Hanging out at the Airport

Eclipse · June 25, 2008, 05:02:18 AM

Wait...you qualify by firing from the helo?

Ok, that is way cool!

CadetProgramGuy · June 25, 2008, 08:40:29 AM

Quote from: Eclipse on June 25, 2008, 05:02:18 AM
Wait...you qualify by firing from the helo?

Ok, that is way cool!

Dude, get outta the way.....Me First!!

Flying Pig · June 25, 2008, 02:13:56 PM

I think I've posted this photo before....but its back by popular demand.

The nominee after the primary gets Secret Service protection but believe me, its NOTHING like what the president gets. Although it is still impressive.

Eclipse · June 25, 2008, 02:17:46 PM

Way too cool.

Is there any issue with deflection from the wind blast of the rotor blades?

CASH172 · June 25, 2008, 02:34:06 PM

Do you normally fly with only one guy up front? Also, how often do you actually get to unleash your power from the air?

Flying Pig · June 25, 2008, 05:34:38 PM

No, we always fly 2 up front. If necessary I can access my rifle from the front seat. In a perfect world, the Flight Officer would get in the back if it needed to be employed because there is more room to move around, and you could shoot out both sides if you needed to.

We have never shot from the air in an actual incident, but we train for it quite often. A few years ago, one of our Deputies as killed in the mountains and the suspect stole his rifle out of his patrol car. During the search, he shot the helicopter, forcing it to land with a hole in the rotor blade. Thats we we decided to adopt a new approach. As far as employing the technique, whenever we do marijuana gardens, man hunts in the hills or things like that, we are set up that way providing over head cover. I did pull my pistol once on a guy running through a field. We dropped down right in front of him in a hover and he reaching in his pocket. I pulled out my pistol and showed it to him. He then gave up.

The rotor wash doesn't affect the rounds any. The technique is very accurate at about 50-75 feet and 50 knots. The pistol isn't much use beyond a hover or moving very slow.

bosshawk · June 25, 2008, 06:08:08 PM

FP: so that is what kept you from flying for us in the DEA Overllight School?

As I am sure you know by now, the smoke from the wild fires caused us to cancel our participation in the school. The airport where we were never got better than 1.5 mi in smoke. Those of us who could, departed IFR and we left several corporate aircraft there because the pilots are not instrument rated. I flew over 225 miles home and never saw the ground until on short final, all due to smoke.

Climbnsink · June 26, 2008, 02:24:51 PM

I'm assuming the Flight Officer/Co-Pilot is doing the shooting. I can't imagine putting the friction on the collective hovering and lefty pistol shooting?

G+10 · June 26, 2008, 05:21:58 PM

Quote from: Climbnsink on June 26, 2008, 02:24:51 PM
I'm assuming the Flight Officer/Co-Pilot is doing the shooting. I can't imagine putting the friction on the collective hovering and lefty pistol shooting?

Frictioning down the collective isn't the problem. It's when you're firing a rifle and you have to hold the cyclic between your knees. THAT'S when things get interesting!

CadetProgramGuy · June 27, 2008, 04:18:08 AM

Quote from: G+10 on June 26, 2008, 05:21:58 PM
Quote from: Climbnsink on June 26, 2008, 02:24:51 PM
I'm assuming the Flight Officer/Co-Pilot is doing the shooting. I can't imagine putting the friction on the collective hovering and lefty pistol shooting?

Frictioning down the collective isn't the problem. It's when you're firing a rifle and you have to hold the cyclic between your knees. THAT'S when things get interesting!

What ever happened to the pilot just flying the aircraft?

Flying Pig · June 27, 2008, 02:56:28 PM

Our pilot doesn't shoot. I don't know of anyone who teaches that. It is the Flight Officer who does the shooting. We generally do it at low altitude, and if possible, use terrain as cover as much as possible so the pilot needs to be on his game.

Bosshawk. I heard the OverFlight Course got a raw deal with theses fires going on. I couldn't get the time off work.

SAR-EMT1 · June 28, 2008, 05:35:30 AM

I will just mention to things quick:

One: Robert, I'm surprised to see that you don't have cpl stripes (or are they just not in view?)

Two: You look like the host from "Tougher in Alaska" ... very awesome.

-- Shooting from a helo has got to be great... but I imagine doing a SWAT insertion via Long rope is fun too

Flying Pig · June 28, 2008, 05:43:55 PM

No, I don't have any stripes yet. I have 11 years on. To put it in perspective, two guys on the left have about 15-18 years on, the guy with the black vest has 30 years and the Sgt. has about 33 years. I havn't applied either. I am going to throw my hat in the ring next go around.

flyguy06 · June 29, 2008, 01:57:56 AM

Why is everybody a Corporal or Sergeant in the flight unit?

Flying Pig · June 29, 2008, 06:31:25 AM

We have an odd promotion system when it comes to Deputy IV (Two Striper). We have a certain number alloted for the entire Dept. So you may have a unit where several members are two stripers. And a two striper doesnt necessarily "out rank" someone with no stripes either. Its not a "Corporal" like many Depts have, its more of a "Senior Deputy" position. Its not a supervisor in the way that many departments have Corporals as Supervisors. There are requriements to become a Deputy IV that require certain education, time on and experience. In certain cases, and in the absence of a Sgt. the Deputy IV becomes the acting Sgt. Clear as mud?

The Sgt is the unit supervisor.