The Hangar Z Podcast

View Top 200 Chart

Back to Rankings Page

Government
**The Hangar Z Podcast**

A podcast where we explore the personnel and equipment behind the missions in Public Safety Aviation.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 116- Matt Szluka and the Illinois State Police Aviation Program Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to episode 116 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.

In this three-part series, host Jon Gray sits down with Matt Szluka.

Szluka is a state trooper and fixed-wing aircraft pilot with the Illinois State Police in the Chicagoland area.

Born and raised in Chicago, Szluka has lived in the city his entire life. Prior to joining the ISP Air Operations Bureau as a pilot, he was assigned as a K-9 handler to the ISP Statewide Anti-Violence Enforcement Team and the District 15 Criminal Patrol Team.

Outside his law enforcement duties, Szluka works part-time as an instructor at a local college, teaching aviation classes to aspiring pilots.

Szluka has 12 years of law enforcement experience at three different police departments in the Chicago, Illinois, area.

Outside of being a pilot and K-9 handler, Szluka also has experience as a member of the ISP Chicago Region Crowd Control Team, K-9 instructor, K-9 crowd control instructor, field training officer and evidence technician.

Before Szluka entered law enforcement, he was an airline captain at a large regional airline that served cities across North America and the Bahamas.

During his time in the airlines, Szluka was a human factors facilitator and crew resource management instructor.

He received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Illinois in Aviation Human Factors, which spurred his passion for human interaction with advanced technologies, particularly as it relates to aviation.

Szluka now focuses his efforts on supporting his fellow brothers and sisters on the ground utilizing aircraft and other technologies for criminal enforcement, especially in the City of Chicago, a place he has proudly called home for 42 years.

The Hangar Z Podcast wishes to thank its sponsors Metro Aviation, Garmin and CNC Technologies.

Episode 115- Patio Beers with SR3 From ECHO in San Diego Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to episode 115 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.

In this episode, host Jon Gray sits down with a few of the men from SR3, Stef Maier Rob Munday and Tony Webber — although Webber steps into the co-host shoes for this episode, recorded on location in San Diego Bay from the ECHO conference.

This episode is modeled after Flight Suit Fridays, a podcast about U.S. Coast Guard aviation. Flight Suit Fridays has “patio beer episodes,” where they freestyle content as they sit on a patio and drink amazing beer. This perfectly describes how Hangar Z approached this episode.

The Hangar Z Podcast wishes to thank sponsors Metro Aviation, SHOTOVER and CNC Technologies. All these companies are huge contributors to the overall growth and success of our industry.

Episode 114- A Peek into Law Enforcement Aviation with the Calgary Police Service Part II Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to Episode 114 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.

This is Part Two of a series with Derek, Kyle and Tanya from the Calgary Police Service aviation unit, referred to as the HAWCS program. HAWCS stands for Helicopter Air Watch for Community Safety.

In this episode, Hangar Z host Jon Gray and his guests continue their conversation about Calgary’s aviation program. They speak about the process for testing and selecting tactical flight officers in Calgary, and the history of the HAWCS program.

This episode is dedicated to the memory of Constable Rick Sonnenberg and his partner, who attempted to stop a reportedly stolen vehicle by laying down a spike belt.

Sadly, Constable Sonnenberg was struck by the speeding car and died instantly.

Constable Sonnenberg was with the Calgary Police Service for just under four years, and was about to announce his engagement to be married. He was also survived by his mother, his sister and his niece.

Following Constable Sonnenberg‘s death, his sister Lisa Stinson led a campaign to raise funds for a police helicopter. Because of her efforts, the Calgary Police Service acquired an MD 520N, known as HAWC1, in July 1995, and HAWC2 in April 2005.

The Hangar Z Podcast wishes to thank sponsors Garmin, SHOTOVER, and Metro Aviation.

Episode 113- A Peek into Law Enforcement Aviation with The Calgary Police Service Part I Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to episode 113 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.

In this two-part series, host Jon Gray sits down with Derek, Kyle and Tanya from the Calgary Police Service aviation unit, referred to as the HAWCS program. HAWCS stands for helicopter air watch for community safety.

During this episode we have an opportunity to profile their careers, talk about the Calgary Police Service broadly and get into some of the technology that makes their program successful and efficient.

This episode piggybacks off an article written by Jen Nevans in June 2023 and published in Vertical Valor magazine. Within the article, you will find lots of multimedia content, including photos and video.

