures and wanted to add more support to the South Bay, CHP Sgt. Wayne Ziese said.

CHP added one airplane and one helicopter to its operations this year, Ziese said, adding that Moffett Field was an obvious choice because of its fuel and mechanic services.

-- Julie O'Shea

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