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As a world traveler, John Crosby has been to such exotic locales as Korea, Honduras and the Middle East (during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm).

Crosby is a helicopter pilot and Program Aviation Manager at Miami Valley Hospital.

“I am the liaison between CareFlight, Miami Valley Hospital and Air Methods Corporation, which is my employer,” he said.

Enlisting in the Army, Crosby became a helicopter mechanic. Working his way through the ranks, he went to flight school and ended his 20-year military service as a Chief Warrant Officer (W-4). He explained that most Army helicopter pilots are warrant officers with a sprinkling of commissioned officers.

Crosby said the military flying has provided him with a wealth of memories.

“In Honduras, I was with the Medevac there and I guess that’s where I got the real impression on my mind about being able to help people with a medical helicopter,” he said. “We would take doctors and veterinarians and we would fly to these remote villages where they had never seen a vehicle, let alone a helicopter.

“We would fly in and treat the people and the animals and get to meet locals. Normally we don’t get to do that in the military,” he continued. “It was really nice.”

Before the first Gulf War, Crosby was stationed in Georgia. “We would fly neonatal babies from around Georgia to Columbus, Ga., where they had a team that could take care of premature babies. We did a lot of those flights.”

As a civilian pilot, one tragic day sticks in his mind.

“In the fires in Greenville where those kids were killed. We were involved in flying those kids to the hospital. That’s something you don’t forget,” he said somberly.

He still gets a rush when the call comes in.

“The pilots, the nurses, we’re all adrenaline junkies anyway,” he said, adding that civilian flying is more restrictive than military. “We always do things methodically — we have checklists we have to follow and everything. You want to go but you have to make sure you do things safely — safety is the first priority.”

When CareFlight launches, the pilot is assisted by one of the two flight nurses aboard, who provides an extra set of eyes for the other side of the aircraft. The helicopter can carry two patients on the return flight.

Three helicopters are stationed at three flight bases around the Miami Valley. Four pilots are assigned to each of the bases and Crosby said he flies when pilots need a break or are on vacation.