Montana Group Hopes To Eventually Buy Its Own Helicopter

Tight municipal budgets have grounded some law enforcement and search & rescue helicopters, and starting a brand new aviation unit is often out of the question. But in Flathead County, Montana, a non-profit organization called FEAR, for Flathead Emergency Aviation Resources, is trying a different approach to support the sheriff and SAR needs.

The Flathead Beacon reports that FEAR founding supporters include pilot Jim Pierce of Red Eagle Aviation, the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office, Wendy Stefaniak and Jay Johnson. The group is starting with personal and leased aircraft, but hopes to eventually raise $500,000 to buy a helicopter, and $100,000 a year to operate it.

Flathead County Undersheriff Jordan White says that out of more than 50 search & rescue deployments per year, his department can only afford to call in a helicopter to assist in five to ten of those cases.

White adds that FEAR helps conduct searches, flies emergency dive teams to search locations, transports mountain rescue personnel and their equipment, and provides overhead support for tactical teams in high-risk operations as part of typical missions. The group hopes to find ongoing donors so it won't have to devote too much time and energy to constant fundraising.

Recalling a phone conversation years ago in the case of a lost child, White says he had to tell the mother that due to funding a helicopter could only be called in as a last resort. Of FEAR and its potential, he now says, "I’ll be happy when aviation is a first resort because it does provide the quickest, surest means of getting help to somebody."

FMI: www.embracefear.com