The Hangar Z Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Public Safety's Next Chapter: Workforce Evolution in Modern Policing, part 2 | Ep 392 Oct 08, 2026

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Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus.
In this special two-part series of the Hangar Z Podcast, hosts Jon Gray and Jeff Ratkovich explore how modern public safety agencies can overcome critical work force development hurdles.
Joined by Roe Conn, chief of strategic initiatives for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and Ryan Harbison, president and CEO of Helicopters Inc., the discussion dives into Cook County’s historic launch of a premier aviation unit after a 50-year absence.
Through an innovative public-private partnership, the agency was able to deploy a Bell 429 that flew 1,100 hours in its inaugural year with a near-perfect readiness rate.
Part one examines the industry-wide workforce crisis from shrinking recruitment pools to impending retirements and how turnkey operational models offer a viable solution.
By leveraging Helicopters Inc.’s commercial infrastructure, dedicated on-site maintenance, and experienced contractor pilots, Cook County bypassed years of training delays and unpredictable maintenance costs.
Part two shifts the focus to tactical execution, community impact, and the politics of standing up an public safety aviation unit. Conn shares hard data illustrating the program’s return on investment, including massive reductions in regional carjackings, the recovery of dozens of missing persons, and safer pursuit resolutions.
The conversation ends with key lessons on inter-agency collaboration, crew integration, and winning public trust through transparent messaging, this series serves as an essential blueprint for any agency looking to build, modernize, or sustain an effective aviation unit.
Thank you to our sponsors Dallas Avionics, Precision Aviation Group and SHOTOVER

Public Safety's Next Chapter: Workforce Evolution in Modern Policing, part 1 | Ep 391 Oct 05, 2026

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Helicopter photo courtesy of Elijah Ewing-Scurlock, Managing Director, Midwest Expression Media LLC.

Chief Gillespie: How leadership and aviation helped reduce crime | Ep 390 Oct 01, 2026

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Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus.
In this episode, we're joined by Chief Brandon Gillespie of the Modesto Police Department. Building on our previous conversations in Episodes 372 and 373 with Lieutenant Hicks and Lieutenant Souza, we take a closer look at the leadership behind the department's success.
Chief Gillespie shares how proactive policing has contributed to a dramatic reduction in crime, the vision and challenges of creating an air support unit, and the critical role aviation plays in supporting officers and keeping the community safe. It's an insightful conversation on leadership, innovation, and the value of investing in public safety.

Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, CENTUM and Metro Aviation.

Earning the buy-In: Professionalism, politics, and building in-house advocates part 2 | Ep 389 Sep 28, 2026

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Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus.
Celebrating the sixth anniversary of the Hangar Z Podcast, host Jack Schonely steps into the lead chair, alongside Jon Gray, for a comprehensive two-part panel dedicated to one of the most critical, yet frequently overlooked, elements of airborne public safety: Internal and external unit marketing.
Joined by industry veteran Terry Miyauchi of TM Consulting, Sgt Wade Bourassa of the Saskatoon Police Service, and Kyle Fields, integrated marketing manager at Bell, the group dives deep into what it truly takes to justify, protect, and expand an aviation program in today’s political and fiscal landscape.
Far beyond the day-to-day tactical missions, long-term operational survival hinges on shifting away from the traditional "quiet professional" mindset to actively educate decision-makers, city councils, command staff, and the citizens they serve.
Across this special series, the panel explores how to craft compelling narratives out of raw data, revealing why highlighting operational limitations and missed missions can often carry far more political leverage than routine success stories.
The discussion unpacks practical, field-tested marketing strategies, ranging from using short-form video and strategic social media engagement to cut through red tape, to breaking down bureaucratic walls by flying key city stakeholders including finance, IT, economic development, and fire services.
Crucially, the conversation reinforces that no public relations campaign can survive without baseline operational credibility. Drawing parallels to elite special operations aviation, the panel emphasizes that air support is fundamentally about customer service: Cultivating ground-unit trust, staying in your lane, and recognizing that word-of-mouth reputation among patrol officers will always remain an air unit's most powerful advocate.

Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, MD Helicopters and Wysong Enterprises.

Beyond the mission: The strategy behind justifying your air support program part 1 | Ep 388 Sep 24, 2026

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Thank you to our sponsors BLR Aerospace, Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch and Robinson Helicopter.

Elevate and Connect: Creating impact past the call part 2 | Ep 387 Sep 21, 2026

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Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus.
In this special two-part series, hosts Jon Gray and Jack Schonely are joined by Vertical Plus editor-at-large Brent Bundy and Delaware State Police aviation commander Jeff Whitmarsh for a conversation about leadership, trust, and developing a high-performing multi-mission aviation unit.
We break down the foundational frameworks driving excellence, including the pivotal reset that shifted Jeff’s philosophy from authority to consistency. Discover the LEAD model guiding every flight: Lead with integrity, Execute with precision, Aid with compassion, and Defend with courage. Also, learn why Delaware State Police embeds pilots directly into tactical flight officer (TFO) training to ensure seamless cross-mission execution.
Finally, Jeff highlights two transformative programs redefining community engagement and responder wellness. Learn how the Elevate Initiative provides children with disabilities eye-level access to aircraft via custom ramps, and how the Care and Connect program reunites flight crews with surviving patients and families — turning past trauma into closure, while combating first responder burnout. If you care about servant leadership and intentional culture, this two-part series is essential listening.

Thank you to our sponsors Bell, BLR Aerospace and Precision Aviation Group.

Leadership & Trust: The power of consistency with Delaware State Police part 1 | Ep 386 Sep 17, 2026

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Thank you to our sponsors Bell, CNC Technologies and SHOTOVER.

Wade Bourassa’s blueprint for smarter police aviation part 2 | 385 Sep 14, 2026

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Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus.
Today’s episode was recorded at the Vertical Valor Plus booth, on the floor of APSCON in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We are honored to welcome Wade Bourassa, pilot and supervisor of the Saskatoon Police Aviation Unit. Wade is the 2026 recipient of the Airborne Public Safety Association's Robert L. Cormier Memorial Award, recognizing his extraordinary commitment to advancing law enforcement aviation.
While Wade has built an exceptional career serving the Saskatoon Police Service, his impact extends far beyond his own unit. Through his willingness to mentor others, share his expertise, provide instruction, and offer guidance, he has helped strengthen aviation programs across both Canada and the United States. Join us as we discuss Wade's career, his passion for public safety aviation, and the leadership and dedication that earned him one of the profession's highest honors.

Thank you to our sponsors Dallas Avionics, Robinson Helicopter and Wysong Enterprises.

Wade Bourassa’s blueprint for smarter police aviation part 1 | 384 Sep 10, 2026

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Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, MD Helicopters and SHOTOVER.

Data, Fatigue & Innovation: Joel Smith on Building Hero Aviation part 2 | 383 Sep 09, 2026

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Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus.
In this special two-part series, hosts Jon Gray and Jack Schonely are joined by L.A. City Fire Department (LAFD) pilot and safety officer Joel Smith for an inside look at the high-stakes world of LAFD Air Operations.
Joel breaks down the tactical precision and intense training required to battle massive, wind-driven California wildfires like the Palisades in the Leonardo AW139, navigate extreme downdrafts in the Santa Anas, and manage chaotic multi-agency airspace stacks.
He also details the unique, demanding pathway of promoting from firefighter to mission-command pilot, highlighting the partnership and high standards shared with LAPD Air Support.
The conversation takes a deep dive into modern aviation safety management systems (SMS), root-cause hazard analysis, and the danger of operational complacency. Drawing from his role as unit safety officer, Joel explains how he is working on the industry-wide challenge of fatigue management through data, objective readiness scores, and his company, Hero Aviation.
By bridging operational experience with smart technology, Joel is helping crews across public safety make safer, data-backed go/no-go decisions.
Connect with Joel Smith & Hero Aviation:
Website: heroaviationusa.com
Instagram: @heroaviationusa

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

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