The Hangar Z Podcast

Welcome to this special joint episode of the Hangar Z Podcast and the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, brought to you by HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus.
In this special episode, Jon Gray of Hangar Z and Blake Shrider and Mike Fadale of the Valor Flight Crew, preview the 2026 ECHO Public Safety Aviation Conference.
High-quality public safety aviation training doesn’t need a massive price tag. The 2026 ECHO Public Safety Aviation Conference is heading to Philadelphia Sept. 20 to 23 at the Sheraton Downtown.
ECHO covers the full mission spectrum law enforcement aviation, helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), search-and-rescue, and aerial firefighting.
This year features over 50 breakout sessions, hands-on workshops like underwater egress and cadaver labs, and a dedicated 16-hour Airborne Tactical Solutions course jointly taught by Clay Lacey and Jack Schonely for aircrews and ground teams.
It’s practical, high-impact training—built by operators, for operators, and delivered at a price point agencies can support.
This conversation breaks down why ECHO stands apart: Operator-built training, real-world relevance, and a rare chance to learn across every mission set under one roof. From law enforcement aviation and search-and-rescue to aerial firefighting, EMS, and tactical operations, ECHO is designed for crews who want practical skills they can use back home.
You’ll discover:
What makes the Clay Lacey and Jack Shonely airborne tactical solutions course such a can't-miss opportunity;
How the breakout sessions expand into law enforcement, SAR, radio ops, human performance, leadership, and more;
Why the Future Flight Crew and Future Flight Leaders programs are becoming a pipeline for the next generation of aviation professionals; and
How FAST and the Safety Team are changing the way the industry supports crew wellness, resilience, and operational safety.
The conversation also covers the social side of ECHO in Philadelphia, including the welcome party, the 5K fundraiser, the down-for-weather bash, and why the city itself is worth an extra day or two. If you've never been to Philly, you'll get a few solid reasons to plan for more than conference hours—and maybe a cheesesteak or two.
Just as important, this episode makes the stakes clear: Public safety aviation is evolving fast, leadership gaps are real, and the industry needs better training, better mentorship, and better ways to take care of its people. ECHO is one of the few places where all of that comes together in a single week.
Essential listening if you're deciding whether to attend, bringing your team, or just want a clear picture of why so many crews call ECHO their favorite conference of the year.
Thank you to our sponsors CNC Technologies, Dallas Avionics and Metro Aviation.

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus. 
We're glad you're with us, because today we're pulling back the curtain on one of our favorite projects of the year—the 2026 Blades of Valor Tour through Florida.

For this special episode, we've brought together the entire team that made the tour possible. Joining us are editor-at-large and photographer Brent Bundy; photographer and videographer Scott Kellerman; my co-host, Jon Gray; and I'm Jack Schonely. Together, we travelled across the Sunshine State, visiting four outstanding aviation units to capture their stories through photography, print, video, and, of course, the Hangar Z Podcast.

Today, we're taking you behind the scenes to share what it really takes to produce a project like this. We'll talk about the incredible cooperation and hospitality we received from all four aviation units, the detailed planning and safety considerations behind coordinating air-to-air photo shoots, an unforgettable airboat ride through the Florida Everglades, and a few stories about the late nights—and plenty of laughs—we shared while staying together at a Vrbo in Clearwater.

If you've ever wondered what goes into creating the content you see in Vertical Valor magazine, on Hangar Z, and across our social media platforms, this episode is for you. So sit back, buckle up, and join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the 2026 Blades of Valor Tour.
To see the 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour videos, check out these links:
- Highlights from the 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour w/ The Hangar Z Podcast
- Blades of Valor - Leonardo AW139 – An in-flight podcast w/ Miami-Dade Fire Captain Jason Vanbuskirk
- Helicopter Walkaround: Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Bell 429 | 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour
- Helicopter Walkaround: U.S. Coast Guard’s MH-60T Jayhawk | 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour
- The Crew Behind Palm Beach Sheriff's Law Enforcement Helicopter Ops | 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour
- Helicopter Walkaround: Broward Sheriff Office’s Airbus H125 | 2026 Blades of Valor Roar Tour

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

Welcome back to the Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Valor Plus. 
We're glad you're with us, because today we're pulling back the curtain on one of our favorite projects of the year—the 2026 Blades of Valor Tour through Florida.

