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
» 2008: Scenes of CareFlight on its 25th anniversary
We'll take you inside a day at CareFlight with a special presentation publishing Tuesday on MyDaytonDailyNews.com.
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