ORLANDO, Fla. — A retired Navy helicopter pilot, Art Gallo served our country from 1973-2004. He spent his time in the U.S. Navy flying helicopters. 

He served as the air boss for a deployment aboard the U.S.S. Tripoli — one of the highlights of his long career.

What You Need To Know

  • The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a crash near Washington D.C. between a passenger jet and a military helicopter

  • Officials say they do not believe there were any survivors of the crash

  • Retired Navy helicopter pilot Capt. Art Gallo said he would often conduct training exercises at night, like the crew of the Army Black Hawk involved in the crash was reportedly doing

“I flew several types of helicopters, but the one that I flew most of all was this guy right here,” retired Naval Captain Art Gallo says, pointing to a model helicopter.  “The SH2 Fox Trot made by Command Aerospace.”

Gallo says he typically was part of a three-man crew — a pilot, co-pilot, and air crewman. When Gallo wasn’t flying for a particular mission he says he would often do proficiency training flights, when he was not on an official mission or assignment.

“It means I need to get so many hours at night,” Gallo explains. “I need to get so many hours instrument time. So yes, that’s very normal.”

Gallo says, from inside the helicopter's cockpit, he couldn't hear other aircraft. With a headset on, however, he would listen in to commercial air traffic control.

“The newer helicopters have different radios, but typically military civilian traffic work on different frequencies,” Gallo begins to explain. “So we dial up control on whatever radios we have with whichever channel we are assigned to go to.”

According to Gallo, a typical flight altitude would be about three to five hundred feet, with the pilot using the ground as a landmark.

“You can fly usual flight rules as long as the weather is fine, day or night,” Gallos says. “Day or night is fine, and use the ground as a reference point as long as you have a visual horizon.”