The Hangar Z Podcast encourages everyone to familiarize themselves with sponsors who have made this episode possible. Thank you to Metro Aviation, SHOTOVER, and Garmin. We appreciate all you have done for The Hangar Z Podcast and public safety.

Episode 112- From F-18 Pilots to Flight Surgeons: Insights from Wingman Med Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to episode 112 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.

In this two-part series, we sit down with Dr. Keith Roxo and Dr. Dan Monlux, who founded Wingman Med. They are both F/A-18 pilots turned board-certified aerospace medicine physicians.

Roxo is a Top Gun-trained adversary pilot turned aerospace medicine physician with over 2,000 hours in high-performance aircraft including the F/A-18, F-16, and F-5. He holds multiple military flight instructor qualifications, an airline transport pilot certificate and CFII. He is board-certified in aerospace and occupational medicine and is an FAA senior HIMS AME. Roxo provides aviation medical consulting with Wingman Med.

Monlux is an FAA senior HIMS AME who is board-certified in family medicine and aerospace medicine. He has helped thousands to maintain their flight medicine certifications. He started his career in the U.S. Navy and has more than 2500 flight hours including combat service in the F/A-18. A commercial pilot for more than 20 years, he is also a certified flight instructor for single-engine, multi-engine and instrument flight.

During our conversation, we profile their careers and talk about Wingman Med and how they keep you flying.

After years of helping friends and colleagues keep their medical certificates and stay in the air, they founded Wingman Med so they can do the same thing for you. One thing we know as career pilots is that our medical certificate is critical to our careers. As pilots, they understand the imperative of maintaining your FAA medical certificate and the urgency of getting it back when you lose it.

This is a fun and informative conversation with Dr. Keith Roxo and Dr. Dan Monlux. After you finish the podcast check out their website for more information at www.wingmanmed.com
Thank you to our sponsors SHOTOVER, Metro Aviation, and Garmin.

Episode 111- The Helicopter Podcast Takeover Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to episode 111 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.

In this episode, host Jon Gray celebrates the 50th episode of The Helicopter Podcast with Halsey Schider.

To mark the occasion, Gray takes over The Helicopter Podcast to interview Schider.

Gray has been working behind the scenes and on the mic to help build MHM Publishing’s new Vertical Helicasts podcast network.

Like Hangar Z, The Helicopter Podcast is also a proud member of the Vertical Helicasts family. The Helicopter Podcast features guests from every segment from within helicopter aviation.

Schider is an engaging host who delivers casual conversations, answers questions, gives sound advice and talks shop with his guests. The Helicopter Podcast is produced by helicopter professionals for all types of helicopter people.

Schider started his aviation journey at age 14, when he joined the Civil Air Patrol. Eighteen years later, after having had the opportunity to fly in all kinds of different helicopter operations, including emergency medical services, his passion for aviation (specifically helicopters) is stronger than ever.

Schider has also always had an entrepreneurial spirit, starting his first business at age 12 by mowing lawns. You will enjoy getting to know him during this interview. To listen to The Helicopter Podcast, visit the show page on the Vertical Helicasts website.

The Hangar Z Podcast is proud to thank its sponsors, who have made this episode possible. Thank you to sponsors Garmin, SHOTOVER and Metro Aviation.

Episode 110- Launching a New Aviation Program With Bell's Terry Miyauchi Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to episode 110 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.

This is an episode recorded from the floor at the ECHO Public Safety Aviation Conference in San Diego. Host Jon Gray had another opportunity to sit down with Bell’s Terry Miyauchi to discuss what it takes to establish a new public safety aviation unit.

Miyauchi’s aviation career spans more than 30 years, where he served both as an Army aviator and as a law enforcement pilot. Miyauchi's public safety career culminated as commander of the Arizona Department of Public Safety Aviation Unit, where he led a unit of over 65 personnel and a fleet of 14 aircraft.

Currently, Miyauchi works for Bell as the company’s public safety segment manager, which takes him all over the world talking to various agencies in different states of development. His experience in this role gives him the unique ability to speak to the subject of new unit start-ups.

To find more information on Bell and the resources they have available visit www.bell.co/publicsafety

The Hangar Z Podcast would like to thank sponsors Garmin, SHOTOVER and CNC Technologies.

Episode 109- Airborne Use of Force with Texas DPS Lieutenant Cody Klaehn Part III Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to episode 109 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.

Thanks for joining us for part three of our conversation with Lt Cody Klaehn from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

In this episode, we talk about the equipment Texas DPS is using for its airborne use of force program as we continue the conversation on airborne use of force.

