>> RONIE: Hey what’s going on?
My name is Officer Ronie Esquivel and thank very much for tuning into our VLOG.
So, we spent the day with the Valley Division Air Operations helicopter side.
Now we’re going to spend the night with the fixed wing.
So, let’s go see what they’re up to.
Pilot Jeff Barbao, how are you doing?
Ronie Esquivel.
Thank you for letting us hang out with you tonight.
>> JEFF: You bet.
>> RONIE: We kind of caught you doing something, can you explain to our viewers what you were
doing?
>> JEFF: You did, you caught me preflighting.
>> RONIE: Okay.
>> JEFF: Before every shift, we do a walk around the airplane similar to what you would
do with the patrol car.
That way we can ensure that the plane is safe for flight.
>> RONIE: So, a full, front to back, 360 check of the entire aircraft before you take off.
What’s your favorite part about working in the Air Operations Unit?
>> JEFF: There’s a lot of things I love about it, but maybe, you know working with
a lot of great people,
and not only our agency but allied, it’s great being instrumental in the work they
do down there.
>> RONIE: Were you a pilot before you got on our department?
>> JEFF: I was.
>> RONIE: Was getting into Air Operations Unit something that you’ve wanted from the
very beginning?
>> JEFF: In the beginning, I didn’t really think about it, but after I was on the patrol
and I learned more about the Air Unit I became interested in it,
and down the road, I tested, and got on as a pilot.
>> RONIE: Okay, so our viewers learned in the helicopter side that there’s a pilot
and then there’s a flight officer/paramedic, I assume that’s the same on the fixed wing
side?
>> JEFF: The airplane flight officers don’t have to be paramedics.
They’re the link between the plane and the guys on the ground and then I take care of
the flying.
Let me introduce you to our flight officer tonight, Jon Pierce.
>> RONIE: Pleasure to meet you.
>> JON: Nice to meet you.
>> RONIE: So, can you tell our viewers what’s a typical day like for a flight officer here
in air operations?
>> JON: We get to the office, we check the mission board and see if there are any pre
planned missions.
That can include anything from surveillance, to a photo mission, to helping ISU check a
house,
speed enforcement, or any other pre planned thing, that we’ve got set up with ground
units.
And, then we step to the plane, we pre flight the aircraft.
The pilot does his walk around and his pre flight.
>> RONIE: Okay.
>> JON: And I’m responsible for the things in the back.
To make sure they’re in working order, and the camera system that’s beneath the plane,
make sure that’s clean and ready to go.
>> RONIE: So, explain to the viewers what we can expect to see when we go up in a little
bit?
>> JON: We’re checking for high speed drivers, aggressive drivers.
We’ll be responding to 911 calls that come out from local jurisdiction as well as from
CHP dispatch.
>> RONIE: On that note, let's get this plane ready to go and so we can go up.
[music]
[radio noise] >> RONIE: Pre flight check is done, and now we’re getting ready to go
on night patrol.
So let’s go.
>> JEFF: Fire up.
>> JON: Fire up.
>> RONIE: Alright, so can you explain what you’re doing right now?
>> JON: Alright, as we taxi out,
I’m setting up the radios for tonight’s flight, to concentrate on Sacramento with
the Sacramento Sheriff, the PD, and the local agencies in the metropolitan area.
>> RONIE: And what’s this monitor right here?
>> JON: This is a dual monitor system, so this monitor right here will be on infrared
the entire flight.
>> RONIE: Okay
>> JON: This monitor right here will be optimized with a moving map system as well
as an overlay, which will allow me to access
street names, and postal numbers, and addresses.
[radio noise]
>> JON: Alright, here we go.
>>: RONIE: Here we go.
[music]
>> JEFF: You feeling good Ronie?
>> RONIE: Yeah.
>> JEFF: Good.
>> RONIE: Doing okay.
[music]
>> JON: Alright directly off to your left, number one lane.
You are behind the correct vehicle.
>> CHP OFFICER: I got them.
>> JON: High speed, no traffic, eastbound Atlantic.
>> DISPATCH: 1021 high speed, no traffic eastbound Atlantic.
>> JON: Alright we’re finally in position, we are at the intersection of Wills Road,
so make the right turn at Wills Road, and we are heading back towards Galleria.
So, it’s going to make a right turn, and we’re going to go southbound, it’s now
Harding.
So, back towards Harding and Douglas.
>> DISPATCH: Harding light traffic, you can start calling speeds.
>> JON: Pulled into a parking lot and I will try and guide you in.
He’s parked the bike, and he’s off the bike.
>> DISPATCH: Parking lot and he is off the bike.
>> JON: Stand by Jeff, he’s um on the east side of the road.
I just don’t want to lose him, he’s running.
And then go left, go left.
Okay, I have him, he’s hiding under some trees now.
So, just get to that parking lot and we’re good.
[radio beep]
[music]
>> RONIE: Oh my gosh that was one of the greatest experiences I’ve had on this department.
I had such a blast.
Flight Officer Pierce can you tell our viewers what we experienced today?
>> JON: The first thing we did is we grabbed a speeder traveling in excess of the
posted speed limit on 80, got them stopped.
As we cleared that to head back to Auburn, one of our K9 units tried to make a stop on
a motorcycle in excess of 100 miles an hour, that guy took off.
We assisted with that pursuit which ended in the suspect leaving the bike and running
off into the bushes.
>> RONIE: So, you guys are about to head back out and go assist, correct?
>> JON: Yes, we've got another flight in front of us, more of the same.
>> RONIE: Awesome, I had a blast.
Thank you so much for allowing us to come out and hang out with you tonight.
>> JON: You’re welcome.
It was a good time, I’m glad you flew with up and I’m glad you didn’t get sick.
>> RONIE: Hey, I was ready I had my bags, but I made it.
>> JON: You did, you did good.
>> JEFF: Good flying with you Ronie.
>> RONIE: Thank you so much.
>> RONIE: So, I hope you liked part 2 of our VLOG
here at the Valley Division Air Operations Unit.
So remember please like, subscribe, and comment below
and if you’re interested in a career with the California Highway Patrol
go to www.chpcareers.com
and we’ll see you at the next one.