Aviation Unit

Washington County is one of only five counties in the State of Ohio to have an Aviation Unit, which includes two helicopters, three pilots, and a handful of observers.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office obtained all four helicopters free through military surplus. Two are used for parts and the other two are used on missions. The Sheriff’s Office spent $40,000 to outfit the two that are used on missions.

The helicopters are used in drug eradications, drug surveillance, tracking fleeing suspects, and searching for missing persons.

Other counties throughout Ohio have requested the help of Washington County’s Aviation Unit for similar purposes.

In June of 1998, a terrible storm and flooding left Washington County a disaster area. Approximately 10 people were rescued from the rising waters by the Aviation Unit.

Pilots must go through a long training process before they can even get into the cockpit. Each person who wants to become a pilot must pass a medical exam, a color-blindness test, and written exams.