The Hangar Z Podcast

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus.
 
Today’s episode is a powerful and deeply human conversation centered on service, trust, and taking care of one another in some of the most demanding environments imaginable. Our guest is Dave Wuertz, manager of peer support for PHI Air Medical.
 
Dave’s story is shaped by a lifetime of service in the medical field—starting with an emergecny medical technician (EMT) class in college, and influenced even earlier by his father’s work on an ambulance. From those early experiences, Dave went on to become a paramedic, a trainer, and eventually, an air medical flight nurse. Along the way, he also became a founding member of the peer support program at PHI Air Medical, helping build a culture that recognizes mental wellness as mission-critical.
 
In this episode, we dive into why peer support matters so much in public service—especially in air medical—why proactive peer support is far more effective than reactive approaches, and why trust is the cornerstone of any successful program.
 
Dave shares impactful incidents from his time as an air medical flight crew member and from his work supporting others, offering real-world perspective on what these crews face every day. We also discuss the mindset of “four to go, one to say no,” and how speaking up can be the difference between a safe mission and a tragic outcome.
 
You’ll also hear an overview of PHI Air Medical’s nationwide footprint and the scale of responsibility carried by its teams across the country. And as a special connection for longtime listeners, we talk about Dave’s long-standing professional relationship with one of our favorite guests, Dr. Tania Glenn, and how that collaboration reinforces the importance of mental wellness training done right.
 
This is an honest, meaningful conversation about caring for the caregivers—and one you won’t want to miss.
 
Thank you to all our sponsors and to our loyal listeners. Please take a minute to like, subscribe, and share The Hangar Z Podcast.
Thank you to our sponsors Rotorcraft Support, Inc., Technisonic Industries and Trakka Systems.

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.

Today’s episode features a true pioneer in airborne law enforcement—retired California Highway Patrol (CHP) pilot John Nielson. With more than 11,000 hours as pilot in command and another 3,400 hours as a second-in-command, John’s career is a masterclass in dedication, innovation, and mission-driven flying.

We start at the beginning of his journey on the ground, patrolling out of the Malibu Station along one of the most dangerous stretches of road in California—the Pacific Coast Highway. From there, John takes us through his transition into the air support unit, first as a tactical flight officer and eventually as a fixed-wing pilot.

But what truly sets this conversation apart is John’s relentless 15-year effort to bring FLIR technology into CHP’s fixed-wing program. That vision ultimately became reality with the integration of the MX-15 system into a Cessna 206—and the results in the very first year were nothing short of remarkable.

John also shares the story of his final flight before retirement—a mission that perfectly captures the impact of that technology, ending with a successful FLIR-assisted find.

Now, as the CEO and founder of AirMax Patrol, John continues to shape the future of airborne law enforcement by delivering cost-effective, proven solutions for air support units across the country.

We also dive into the capabilities of the Diamond DA62 and why it may be one of the best-kept secrets for law enforcement aviation.

This is a conversation about persistence, innovation, and leaving a legacy that continues to save lives.

Settle in—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Thank you to our sponsors Robinson Helicopter, Rotorcraft Support and Technisonic Industries.

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.

Today’s episode features a true pioneer in airborne law enforcement—retired California Highway Patrol (CHP) pilot John Nielsen. With more than 11,000 hours as pilot in command and another 3,400 hours as a second-in-command, John’s career is a masterclass in dedication, innovation, and mission-driven flying.

We start at the beginning of his journey on the ground, patrolling out of the Malibu Station along one of the most dangerous stretches of road in California—the Pacific Coast Highway. From there, John takes us through his transition into the air support unit, first as a tactical flight officer and eventually as a fixed-wing pilot.

But what truly sets this conversation apart is John’s relentless 15-year effort to bring FLIR technology into CHP’s fixed-wing program. That vision ultimately became reality with the integration of the MX-15 system into a Cessna 206—and the results in the very first year were nothing short of remarkable.

John also shares the story of his final flight before retirement—a mission that perfectly captures the impact of that technology, ending with a successful FLIR-assisted find.

Now, as the CEO and founder of AirMax Patrol, John continues to shape the future of airborne law enforcement by delivering cost-effective, proven solutions for air support units across the country.

