ASOG Focus Area | News & Information
Source | ASOG Desk Editor
Even though this article focuses on helicopters and offers guidance to Airborne Law Enforcement Tactical Flight Officers (TFOs), the airmanship principles it highlights apply broadly across many Aerial Work aviation domains and ASO (Airborne Sensor Operator) roles.
Recently, I was part of an email exchange about the responsibilities of TFOs. The discussion was so insightful, I felt compelled to share it with the ASOG community. As ASOG Desk Editor, and with the help of fellow member Gareth Davies, I had the privilege of engaging with a seasoned police helicopter pilot who generously shared his thoughts on what junior TFOs should know.
But before we get to the wisdom, let me introduce you to the source: Bill Probets. Bill brings over 30 years of helicopter flying experience across multiple mission sets, from instructing in both fixed-wing and rotorcraft to working offshore. For the past 24 years, he's served as Chief Pilot and deputized Sergeant for the East Bay Regional Park District's Air Support Unit in Oakland, California. He also serves as the Lead Accreditation Assessor for the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA), helping public safety aviation programs meet safety management, operational, training, and maintenance standards.
In the email exchange, Gareth posed a simple but critical question to Bill:
"What should a TFO know to support the pilot when the S* hits the fan?"**
Here's Bill's no-nonsense response:
You're absolutely right that TFOs must understand in-flight emergency procedures and their roles during those situations.
There are two main types of emergencies:
- Immediate action emergencies – These require a memory-based response, such as engine failure, in-flight fire, or loss of tail rotor effectiveness.
- Procedural emergencies – These involve systems issues that require checklist-based responses, such as generator failure, fuel transfer issues, or loss of de-icing capabilities.
TFOs should be familiar with both categories. They must be included in emergency procedures training and have immediate access to the Emergency Procedures checklist. They should practice these scenarios regularly with their pilots and crews using a challenge-and-response format or whatever Crew Resource Management (CRM) system is in place.
Today's autopilots can fly aircraft down to a low hover (see Airbus Helionix, for example), but if a TFO is seated up front, they should be competent in using the flight controls. Personally, I'm not a fan of removing dual controls—doing so often reflects pilot ego more than a genuine safety concern. With the increasing risk of mid-air collisions from unregulated drones (not the professional UAV operators, but the "drones flown by drones"), a TFO's ability to safely land the aircraft in the event of pilot incapacitation is a real safety factor.
Also essential: full use of Aircraft Life Support Equipment (ALSE) by all crewmembers. This includes:
- Flight suits
- Helicopter helmets with visors down
- Gloves
- 8-inch boots
- And for overwater operations: life vests and devices like HEEDS (Helicopter Emergency Egress Device)
Finally, remember the fundamentals. For airplanes, three things matter above all else: control, airspeed, and landing area. For helicopters, there are four: control, rotor RPM, airspeed, and landing area.
"Fly the aircraft first—and don't stop flying until every last piece stops moving!"
Final Thoughts
Bill's advice is more than just practical; it's a reminder that safety, skill, and teamwork are universal across all Aerial Work operations. Whether you're flying law enforcement missions, powerline patrols, wildlife surveys, or offshore ops, these airmanship principles apply.
So, no matter what your mission is or what platform you operate, take this advice to heart—and make it part of your standard crew mindset.
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