Local Campers Treated to Helicopter Demo in South Orange

South Orange residents who were surprised by the whizzing of a low-flying helicopter Wednesday morning can rest assured: there was no emergency. Instead, it was a special treat for campers from the South Orange/ Maplewood Adult School Summer Camp and the South Orange Day Camp.

The visit of the NorthSTAR (North Jersey Shock Trauma Air Rescue) Medical Helicopter on the baseball fields behind the Baird Center included participation by the South Orange Fire Department, South Orange Rescue Squad and South Orange Police Department, said Dan Cohen of the rescue squad. 

"The New Jersey air medical program used advanced life support paramedics and flight nurses as medical crew and New Jersey State Police Officers as pilots," said Cohen. The Sikorsky helicopters, which can fly at speeds up to 175 miles per hour, are owned, piloted, and maintained by the NJ State Police Aviation Unit, Cohen said. 

NorthSTAR is the Sikorsky helicopter designated to cover the northern portion of New Jersey and is based at Somerset Airport, Cohen said.