Fort Worth, Texas Police Air Wing Chief Pilot Gets the Honor

The 90,000th customer for the Bell Helicopter Training Academy recently finished training at the school. He is Jay M. Paschke, Chief Pilot for the Fort Worth Police Department, "Air Wing". A recent returnee from four and one-half months of active duty in the war in Iraq, Jay has accumulated some 5,600 total flight hours with 3,300 hours in Bell Helicopters. He began his aviation career after graduating from the U.S. Army Aviation School in February 1972.

Jay has four pilots and four police observers working for him at the Police Air Wing in Fort Worth. Jay works directly for the Fort Worth Chief of Police, Ralph Mendoza. Jay has been the Chief Pilot for the Air Wing the past three years.

The Fort Worth Police Department Air Wing uses two Jet Rangers. The high time aircraft has accumulated some 23,000 flight hours and the other has 11,000 hours. The nightly patrol performed by the pilots and observers amounts to roughly 2,500 hours annually.

Speaking about the aircraft Chief Pilot Paschke said, "The City of Fort Worth has been a Bell customer since 1968. We have operated eight Bell aircraft in those years and could not be more pleased with all aspects of our relationship with Bell. They have always been there for us with superb technical and parts support to keep us in the air no matter what it took. Thank you on behalf of the City and all citizens of Fort Worth."

In addition to being the Chief Pilot for the Air Wing, Jay has the additional responsibility for continuing the Safety Record for this department. The unit has achieved some 75,000 accident free flight hours while this Air Wing has been in existence. Speaking on safety Paschke added, "The City of Fort Worth has chosen the Bell Training Academy as our exclusive partner for all maintenance and flight training since operating our first helicopter in 1968. We are extremely proud of our safety record and owe a large part of our success to Bell for the superb training received over the years.

Not counting the many lives saved, crimes prevented and officers assisted, the police Air Wing under Jay's watch is known world-wide. They are often asked to demonstrate their techniques and methods for Bell Law Enforcement customers from around the world.

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