Northville Township is reaching out to Plymouth Township firefighters about participating in a joint helicopter training exercise Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Millennium Park.

A Michigan Army National Guard Black Hawk and a University of Michigan Survival Flight helicopter will land at the park, 45769 Six Mile Road, so firefighter/paramedics can practice patient transfers, landing-zone operations and radio communications with flight crews, according to Northville Township.

The township is also reaching out to the City of Northville Fire Department. The announcement does not confirm whether either department will participate.

The exercise marks the first time Northville Township firefighters have trained with the Army National Guard. The department last held a joint exercise with Survival Flight about eight years ago.

How it came together

The idea started with a conversation between Northville Township EMS Coordinator William Caruso and Firefighter/Paramedic Rob Casamatta. Casamatta is also a Chief Warrant Officer 2 and medevac pilot with the Michigan Army National Guard, flying Black Hawks. He previously served about a decade in the Marine Corps, where he became a Scout Sniper, before moving into military aviation.

Casamatta's own National Guard unit will participate Wednesday. He will pilot the Black Hawk.

"This is the kind of training you hope you never have to put into practice during a large-scale emergency, but if that day comes, you want the first time working together to be behind you," Caruso said.

The training is aimed at strengthening coordination during events like a tornado or mass-casualty incident, when multiple agencies and specialized aircraft may be needed at once. A Black Hawk can carry up to six patients. Survival Flight specializes in rapid critical-care transport of seriously ill or injured patients and operates around the clock.

The local tie

Plymouth Township Fire responded to 3,589 emergencies in 2024, according to its year-end report. The department gave mutual aid to Northville Township 63 times that year and received it 26 times. Hands-on time with both aircraft types could sharpen coordination on calls that cross township lines.

Park closures and public viewing

The Millennium Park parking lot will close from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday. The park stays open on foot, with overflow parking along the driveway side of Fire Station 1. Unity Skatepark will shut down temporarily during takeoffs and landings because the rotors create powerful winds and send loose debris airborne.

The public can watch from designated areas. The best viewing is expected between 10 a.m. and noon. Spectators must stay well away from the aircraft during takeoffs and landings.

Any of the participating teams could be called away to a real emergency, which would change or end the exercise.