The Winnipeg police's helicopter has been logging much less time than expected in service above the city.

"There are situations that we just quite simply can't predict. The aircraft needs to be obviously operating at an optimum level because safety is first and foremost," said Const. Jason Michalyshen from Winnipeg police. 

The helicopter, Air 1, is budgeted to fly 1,000 hours per year, which works out to an average of about 80 hours per month.

In 2011, police said the helicopter was just slightly under that mark, but so far in 2012 it's fallen well below the expected hours.

In January, the helicopter logged 45 hours in the air. In February, it logged another 45 hours in the air, while in March it logged 38 hours in the air in service.

In April, it's already been grounded for 12 days for maintenance.

At the end of the month, it will also see its second chief pilot depart from Winnipeg, heading to go work for Calgary police.

"We're not efficient if we have an important tool that is sitting on the ground when it's meant to be in the air," said Mike Sutherland from the Winnipeg Police Association.

The two pilots who have departed from working aboard Air 1 were civilians.

The more hours of service a pilot has logged, the cheaper they are to insure.

The Winnipeg Police Association, the union representing officers, said that while it may cost less to insure civilian pilots, the force should now consider training officers to do the job, arguing they're more likely to stay on the job with tenure. 

Police officials said there are still two line pilots in the flight unit, including one officer. Police officials also said the search to hire a new chief pilot is underway.

"Senior members that are in charge of the unit (are) making every effort to ensure that the helicopter is functioning and being utilized in the most efficient way possible," said Michalyshen.

The helicopter has already been used to help arrest 127 suspects. Officials agree that once the kinks are worked out, the aircraft offers a boost for fighting crime.

"If you're a suspect and you've committed a crime when the bird is in the air and the dogs are on the ground, you're pretty much not going (to) get away," said Sutherland.

Senior police officials said a third line pilot was expected to be hired Tuesday.

- with a report from CTV's Caroline Barghout