CENTERBURG — During a training session Saturday morning, members of the Central Ohio Joint Fire District learned the proper way to work aircraft crashes. The host for the training was Bill See, owner of Chapman Field located on U.S. 36 west of Centerburg.
A MedFlight helicopter and crew came from Coshocton to show the firefighter-rescuers the procedures to handle helicopter crashes. The safety officer for Ommiflight Helicopters, which leases aircraft to MedFlight, pointed out safety concerns responders need to be aware of while working a helicopter crash, such as oxygen bottles that are under high pressure and the fuel tanks that are under the pilot seats.
Opening the hatch to the twin turbine engines, Jamie Swihart, a 13-year veteran helicopter pilot, pointed out the complex of fuel lines and controls.
See had three light aircraft on hand to help point out the location of fuel tanks, and demonstrated the proper method of removing people from a crashed aircraft.
COJFD Chief Joe Porter arranged the session to better acquaint his department about aircraft crashes.
