V. Lee Benson
Consultant and R&W Columnist
Rotor & Wing
After 26 years of service Mr. Benson retired as Chief Pilot for the Air Operations Section of the Los Angeles County Fire Department In August of 2007. His responsibilities prior to this were the administration of 11 pilots, and the oversight of four Bell 412’s, three Sikorsky Blackhawk’s and one Bell Jet Ranger. With these assets the section conducts 1800 to 2400 rescues, 150 hoist missions, 500 fire operations plus a small number of administration flights per year. His additional job requirements with the County required that he be an Emergency Medical Technician, and is current in issues related to homeland defense.
Between December of 2000 and May of 2006 Lee was the project manager for the acquisition and integration process of 57 million dollars worth of aircraft and equipment this included three Sikorsky Firehawk aircraft and two Bell 412s equipped with firefighting, crew haul and search and rescue capabilities.
Lee has written several technical papers for conferences in the United States, Asia and Europe. He was appointed as conference chairman at the first ever international fire fighting conference held in Portugal by Shephard Press in 2008. Lee also writes a monthly column for Rotor and Wing Magazine.
Lee has 14,500 hours in helicopters as pilot in command; he is an honors graduate of U.S. Army flight school and has attended several factory courses on different helicopters makes and models. He holds degrees in Aeronautical Operations from the College of San Mateo and San Jose State University.
Mr. Benson left the U.S. Army as a chief Warrant Officer in 1971, after 1 tour of Vietnam. From then until he joined Los Angeles County Fire in 1981 he flew for ERA Helicopters in Alaska and Arizona and Condor Helicopters principally in the lower 48 states. Lee’s flying prior to his employment with County Fire was included offshore, geological survey, geodesic survey, firefighting, EMS, ENG and longline.
Currently Lee and his wife Dantia live in Ventura County California Dantia splits her time between being a RN at a trauma center hospital and competing on her horses in Dressage. Lee has started a consultant company and represents several companies and projects.
Speaker: Crew Rest, The Pilot Pool
Between December of 2000 and May of 2006 Lee was the project manager for the acquisition and integration process of 57 million dollars worth of aircraft and equipment this included three Sikorsky Firehawk aircraft and two Bell 412s equipped with firefighting, crew haul and search and rescue capabilities.
Lee has written several technical papers for conferences in the United States, Asia and Europe. He was appointed as conference chairman at the first ever international fire fighting conference held in Portugal by Shephard Press in 2008. Lee also writes a monthly column for Rotor and Wing Magazine.
Lee has 14,500 hours in helicopters as pilot in command; he is an honors graduate of U.S. Army flight school and has attended several factory courses on different helicopters makes and models. He holds degrees in Aeronautical Operations from the College of San Mateo and San Jose State University.
Mr. Benson left the U.S. Army as a chief Warrant Officer in 1971, after 1 tour of Vietnam. From then until he joined Los Angeles County Fire in 1981 he flew for ERA Helicopters in Alaska and Arizona and Condor Helicopters principally in the lower 48 states. Lee’s flying prior to his employment with County Fire was included offshore, geological survey, geodesic survey, firefighting, EMS, ENG and longline.
Currently Lee and his wife Dantia live in Ventura County California Dantia splits her time between being a RN at a trauma center hospital and competing on her horses in Dressage. Lee has started a consultant company and represents several companies and projects.
Speaker: Crew Rest, The Pilot Pool
