Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

The commander of the Virginia State Police aviation unit, Lt. Jay Cullen, and fellow trooper-pilot Berke Bates were killed at 4:51 p.m August 12 when their Bell 407 crashed and burned in a wooded area near the Birdwood Golf Course seven miles southwest of&nbsp;Charlottesville. Eyewitnesses said the aftmost part of the 2001 helicopter's tailboom, including the tail rotor and the vertical fin, separated from the aircraft in flight.

 


An NTSB spokesman said the crew did not transmit a distress call. The officers had been dispatched from the State Police base in Lynchburg in late morning to provide surveillance and tactical support for law enforcement dealing with a day-long violent and racially charged protest in Charlottesville that left one dead and dozens injured.

 


They had taken off from Charlottesville Airport on their final sortie of the day at around 4 p.m. Cullen was a 20-year veteran of the police force and a 14-year member of the aviation unit and was a CFII in fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Bates had joined the unit in July.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Virginia Police Aviation Commander Killed in Crash

The crew was providing surveillance and tactical support for law enforcement during the Charlotteville protests.

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News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

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News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

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Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

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