Lt Klaehn is a Texas native who joined the Marine Corp before joining Texas DPS.

He worked the highway as a patrol officer for 10 years, before he was selected to the Driver License Fraud Unit, stationed in Austin. He was later promoted to the Criminal Investigation Division as a sergeant in Narcotics and stationed in Laredo with the Drug Intelligence Unit.

Lt Klaehn served on and off the SWAT team for approximately 12 years, during which time he advanced through various positions within the SWAT Team.

From there, Lt Klaehn transferred to the Texas DPS Training Academy in Austin as a recruit school instructor in Austin. He was selected as one of two lieutenant team leaders for the Texas Ranger SWAT team.

In 2011, Lt Klaehn transferred from the SWAT team to DPS Aircraft in 2011 and presently works as a training lieutenant for tactical flight officers (TFOs). He is one of two Special Mission instructors for the DPS Aircraft Division and is the lead instructor for Airborne Use of Force for Texas DPS.

As you will find out, Lt Klaehn continues to develop and adapt the Airborne Use of Force Program for the current situations facing law enforcement today.
If you get a chance to talk to CNC Technologies, and go through their social media, you will see they have a hand in developing the mission suites for Texas DPS’s new aircraft, so it’s awesome that they are sponsoring this episode of the Hangar Z podcast, along with our friends and sponsors Metro Aviation and SHOTOVER.

Episode 108- Airborne Use of Force with Texas DPS Lieutenant Cody Klaehn Part II Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to episode 108 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.

Thanks for joining us to continue this conversation with Lt Cody Klaehn from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).

In this episode, Lt Klaehn debriefs an inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC) incident he was a part of as a tactical flight officer (TFO). We also continue the conversation on airborne use of force.

Lt Klaehn is a Texas native who joined the Marine Corp before joining Texas DPS.

Lt Klaehn served on and off the SWAT team for approximately 12 years, during which time he advanced through various positions within the SWAT Team.

In 2011, Lt Klaehn transferred from the SWAT team to DPS Aircraft in 2011 and presently works as a training lieutenant for TFOs. He is one of two Special Mission instructors for the DPS

Aircraft Division and is the lead instructor for Airborne Use of Force for Texas DPS.

As you will find out, Lt Klaehn continues to develop and adapt the Airborne Use of Force Program for the current situations facing law enforcement today.

We have a new sponsor that we are excited to announce. Thank you, Garmin for your support and for becoming a sponsor of The Hangar Z Podcast. “I have been a big fan of Garmin products for a long time so this is exciting,” said host Jon Gray.

Without your support, and the support of our friends at Metro Aviation, SHOTOVER, and CNC Technologies this podcast would not be possible.

Episode 107- Airborne Use of Force with Texas DPS Lieutenant Cody Klaehn Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to episode 107 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.

In this three-part series, we sit down with Lt. Cody Klaehn, from the Texas Department of Public Safety Aircraft Division.

Cody is a Texas native who joined the Marine Corp before joining Texas DPS

Cody worked the highway as a patrol officer for ten years, before he was selected to the Driver License Fraud Unit stationed in Austin. He was later promoted to the Criminal Investigation Division as a Sgt in Narcotics and stationed in Laredo with the Drug Intelligence Unit.

Welcome to episode 107 of The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts.

In this three-part series, we sit down with Lieutenant Cody Klaehn from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Aircraft Division.

Lt Klaehn is a Texas native who joined the Marine Corps before beginning his work with Texas DPS.

He worked the highway as a patrol officer for 10 years before he was selected to the Driver License Fraud Unit, stationed in Austin. He was later promoted to the Criminal Investigation Division as a sergeant in narcotics and was stationed in Laredo with the Drug Intelligence Unit.

Lt Klaehn served on and off the SWAT team for approximately 12 years, during which time he advanced through various positions within the SWAT Team.

From there he transferred to the Texas DPS Training Academy in Austin as a recruit school instructor.

Lt Klaehn was selected as one of the two lieutenant team leaders for the Texas Ranger SWAT team.

In 2011, he transferred from the SWAT team to DPS Aircraft and presently works as a training lieutenant for tactical flight officers.

Lt Klaehn is one of two special mission instructors for the DPS Aircraft Division. He is also the lead instructor for Airborne Use of Force for Texas DPS.

As you will find out, Lt Klaehn continues to develop and adapt the Airborne Use of Force Program for situations facing law enforcement today.

A very big thank you to our sponsors Metro Aviation, SHOTOVER, and CNC Technologies.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected