[Scan-DC] MSP Trooper Helos on ADS-B and Mode S online?

[Alan Henney]

Andrew and I have been wondering about the MSP Trooper helicopters.  Are they in fact not appearing on Flightaware, etc.?

From: andrew 
Sent: Friday, April 24, 2015 8:03 AM
To: Alan Henney 
Subject: Re: Flightaware Archive?

According to the FAA database he Maryland State Police have 23 registered aircraft (airplanes and helicopters). The Tail numbers are: N380MD,N381MD,N382MD,N383MD,N384MD,N385MD,N386MD,N387MD,N388MD,N389MD,N38MD,N390MD,N391MD,N57MD,N6099W,N61MD,N65MD,N79MD,N82MD,N93MD,N94MD,N95MD,N96MD,N7MD. 

You can see this at: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Name_Results.aspx?Nametxt=MARYLAND+STATE+POLICE&sort_option=1&PageNo=1.

I searched Flightaware and a few others flight tracking sites and did not find much flight data. I am thinking that Maryland State Police have their aircraft in the FAA's Block program (http://www.fly.faa.gov/ASDI/asdi.html) which prevents the flights from being tracked by sites such as Flightaware.

An interesting article about blocked aircraft http://www.propublica.org/article/off-the-radar-private-planes-hidden-from-public-view-040810.

-Andrew