WA police back in the air after pilot quit

Police helicopter operations have resumed in Western Australia after the fleet was grounded when the chief pilot and his deputy quit.

There were still two acting police pilots but under air safety laws, the two helicopters could not fly without the chief pilot, who held the air operator's certificate.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority stepped in on Tuesday to allow the Police Air Wing to change its license from commercial to private so the fleet could carry out its usual operations.

A police spokeswoman said in the short term, training and checking functions usually conducted by the chief pilot would be carried out with the assistance of VicPol.

"This means no interruption to our police and emergency response capability around metropolitan and regional WA," she said.

WA Police will appoint a chief pilot as soon as possible.