Family and friends of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s newest Aviation Support Unit members gathered at John Wayne Airport on Tuesday. They met in the Aviation Support Unit hanger to see each of the three Deputies pinned with wings.
The ceremony capped hundreds of hours of highly specialized training that led to Deputy Erik Baum being qualified as a Tactical Flight Officer and Deputies Rob Mergen and Mike Russell qualified as Department Helicopter Pilots.
Newest members of the Aviation Support Unit, left to right, Pilot Deputies Mike Russell and Rob Mergen and Tactical Flight Officer Deputy Erik Baum.
Photos by Sheriff's Photographer Jerry Manson
Some Aero Squadron Facts for 2008
Flight time: 3,794 hours
Calls for Service: 3,271
Search and Rescue Missions: 150
Lost Hikers Found: 30
Training for Tactical Flight Officer: 3 months
Training for Department Helicopter Pilot: 500 hours over nine-months
Duties of Tactical Flight Officer: Operate all equipment not used for flying the craft, including radar, observation aids, communications devices and illumination from Nightsun searchlight. A Tactical Flight officer also assists the pilot when needed and acts as an extra set of eyes and ears for the pilot. Must be able to multi-task.
For more photgraphs and information on the three Deputies click More...