The Hangar Z Podcast

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! In this two part panel style conversation, Jack Schonely and Jon Gray bring you a unique conversation featuring a Canadian panel of public safety aviation experts. Together, they share their diverse backgrounds and experiences, shedding light on the vital roles they play within the public safety aviation community. Our discuss...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! In this two part panel style conversation, Jack Schonely and Jon Gray bring you a unique conversation featuring a Canadian panel of public safety aviation experts. Together, they share their diverse backgrounds and experiences, shedding light on the vital roles they play within the public safety aviation community. Our discuss...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS! In this two-part series, Jack Schonely, Tony Webber and Jon Gray sit back down for a full-length interview with L.A. County Fire Pilot and 2024 HAI Pilot of the Year award recipient Mike Sagely. We cover a wide range of topics, from the profound impact a career in aviation can have on family life and mental health to the import...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS! In this two-part series, Jack Schonely, Tony Webber and Jon Gray sit back down for a full-length interview with L.A. County Fire Pilot and 2024 HAI Pilot of the Year award recipient Mike Sagely. We cover a wide range of topics, from the profound impact a career in aviation can have on family life and mental health to the import...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! This two-part series was recorded at the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department hangar at San Bernardino International Airport in California. The conversation unfolds as we talk about their recent acquisition of the new Bell 412 EPX helicopter. Our guests, Sgt Jon Anderson, Deputy Doug Brimmer, and recently retired Lt...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! This two-part series was recorded at the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department hangar at San Bernardino International Airport in California. The conversation unfolds as we talk about their recent acquisition of the new Bell 412 EPX helicopter. Our guests, Sgt Jon Anderson, Deputy Doug Brimmer, and recently retired Lt...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! This episode was recorded on location in Nashville from the Nashville Metro Police aviation hangar, as part of The Hangar Z Vertical Valor Blades of Valor Tour. The road tour included visits to some of North America’s top public safety aviation units, showcasing heroes who exemplify courage, dedication and selflessness in the...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! This episode was recorded on location in Nashville from the Nashville Metro Police aviation hangar, as part of The Hangar Z Vertical Valor Blades of Valor Tour. The road tour included visits to some of North America’s top public safety aviation units, showcasing heroes who exemplify courage, dedication and selflessness in the...

Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS! We are excited to bring an exciting and insightful two-part series on The Hangar Z Podcast as we explore the with Lieutenant Patrick Lawrence and Sergeant Nick Olivo. Lieutenant Patrick Lawrence is a distinguished aviation professional with a rich background in both military and civilian aviation. Lt. Lawrence holds a bachelor...

Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS! We are excited to bring an exciting and insightful two-part series on The Hangar Z Podcast as we explore the with Lieutenant Patrick Lawrence and Sergeant Nick Olivo. Lieutenant Patrick Lawrence is a distinguished aviation professional with a rich background in both military and civilian aviation. Lt. Lawrence holds a bachelor...

Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS! We are beyond excited to celebrate the fourth anniversary of The Hangar Z Podcast with a truly powerful two-part series! This milestone wouldn't be complete without bringing you two exceptional guests: James Hatch and Alan Mack. James Hatch, a retired Navy SEAL, best-selling author of the book Touching the Dragon , founder...

Welcome to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS! We are beyond excited to celebrate the fourth anniversary of The Hangar Z Podcast with a truly powerful two-part series! This milestone wouldn't be complete without bringing you two exceptional guests: James Hatch and Alan Mack. James Hatch, a retired Navy SEAL, best-selling author of the book Touching the Dragon , founder...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! In today's episode, we're honored to feature Hans Almaraz, a distinguished law enforcement officer with a career spanning more than three decades. Hans was raised in San Dimas, California, and after high school he worked as an emergency medical technician (EMT). It was during this time, while working rescues with L.A...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! In today's episode, we're honored to feature Hans Almaraz, a distinguished law enforcement officer with a career spanning more than three decades. Hans was raised in San Dimas, California, and after high school he worked as an emergency medical technician (EMT). It was during this time, while working rescues with L.A...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts ! Thank you to CNC Technologies for sponsoring this special in-person interview that was recorded just prior to the Heli Expo 2024. The expo was held in Anaheim California, this recording took place in beautiful Beverly Hills California at the famous Lou Mar Restaurant. CNC Technologies has assembled an impressive team of distin...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! Thank you to CNC Technologies for sponsoring this special in-person interview, recorded just prior to HAI Heli-Expo 2024. This recording took place in beautiful Beverly Hills, California, at the famous Lou’Mar restaurant.   CNC Technologies has assembled an impressive team of distinguished public safety aviators. In this two-p...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS !   Thank you to MD Helicopters for sponsoring this special in-person interview with Jake Durham and Drew Muench from the Oxford Police Department Aviation Unit.    The Oxford Police Department chose the MD Helicopters 530F model as its primary airborne mission platform due to its exceptional versatility and performance characte...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS !   Thank you to MD Helicopters for sponsoring this special in-person interview with Jake Durham and Drew Muench from the Oxford Police Department Aviation Unit.    The Oxford Police Department chose the MD Helicopters 530F model as its primary airborne mission platform due to its exceptional versatility and performance characte...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! In this two-part series, Jack Schonely and Jon Gray sit down Dr. Tania Glenn, to discuss the importance of mental health for first responders. Dr. Tania Glenn is the president of Tania Glenn and Associates, a clinical practice in Central Texas that is focused on promoting resilience and providing critical care to first respond...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! In this two-part series, Jack Schonely and Jon Gray sit down Dr. Tania Glenn, to discuss the importance of mental health for first responders. Dr. Tania Glenn is the president of Tania Glenn and Associates, a clinical practice in Central Texas that is focused on promoting resilience and providing critical care to first respond...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! This episode was recorded on location in Washington, D.C., from the U.S. Park Police aviation hangar, as part of The Hangar Z Vertical Valor Road tour.    We felt this was a great episode to release on Independence Day, the Fourth of July, 2024, which is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of I...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! This episode was recorded from the Vertical HeliCASTS studio at HAI Heli-Expo in March.   Co-hosts Jack Schonely and Jon Gray had the opportunity to talk with Lieutenant Clay Lacey from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) about the Axnes wireless intercom system and how it has helped Texas DPS improve communications an...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts! In this episode, Jack Schonely and I preview APSCON 2024, happening in Houston, Texas, from July 29th to August 3rd. We are joined by the Airborne Public Safety Association's Executive Director and CEO, Dan Schwarzbach, and Training Program Manager, Dan Knight. APSCON 2024 is the annual conference for public safety aviatio...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS! In this episode, we talk about the ongoing battle against wildfires in Southern California, a region where the threat of wildfires persists year-round. For this conversation, we have the privilege of welcoming Desiree Horton and co-host Tony Webber to uncover the tireless efforts and evolving strategies employed by SoCal agenci...

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS ! In this two-part series, co-hosts Jack Schonely and Jon Gray sit down with Helene Balmir, a pilot from the Phoenix Police Department. Born to a French-Canadian mother and a Haitian father who immigrated to New York in the 1960s, Helen grew up in Montreal, Canada. She is the youngest of three sisters. From a young age, Helen wa...