Helicopter Crews Provide Valuable Service in Southeast Missouri

By Fred Harl

The Aero Experience continues coverage of the valuable service helicopter crews give to our Midwest communities with this look at some recent activity of utility and air ambulance helicopters in the Farmington, MO and southeast Missouri areas.  As seen in the previous story, helicopter crews are called upon to perform jobs that are necessary but not necessarily in the limelight.  Here we salute the helicopter crews and their support staff who ensure they are ready to perform their work on a moment's notice.

The helicopters featured today include a Bell Helicopter Model 407 from Hillcrest Aircraft Company of Lewiston, ID.  Hillcrest Aircraft crews perform vital utility missions such as power line construction, forest management and aerial surveys.  This MD Helicopter MD-900 Explorer NOTAR (No Tail Rotor) was eventually exported to the Philippines.  The MD-900 provides utility service with the added safety of using a ducted fan for yaw control rather that a tail rotor.  Emergency services crews are represented by an Air Methods MBB BK-117B-1, Survival Flight Bell Helicopter 206-L4 Long Ranger, and an Air Methods Eurocopter (now Airbus) EC135-P2.