Brian Scott Waring, 40, of Cumming passed away April 9, 2011, at Emory Hospital in Decatur. Born in New York, Brian was the son of Jerry and Nancy Waring of Cumming. Brian was a graduate of Norcross High School and earned his BA in business administration from the University of Georgia. He served in the U.S. Army from 1993-2000, where he attended flight school and served in the 229th Med at Fort Drum and in the 507th Med at Fort Hood. From 2002-2007 he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. Brian was a pilot for Air Life Georgia, owned by Air Methods, the largest EMS helicopter service in the world.
Coast Guard in Savannah, Georgia awarded Brian with the Eurocopter Golden Hour Award in 2006 for bravery after his helicopter crew flew though severe thunderstorms to rescue a tugboat crew. He flew through severe thunderstorms, over an ocean with 25-foot seas in response to a distress call from the crew of the tug Valour. The boat was being battered by 70-knot winds and was taking on large amounts of water. The pilots positioned the aircraft to prepare their rescue swimmer for the high surf and winds, which were causing severe difficulties. After several attempts the swimmer reached the boat and assisted the crew while they were being hoisted into the helicopter. Suffering from hypothermia, the rescued men were taken to the nearest hospital
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recognized Brian with inclusion in the prestigious FAA Airmen Certification Database. The database, which appears on theagency’s Web site, names Waring and other certified pilots who have met or exceeded the high educational, licensing and medical standards established by the FAA.