Valor Flight Crew

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus . In this episode, we’re joined by Chelsea Sibold (clwhite3@carilionclinic.org) from Carilion Clinic Life-Guard to talk about a critical piece of aviation safety that often happens long before a mission ever launches—HEAT, or Helicopter Emergency Accident Training. Chelsea shares h...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus . In this episode, we’re talking about something that continues to impact healthcare providers across every setting — from the emergency department to ground EMS, and especially in the air medical environment — and that’s violence against healthcare workers. We’re joined by Jamie...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus . In this episode, we’re talking about something that continues to impact healthcare providers across every setting — from the emergency department to ground EMS, and especially in the air medical environment — and that’s violence against healthcare workers. We’re joined by Jamie...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCAST S and Valor Plus . In today’s episode, we sit down with Zane Atencio for a candid, practical conversation about what leadership really looks like on the front lines of emergency medical services. From the back of the ambulance to the flight deck, Zane shares his journey from fire medic to flight...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCAST S and Valor Plus . In today’s episode, we sit down with Zane Atencio for a candid, practical conversation about what leadership really looks like on the front lines of emergency medical services. From the back of the ambulance to the flight deck, Zane shares his journey from fire medic to flight...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus . In this episode, we sit down with Ken Fox from Big Bear Fire Department for a grounded, real-world conversation about emergency medical services (EMS), aviation, and the communities we serve. From the challenges of  aircraft operations in a small, seasonal, tourist town to the li...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus . In this episode, we sit down with Ken Fox from Big Bear Fire Department for a grounded, real-world conversation about emergency medical services (EMS), aviation, and the communities we serve. From the challenges of  aircraft operations in a small, seasonal, tourist town to the li...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus . Today’s episode is different. It’s personal. It’s honest. And it’s one that so many in our community need to hear. Today, we sit down for a two-part episode with Kacee Griffin, a fellow flight nurse, as she shares her deeply courageous story about battling post-traumatic stress...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus . Today’s episode is different. It’s personal. It’s honest. And it’s one that so many in our community need to hear. Today, we sit down for a two-part episode with Kacee Griffin, a fellow flight nurse, as she shares her deeply courageous story about battling post-traumatic stress...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine . Today, we’re joined by Michael and Linda Benton from VyClimb for an honest, thoughtful, and incredibly relevant discussion on safety culture, organizational values, and leadership in aviation—especially in the air medical world. We dig into the real factors that sha...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast — hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine . Today, we’re joined by Michael and Linda Benton from VyClimb for an honest, thoughtful, and incredibly relevant discussion on safety culture, organizational values, and leadership in aviation—especially in the air medical world. We dig into the real factors that sha...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine .    In this episode the rotors are turning, the banter is strong, and the stories remind us why this mission matters.    Today, we’re joined by Aaron Hamm, a seasoned helicopter pilot with a truly unique aviation journey. Aaron has experienced this profession from bot...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine .    In this episode the rotors are turning, the banter is strong, and the stories remind us why this mission matters.    Today, we’re joined by Aaron Hamm, a seasoned helicopter pilot with a truly unique aviation journey. Aaron has experienced this profession from bot...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine. Today… the keys have been temporarily handed over. In this special takeover episode, Jon Gray and Jack Schonely from the Hangar Z Podcast step into the cockpit for a fun, reflective, and forward-looking conversation as we mark one full year of the Valor Flight Crew Po...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine . Today… the keys have been temporarily handed over. In this special takeover episode, Jon Gray and Jack Schonely from the Hangar Z Podcast step into the cockpit for a fun, reflective, and forward-looking conversation as we mark one full year of the Valor Flight Crew P...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine .  Today, we sit down with the team from Carilion Life-Guard for a groundbreaking conversation about one of the most forward-leaning safety initiatives in the industry: Their incapacitated pilot program. In this episode, we explore how this effort came to life—its orig...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine .  Today, we sit down with the team from Carilion Life-Guard for a groundbreaking conversation about one of the most forward-leaning safety initiatives in the industry: Their incapacitated pilot program. In this episode, we explore how this effort came to life—its orig...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine .  In today’s episode, we sit down with researcher and industry expert Russell Griffin for an honest and eye-opening conversation about what truly drives safety culture. Together, we unpack the human side of aviation safety—exploring how communication, trust, and vulne...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine .  In today’s episode, we sit down with researcher and industry expert Russell Griffin for an honest and eye-opening conversation about what truly drives safety culture. Together, we unpack the human side of aviation safety—exploring how communication, trust, and vulne...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical Helicasts and Vertical Valor Magazine . In this episode, we’re joined by Dave Weber, who opened the 2025 ECHO Conference with a powerful keynote on leadership and teamwork. We take a deeper look into his five core principles for building stronger teams — take ownership, lose your ego, keep it simple, stay...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical Helicasts and Vertical Valor Magazine . In this episode, we’re joined by Dave Weber, who opened the 2025 ECHO Conference with a powerful keynote on leadership and teamwork. We take a deeper look into his five core principles for building stronger teams — take ownership, lose your ego, keep it simple, stay...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine . In this episode, we explore another non-traditional helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) program with an inside look at JEMSTAR in New Jersey.  This unique program isn’t just any medevac team—these crews blend law enforcement precision with life-saving medica...

Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine .   In this live episode from the ECHO Louisville 2025 conference, we sit down with US Army pilot and ECHO Safety Team member Sean Gavin from the New York Air National Guard.  Together, we explore the art of briefing and debriefing — what makes them effective, how humility...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine . In this episode, we sit down with Jack Schonely, co-host of The Hangar Z Podcast and respected voice in aviation and public safety, to explore one of the most vital aspects of our profession: Risk management. Together, we dive deep into the human factors that shape d...

Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor magazine . In this episode, we sit down with Jack Schonely, co-host of The Hangar Z Podcast and respected voice in aviation and public safety, to explore one of the most vital aspects of our profession: Risk management. Together, we dive deep into the human factors that shape d...