A stint with the S.C. Army National Guard has led to a career and a business for one local man.

After graduating from Newberry High School, Tommy Chappell joined the South Carolina Army National Guard where he learned the basics of operating a helicopter. He then went to Lander University for two years and became a helicopter warrant officer with the U.S. Army.

He also flew a medivac helicopter for two months in October of 1989 to help with the Hugo effort.

Four years ago, Chappell became a helicopter pilot at the Savannah River Site near Aiken.

His workweek consists of two 24-hour shifts, and when he is not on the job, Chappell owns and operates the only helicopter school in the state.

The 2-year-old Chappell Helicopters teaches flight instruction, does aerial photography, timber reconnaisance, and gives real estate and sight-seeing tours.

Chappell has three employees working with him. Nelson Medlin flies corporate jets out of Greenville, Paul Frye is a diesel mechanic and Sherry Boyce is a ground instructor and retired from the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office in North Carolina.

Chappell says he continually sees the need to train new helicopter pilots for the increasing number of medivac pilots needed and for future oil drilling on the East Coast.

To find out more about Chappell's services go to www.chappellhelicopters.com or call 321-3100.