3 things I learned flying on a medical helicopter

Flying in a CareFlight helicopter is cool. It's even better when you get to enjoy the view.

I recently had the chance to fly along with a CareFlight crew on a “scene” flight that, fortunately, was a mock car crash. Here are some things I learned:

1. The crews work long shifts. CareFlight pilots and flight nurses work 12-hour shifts. The pilots work seven days on and then have seven days off.

2. The pilots use night vision goggles (only at night, of course). The goggles were once a tool for the military only, but emergency medical service helicopter operators learned their safety virtues. As CareFlight pilot Tim McClain said, "It's nice when you come out on a dark night heading out of Urbana."

3. The blades turn backwards. OK, this is inside baseball (helicopter) stuff, but CareFlight's helicopters are a French design, and the rotors turn counter-clockwise from the pilot's perspective. U.S.-built helicopters and some other European ones turn clockwise.

MORE ON CAREFLIGHT
» 2015: 'Father' of CareFlight dies at 93
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We'll take you inside a day at CareFlight with a special presentation publishing Tuesday on MyDaytonDailyNews.com.

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