I’m not a pilot, but I just flew a helicopter over California

On a recent Wednesday afternoon, I flew a helicopter over Ventura County, just north of Los Angeles.

I took off from a small airport, climbed to about 10,000 feet and banked sharply toward the hills along the eastern skyline of Camarillo. Following a canal as it snaked through the orange orchards below, I sped across the valley, before circling back to the airport. I lowered the helicopter into a hover and landed gently at the end of a concrete runway.

The flight was short but remarkable. After all, I am not a pilot.

The helicopter was equipped with new technology meant to simplify and automate the operation of passenger aircraft.