Fairfax Helicopters Cost $ 4,000 a Day;County's 4 Choppers Require 17 Employees




The Washington PostJuly 29, 1991, Monday,

 Final Edition

Fairfax Helicopters Cost $ 4,000 a Day;County's 4 Choppers Require 17 Employees

BYLINE: Thomas Heath,

Washington Post Staff Writer

   Fairfax County taxpayers are spending more than $ 4,000 a day to operate a county air force of four helicopters that average one ambulance run a day and help with a few arrests each month. The aircraft, flown and maintained by 17 full-time county employees, also make other flights, according to the unit's records. Lately, the trips have included a ride for a retired police officer, hauling police officials to a West Virginia training site, taking photos of the new Fairfax Government Center and giving demonstrations for schoolchildren.  No other local government in the area operates its own helicopters, except the District, which uses them only for police work. Fairfax, which also provides some service in neighboring counties, has one fewer helicopter than the entire Virginia State Police.