The Hangar Z Podcast

The Hangar Z Podcast had the honor of being asked by the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) to join them at their national conference (APSCON) to Podcast from the convention floor in Reno Nevada. In this episode we chat kinda live from the conference floor with our good friend Clay Lacey.  During our conversation Clay talks about his experience as an instructor and we talk about some of the...

The Hangar Z Podcast had the honor of being asked by the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) to join them at their national conference (APSCON) to Podcast from the convention floor in Reno Nevada. In this episode we chat kinda live from the conference floor with Nick Minx. Nick is the owner of Tactical Flying and is a wealth of information. During our conversation we talk about the evolution...

The Hangar Z Podcast had the honor of being asked by the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) to join them at their national conference (APSCON) to Podcast from the convention floor in Reno Nevada. In this episode we chat kinda live from the conference floor with APSA CEO & Executive Director Dan Schwarzbach and APSA President Richard Bray. To keep the spirit of the live interview intact...

The Hangar Z Podcast had the honor of being asked by the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) to join them at their national conference (APSCON) to Podcast from the convention floor in Reno Nevada. In this episode we chat kinda live from the conference floor with Bryan Smith.  This is our first ever in person interview. To keep the spirit of the live interview in tact these episodes have zero...

Welcome to episode 42 of the Hangar Z Podcast. In this episode we sit down and chat with Arizona Department of Public Safety State Trooper Flight Medic Michael Allen.   Michael began his public safety career as a firefighter.  During his fire service career, he rose to the rank of captain and became an expert in all things rescue.    Like most of us Michael had a dream to be involved in aviation....

Episode 41 is live with Rob Purdy a 26-year Army aviator and pilot with Life Flight in Houston Texas. In with this episode, we chat with American patriot and US Army veteran Rob Purdy. Rob has over 6500 flight hours in a variety of airframes but most notably in the Cobra, the Apache and the Airbus H145. During our conversation he talks about becoming a Warrant officer and pilot for the US Army as...

We are proud to announce episode 40. In this episode we chat with Nick Nguyen from San Diego PD and Robert Ochoa from the Riverside County Sheriffs Department. Nick founded the First Responders Whiskey Society which is a non profit 501(c)(3) charity. They provide support and honor the fallen for those in public safety through spirits.  I was introduced to them after Huntington Beach PD’s Nick Vell...

Welcome to episode 39 of the Hangar Z podcast. In this episode we chat with Travis Tinsey from Airbus and Mike Calhoun who is the chief pilot for a Southern California sheriffs agency that has flown their H145 for just over one year. When they received the H145 I was curious to see what they thought one year later so here we are. During this episode Travis talks about his aviation career which inc...

In this episode we chat with Coast Guard pilot Wryan Webb.  Wryan is a graduate of the Coast Guard academy and is currently stationed in beautiful Alaska.  During this episode we chat about the admissions process and life at the Coast Guard Academy. We talk about the unique role of the US coast guard.  Wryan also talks about the challenges of flying in Alaska with its rugged terrain and extreme we...

Hanging with the crew from the Brotallion and hosts of the Pilot's Lounge Podcast! Join us as we sit down and chat with Spencer Payne and Brett Kroll, two Army Aviators who are founding members of the Brotallion. Brotallion is a veteran-owned company that provides military aviation-inspired apparel, gear, study material, and mentorship for aviators by aviators. At the heart and soul of Brotal...

Join us in the Hangar for episode 35 as we sit down and chat with former law enforcement pilot, turned utility helicopter pilot, Brad Isaacs. Listen in as Brad walks us through his aviation journey, which started in his teens, with the support of his parents. He then charted a path into the cockpit of a law enforcement helicopter, where he flew for the Gwinnett County (GA) Police Department. After...

Before we introduce our next guest and episode we would like we would like to formally announce our newest Podcast sponsor Metro Aviation. We are extremely proud and humbled to partner with such a high caliber company that contributes so much to the aviation industry. This episode is dedicated to Officer Nick Villa from Huntington Beach PD Air Support Our guest for this episode is Daniel Flores wh...

