Annual Chili Fly-in Largest Public Safety Aviation Exercise in the Nation NA10291jr

WHAT:    
LAPD Air Support Division’s 27th Annual Chili Fly-In, the largest exercise for public safety aviation in the nation

WHEN:   
November 4, 2010
9:30 a.m. Mandatory Safety Briefing (Including Media Personnel)
10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Chili Fly-in
        
WHERE:         
Hooper Memorial Heliport
Piper Technical Center
555 Ramirez Street, Space 475
Los Angeles, CA  90012

Media personnel should present their LAPD or LASD media credentials at the Piper Technical Center guard shack.  Media will then be directed to the third-level parking lot where there will be very limited parking.  

Media personnel must attend the 9:30 a.m. safety briefing.

The media will be permitted to stage on the observation deck adjacent to the control tower.  Observation deck has a clear view of the flight deck area.  

WHO:         
Public Safety Aviators and Air Traffic Controllers from the Southern California Region

    Note:  Media aviators are invited, but may NOT fly-in.    

WHY:   
Recognizing the critical role air traffic controllers have in aviation safety, personnel from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Air Support Division began the Chili Fly-in as a gesture of their appreciation.  

Air traffic controllers must regularly interact with public safety aviators who frequently engage in non-traditional flights, such as vehicle pursuits, surveillance operations and other tactical operations.  Before the Chili Fly-in, air traffic controllers and police aviators rarely, if ever, met face to face.  Both air traffic controllers and public safety aviators alike have agreed that the value of the annual LAPD Chili Fly-in far exceeds the resources expended.  The event has fostered professional relationships and a mutual understanding of the roles played by the participants.  There is no charge for the chili.

VISUALS:   
During the four-hour period of the operation, Hooper Memorial Heliport will be the busiest airport in the world.  Movements of well over 200 aircraft will occur in one-minute intervals.

The media will be escorted through the control tower and hangar areas where there may be some photography opportunities and items of media interest.  The media will be permitted to cover the luncheon itself which will include brief presentations.     
           
CONTACT:    
For more information regarding event coverage, please contact Media Relations Section at 213-486-5910.    
Please RSVP to john.romero@lapd.lacity.org