Official says he favors all life-saving flights

2/1/06

BEDMINSTER TWP. – Township Committeeman Finn Caspersen said comments attributed to him in a Jan. 26 story in The Bernardsville News about the NorthSTAR Medevac helicopter did not accurately reflect his opinions.

Caspersen was quoted as saying he supports Medevac flights from Somerset Airport, but does not support “unrelated State Police helicopter activity” at the airport. The committeeman made his comments at a meeting of the governing body Tuesday, Jan. 17.

He clarified his position on Friday, saying that he is in favor of State Police helicopter flights that are related to “life and death” circumstances, even if they are not strictly medical evacuations.

For instance, Caspersen said he supports “Amber Alert” responses to kidnappings, helicopter flights to search for lost and missing people, or homeland security flights in response to terrorism and other legitimate threats.

He added that he also is not opposed to homeland security checks being “piggy-backed” on top of Medevac flights, since they don’t result in any additional takeoffs or landings at Somerset Airport.

“The one thing I’m not OK with is routine police activity” using a Medevac helicopter out of Somerset Airport, Caspersen said.

He said he is trying to work with State Police officials to ensure that routine police helicopter flights, such as following highway car chases from the air, would not be initiated from Somerset Airport.

Somerset Airport is seeking township approval to convert an existing hangar into a permanent administrative office headquarters for the NorthSTAR Medevac helicopter.