We would like to thank ECHO Heliops for sponsoring this episode of the Hangar Z Podcast. In this episode we chat with Sid Bingley and Ty Le Roy who are part of a HEMS crew who work for Carillon Life-Guard Crew in Virginia. Sid is a flight nurse and Ty is a pilot currently flying the H135. Ty previously flew Apache attack   helicopters for the Army. In this episode we talk about the pilot incapacit...

In this episode we talk with CHP pilot Kevin Vinatieri. Kevin's aviation career began with the California Army National Guard when he joined the early enlistment program while still in high school. Kevin served as an OH-58 crew chief and became a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot serving with the 126th Medevac Company at Mather Field in Sacramento California. Kevin separated from the military in 1999. Ke...

Happy belated New Year, and  Merry Christmas to everyone. We are excited to be back from our Christmas break. In this episode we talk with Joel Lane. Joel retired from the US Forest Service after 40 years of service. The first half of his career was spent on the ground working as a Hot Shot and Engine Captain. The second half of his career he spent in Air Attack as an Air Tactical Group Supervisor...

Join us as we talk with Cody Zetlmaier, who is currently assigned to the US Bureau of Land Management's  Apple Valley Helitack. He was previously assigned to the U.S. Forest Service Heaps Peak Helitack out of the San Bernardino National Forest. Cody has spent a lot of time as a Hot Shot assigned to the Big Bear Hot Shots also out of the San Bernardino National Forest. Cody was awarded Hot Sho...

Air Support in America's Finest City Since 1986, the crews of 'ABLE' have been providing top-notch air support to the officers and citizens of America's Finest City and on our next episode of the Hangar Z Podcast, we'll be speaking with one of their pilots, Trevor Riley.  There is speculation that the need for air support was identified after the notorious  'News Team...

Join the Hangar Z crew, as we sit down and chat with Command Pilot Anson Statema of the Washington State Patrol (WSP) Aviation Section. We've been wanting to do an episode on fixed wing operations for a long time and we're glad to have Anson join us, for a look at his career and some insight  into how the WSP Aviation Section uses their fleet of Cessna 206's and Beech King Air to se...

Join us in episode 27 where we discuss the Heroes Airshow which is an airshow dedicated to the promotion of helicopters and Public Safety Aviation. During the conversation  we also discuss Steve's  (AKA "The Commish") involvement with the  LA County Sheriffs Department Montrose Search and Rescue team as well as the issue of noise abatement in congested urban areas.   The Los Angeles...

In episode 26, we sit down with public safety aviation legend Brian Spillane. Brian is the industries foremost expert on infrared technology and comes to us from Teledyne FLIR who generously sponsored this episode of the Hangar Z podcast.  Infrared camera systems from Teledyne FLIR have undoubtedly given public safety aviation the tactical advantage and the ability to increase situational awarenes...

This episode is an absolute must hear as we speak with Retired LVMPD Sergeant and Pilot David Callen. In this episode Dave talks about his career in which he survived not one but two auto rotative landings and was part of  countless high profile incidents to include the Laughlin River Run Riots between the Hells Angels and Mongols on April 27th 2002, and the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on Octo...

We've gone international! Join us as we sit down and chat with Matthew Stanton, the Head of Helicopter Operations for the NSW Police Force Aviation Command - PolAir. Matthew shares his inspiring story of living out his childhood dream to fly for PolAir and the amazing journey he took to get there! We also discuss the latest developments at PolAir, to include their new fleet, new facility and...

E pisode 23 officially begins with the launch of legendary Jack Schonely’s episode. Jack is a 36 year Law Enforcement Veteran, with 31 years at LAPD 19 of which were spent in the Air Support Division as both a TFO and Command Pilot. Jack created and instructs a course titled A “Apprehending Fleeing suspects.” Jack has also written a book available online with the same title. Jack is a Contributing...

APSCON 2021 from New Orleans is officially in the books, so now it's time to break it down in a special episode. Join us in the hangar, with our guest San Diego County Sheriff Fire and Rescue Pilot Tony Webber, as we discuss his and Jon's experiences and takeaways from this year's APSA Convention. From some of the movers and shakers in our industry, to some of the latest and greates...