Helicopter use beneficial to all

This letter is in response to the articles and letters published over the last couple of weeks regarding the use of the county helicopter. Everyone seems to think Sheriff Richard Nugent deploys the helicopter without regard for our tax dollars.

I would like to offer a different point of view and offer a possible explanation for sending a helicopter to chase a reportedly unarmed suspect.

As a military helicopter instructor pilot with more than 5,000 flight hours, I can tell you flying a helicopter is not easy. Each day that goes by without flying, a helicopter pilot's "control touch" will deteriorate. Flying at night, with or without the use of night vision goggles, increases the risk to the crew, the aircraft and civilians on the ground.

Military aviators (helicopter) are required to fly about 100 hours a year, sometimes more, depending on the type and mission of the aircraft. Many of those hours must be flown at night using night vision goggles. These aviators must also fly periodically to be considered current or they will need to be retrained and evaluated for proficiency in those conditions. These minimum requirements keep those aviators current but not necessarily proficient.

Every time a suspect tries to evade capture, the county helicopter should be deployed. If the suspect isn't armed they still pose a risk to people on the ground by trying to run. I want the sheriff to use all available assets to make sure those individuals are caught quickly.

A $200 helicopter flight could shorten a potentially long and violent vehicle chase. This is also an opportunity for the sheriff to keep his aircrews highly trained. The more those aircrews fly, the lower the risk to all involved.

Ray Freeman

Spring Hill