One by one, several helicopters touched down on a wind-swept corner of McClellan Park earlier this month.

Most of the choppers were from law enforcement agencies such as the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, the Placer County Sheriff's Department and the Butte County Sheriff's Department – but two were from local television stations.

Despite the eventual presence of some smoke, this fly-in was no emergency.

It was a gathering hosted by the Sacramento Police Department's Air Unit, which operates out of the section of McClellan Park where the guests landed.

The meeting brought together more than a dozen law enforcement pilots and their air crews – all of whom communicate daily as they fly over the Sacramento region.

"We talk to each other over the radio quite often, but it's infrequent that we get together," said Sgt. Mike Hutchins, supervisor of the Sacramento Police Air Unit.

As a result, the event was organized as a safety meeting to allow air crews to share information about the latest overhead crimefighting technology.

About the smoke. More like steam, it emanated from heaping portions of barbecued ribs at an indoor buffet table set up for guests.

As they consumed the ribs – purchased with a private donation – everyone enjoyed the camaraderie.

The event allowed the air crews to talk face to face, instead of from chopper to chopper, guests said.

"I talk to a lot of these guys everyday, always by radio, but some I've never met," said Manny Konstantinidis, a tactical flight officer for the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department, which, according to its Web site, operates three helicopters out of the former Mather Air Force Base.

"This is a good opportunity to see the guys you work with," said Konstantinidis, an air observer.

Usually his only other chance to see them, he added, is every few months when air crews from area departments undergo joint training, along with ground officers, to help bolster the air-ground teamwork.

"Safety is paramount, with all of us flying in the same region."

Indeed, much of the radio chatter among law enforcement air crews involves the location of each chopper, Sgt. Hutchins, the host, said. Media helicopter pilots also talk with law enforcement crews.

"Quite often, we're at the same incident together," Hutchins said, referring to law enforcement air crews, flying news crews and air ambulances. "So we're usually just talking about where each other is … so we don't get too close to each other."

Air safety requires "a cooperative effort" from all, he said.

The Butte County Sheriff's Department sent one of its two helicopters to the fly-in.

As soon as the Butte helicopter landed, Reserve Deputy Corky Rey, a physician, stepped from the craft and was greeted by his cousin, Paul Llano, a helicopter pilot for the Sacramento police.

Also at the gathering was Rey's father, Arnold Rey, 81, who spent half his life at the former McClellan Air Force Base, first on a flight test crew for the Department of Defense and later as an aircraft maintenance foreman.

"To me, being here brings out a lot of emotional feelings … because this is where I spent so much time," said the elder Rey, of North Highlands.

Part of his reason for attending, Arnold Rey said, is that he enjoys being near aircraft, no matter the type.

His son, Corky, said his department's helicopters serve a largely rural area. Their mission includes marijuana-eradication searches and search and rescues.

"Today, we're just putting our eyes on everybody else's aircraft and seeing how the different technology is used in different areas," added Corky Rey, who is also the tactical physician for the Butte County SWAT unit.

A day after the gathering, Hutchins pronounced the event a success.

"We had excellent feedback from the agencies that joined us," he said. "We have all committed to repeating this on a yearly basis, to keep up the contacts and the ties, and to maintain the good working relationships that we now share."

A California Highway Patrol helicopter missed the event because of a mission, but it is expected at the next fly-in.