The Hangar Z Podcast

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

Today, we are truly honored to be joined by Michael J. Durant—retired Chief Warrant Officer 4, Night Stalker, and MH-60 Black Hawk pilot—whose story is one of extraordinary courage, resilience, and unwavering determination.

In this episode, Mike takes us all the way back to his very first flight in a helicopter—the moment that sparked a passion and set the course for a remarkable career. Although he initially entered the U.S. Army as an intelligence officer, he never lost sight of his goal of becoming a pilot. He walks us through his journey into Army Aviation, including his time flying medical evacuation missions in South 
Korea and later serving with the 101st Aviation Battalion in Kentucky.

From there, we dive into his selection into the elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, where he deployed on high-risk missions as part of one of the most capable aviation units in the world.

Mike then shares the harrowing details of Oct. 3, 1993, when his Black Hawk was shot down over Mogadishu, Somalia. He recounts the heroic actions of Delta snipers Gary Gordon and Randy Shughart, whose sacrifice helped keep him alive, as well as his own fight for survival through severe injuries and 11 days of captivity.

We also explore the mindset that carried him through—how his training, mental toughness, faith, and personal philosophy, shaped his ability to endure and overcome one of the most intense combat survival stories in modern history.

Mike’s story is one of skill, courage, resolve, gratitude, and perseverance—these are episodes you will not want to miss.
Thank you to all our followers and our incredible sponsors for making conversations like this possible.

Thank you to our sponsors Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing, CNC Technologies and Rotorcraft Support Inc.

This episode of The Hangar Z Podcast is brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Valor Plus.

The Hangar Z Podcast welcomes Airborne Public Safety Association CEO/Executive Director Dan Schwarzbach, APSA President Dave Ellis and Broward Sheriff's Office Sergeant Paul Sada.

In this episode of The Hangar Z Podcast, we have the opportunity to talk about APSCON 2026 ahead of the July 13–17 conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 

During the conversation, we talk about what to expect at APSCON 2026, including the new Broward County Convention Center/Omni host hotel, the water-taxi-accessible campus, and the training and networking opportunities that will be a part of this year's must attend conference.

This year will sell out quickly, so do not wait to book your room and register for the conference at publicsafetyaviation.org
Thank you to our sponsors Precision Aviation Group, Summit Aviation and Spectrolab.

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 CENTUM, Metro Aviation and Summit Aviation.

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.