COLUMBUS, Ohio - It can be dangerous flying helicopters and it is an experience one Columbus Police officer knows firsthand.
Officer Jeff Ferguson flies helicopters for the Columbus Division of Police. He navigates central Ohio skies, taking off and landing safely daily.
He also served in the Army National Guard for nine years.
Ferguson says, "If they want you to take somebody and drop them in a hole in a bunch of trees that is barely larger than your aircraft that gets to be a relatively challenging situation."
Ferguson tells NBC4 he has experienced tough training missions firsthand. He says thick fog or other inclement will not usually cancel the flight. He adds, "If you are required to go into a certain situation as long as the aircraft will take it, they expect you to be able to do it."
OSU Aviation Expert Shawn Pruchnicki was a commercial pilot for 10 years and has assisted in aviation accident investigations. He says fog can disorient pilots and their body actually makes them feel like they are not flying upright.
Pruchnicki adds, "Pilots every year in general aviation have accidents due to what is called spatial disorientation. It's a very powerful illusion."
Instead pilots must rely on their instruments instead of their gut feeling, according to Pruchnicki.
Military training exercises can be very high stress depending on the mission. Ferguson tells me he had a close call of his own while serving our country. He explains, "It was basically on a simulated mission and the timing of the missions wasn't quite right and we got a little too close to other aircraft.”
Officer Ferguson tells me flying for CPD is very different than flying a military helicopter.
In fact, he says following a suspect or a wanted car at low altitude can be even more challenging.
Story, video and photo: http://www.nbc4i.com
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