The Law Enforcement Aviation Technology Program was conceived to explore the applicability of alternative types of aircraft to law enforcement's mission.

These alternative aircraft range from powered parachutes to certified light sport  aircraft.Helicopters and standard fixed wing aircraft are normally out of the reach of small rural agencies; not only in initial cost for the aircraft but more significantly in operational expenses often totaling in the hundreds of dollars per hour. 

Light sport aircraft require a significantly smaller up front investment and operational expenses typically run less than $50 per hour.To date, the National Institute of Justice through both the Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center and the Border Research Technology Center has deployed 9 aircraft to law enforcement agencies across the United States.  These include 3 powered parachutes, 2 Sky Arrows, 3 Tecnam Eaglets and 1 Savannah light sport aircraft.

  The Law Enforcement Aviation Technology Program is a program of the United States Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs National Institute of Justice Office of Science and Technology National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Centers’ Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center and Border Research Technology Center-Sheriffs’ Association of Texas. The National Institute of Justice is the research and development agency of the United States Department of Justice.