Hey Kevin,

Sounds like a great day. I'm assuming that Caltrans (or actually the
California Dept. of Aeronautics) came out and checked out the LZ prior to the
500 landing in the school? The state has a regulation prohibiting aircraft
landing within 1000 feet of a public or private school that has k-12 classes.
It is possible to get a permit to a landing by contacting Caltrans and they
will assign someone to come out and do a survey of the LZ. Some CHP pilots are
authorized to do the survey, but it is like pulling teeth to get one of them
out for anything but a CHP function. As a rule you need to get an application
into them at LEAST 14 days before the event. Here is a cut and paste address
for them.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/planning/ae...mlfile/hla.php

Of course if it is an emergency situation, the rule doesn't apply. I've landed
in school playgrounds dozens, heck hundreds of times during my ems years.
I had the opportunity to land the BO-105 I was flying ems for my son's DARE
graduation. It was a kick for me. I had my nurses on board, but was able to
get one of the schools secretaries on board as well. Unfortunately by the time
my daughter was in the DARE program I had left EMS and was flying a corporate
helicopter.

Anyway, congratulations on getting a ride in a -500. It is a great pilots
machine.

Jim