Eerie lights descended in a gush of wind and sound as dozens of observers shielded their eyes from the blowing snow and grit.

No alien invasion this, but the first night landing of an air ambulance on the new helicopter pad at Aurora Fire Department off U.S. 50 at the top of Trester Hill.

Fortunately, this was no emergency but a test run for the new pad and for University AirCare, whose new chopper almost filled the 40-foot square concrete pad. Pilot Jeff Logeman said he liked it, especially the blue lights surrounding the pad and the reflective H in the center.

“That really showed up,” he said, calling it an “excellent pad.”