We also dive into the capabilities of the Diamond DA62 and why it may be one of the best-kept secrets for law enforcement aviation.

This is a conversation about persistence, innovation, and leaving a legacy that continues to save lives.

Settle in—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Thank you to our sponsors Metro Aviation, Robinson Helicopter and Trakka Systems.

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.

Today’s episode comes to you from the floor of Verticon in Atlanta, recorded inside the Vertical Plus booth, where the energy of the industry and the people who drive it were on full display.

Our guests are pilots Brian Dunn and Brian Atkinson of Coldstream Helicopters in Kelowna, British Columbia—this year’s recipients of the VAI Salute to Excellence Pilots of the Year award. 

Between them, they represent both experience and the next generation of aviation professionalism—Brian Dunn with an incredible 50 years in the cockpit, and Brian Atkinson just four years into what is already proving to be an exceptional career.
In this episode, we dive into their individual paths into aviation, the lessons learned along the way, and the shared mindset that brought them together in a moment that would define both of their careers.

You’ll hear the gripping story of an in-flight emergency while fighting a fire in an Airbus Super Puma—low, slow, and heavy with a full bucket of water, moments away from making a drop, when they suddenly lost all electrical power and experienced dropping rotor RPM. What follows is a powerful account of teamwork, communication, and composure under extreme pressure.

This is a story about preparation meeting reality, and how recent simulator training directly influenced their decision-making in those critical seconds. Ultimately, it’s about professionalism, trust, and doing the job when everything is on the line.

This is an incredible conversation you won’t want to miss.
Thank you to our sponsors CNC Technologies, SHOTOVER Systems and Spectrolab.

Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.

Thank you to 2026 Blades of Valor Tour sponsor Switlik Survival Products and the support of Massif flight suits. Without your sponsorship and support, this tour would not be possible.

Switlik Survival Products supports aviation, marine, military, and search-and-rescue with a wide variety of high-quality survival products. To learn more, go to Switlik.com

The Blades of Valor Tour spotlights public safety aviation units recognized for outstanding service and celebrates those who go above and beyond. We aim to promote the good work these agencies do and highlight the standard of excellence they set.

These teams serve as a benchmark for the public aviation community. Our mission is to share their stories of unwavering commitment, courage, innovative leadership, teamwork, and technological innovation from agencies setting the standard in public safety aviation.

Today’s episode comes to you from inside the hangar at United States Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater — the final stop of the 2026 Blades of Valor Tour.

Joining us are MH-60T pilot Lieutenant Commander Nathan Jones and helicopter rescue swimmer Zachary Sowers, two Coast Guard professionals whose journeys to this moment are as inspiring as the missions they fly.

Nate comes from a proud family legacy of service. He began his career in the Coast Guard Reserve before earning an appointment to the United States Coast Guard Academy. Through discipline, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, he earned his “Wings of Gold” and now flies the powerful MH-60T Jayhawk — one of the most capable search-and-rescue platforms in the world.

Zach’s path started with a life-altering near-drowning experience as a young boy. What could have been a tragedy became motivation. Swimming lessons turned into competitive success, which led to a Division I scholarship, work as a lifeguard, and eventually a calling to serve — becoming one of the Coast Guard’s elite rescue swimmers. Today, he is the one entering the water in the worst conditions imaginable so others can make it home.

In this episode, we discuss incredible real-world rescues and the relentless, constant training that keeps these aircrews sharp and ready at a moment’s notice. We learn more about Air Station Clearwater’s mission set, the vast area they cover, and the extraordinary support personnel behind the scenes — the maintainers, operations specialists, and ground crews — whose expertise makes every launch possible and every rescue achievable.

You’ll also gain deeper insight into the MH-60T Jayhawk — its capabilities, mission versatility, and why it remains such a critical asset for maritime search and rescue, law enforcement, and disaster response.

From powerful rescue stories to the disciplined preparation that makes them possible, this conversation highlights teamwork, trust, and a shared commitment to saving lives.

Thank you to our sponsors  Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch, Precision Aviation Group and SHOTOVER Systems.