For this special episode, we've brought together the entire team that made the tour possible. Joining us are editor-at-large and photographer Brent Bundy; photographer and videographer Scott Kellerman; my co-host, Jon Gray; and I'm Jack Schonely. Together, we travelled across the Sunshine State, visiting four outstanding aviation units to capture their stories through photography, print, video, and, of course, the Hangar Z Podcast.

Today, we're taking you behind the scenes to share what it really takes to produce a project like this. We'll talk about the incredible cooperation and hospitality we received from all four aviation units, the detailed planning and safety considerations behind coordinating air-to-air photo shoots, an unforgettable airboat ride through the Florida Everglades, and a few stories about the late nights—and plenty of laughs—we shared while staying together at a Vrbo in Clearwater.

If you've ever wondered what goes into creating the content you see in Vertical Valor magazine, on Hangar Z, and across our social media platforms, this episode is for you. So sit back, buckle up, and join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the 2026 Blades of Valor Tour.
To see the 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour videos, check out these links:
- Highlights from the 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour w/ The Hangar Z Podcast
- Blades of Valor - Leonardo AW139 – An in-flight podcast w/ Miami-Dade Fire Captain Jason Vanbuskirk
- Helicopter Walkaround: Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Bell 429 | 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour
- Helicopter Walkaround: U.S. Coast Guard’s MH-60T Jayhawk | 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour
- The Crew Behind Palm Beach Sheriff's Law Enforcement Helicopter Ops | 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour
- Helicopter Walkaround: Broward Sheriff Office’s Airbus H125 | 2026 Blades of Valor Roar Tour

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

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

For this episode of Hangar Z, recorded live at APSCON 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, hosts Jon Gray and Jack Schonely sit down with Nicolas Ianiero, aircraft maintenance engineer with Canadian Helicopters supporting the York Regional Police Air Support Unit and the recipient of the 2026 APSA Technician of the Year Award.

Nicolas shares the journey that took him from aspiring pilot to licensed aircraft maintenance engineer, including his introduction to helicopter maintenance and the experiences that shaped his career. Along the way, he reflects on the value of mentorship, continuous learning, and embracing opportunities that weren't part of the original plan.

The conversation also explores the unique responsibility of supporting public safety aviation. Whether responding to missing persons, critical incidents, or life-saving missions, Nicolas explains how maintainers play a vital role long before an aircraft ever leaves the hangar. It's a perspective that highlights the dedication, professionalism, and quiet commitment behind every successful mission.

Congratulations to Nicolas on being recognized as the 2026 APSA Technician of the Year and thank you for sharing your story with the Vertical Plus community.

Thank you to our sponsors CENTUM, Onboard Systems Hoist & Winch and Quantum Helicopters.

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

This is a three-part podcast! Make sure you listen to all three.
Today, we're honored to welcome retired San Diego Police Department Chief Pilot Todd Jager. Todd is a true aviation professional with more than 10,000 hours of rotorcraft flight time, over 1,000 hours in fixed-wing aircraft, and more than 4,100 hours as a Tactical Flight Officer.

Throughout his remarkable career, Todd played a pivotal role in training both pilots and Tactical Flight Officers. Alongside his longtime partner, Kevin Means, he helped develop many of the FLIR tactics, techniques, Crew Resource Management principles, and operational procedures that have become standard practice for law enforcement aviation units around the world.
In this first episode, we discuss the importance of recording airborne incidents, how that capability evolved within the San Diego Police Department's Air Support Unit, and why those recordings have become such valuable tools for training, accountability, and learning.
We also take an in-depth look at aviation safety within a law enforcement aviation unit, with Todd sharing the lessons he's learned from decades of operational flying and leadership.

Todd takes us behind the scenes of the legendary San Diego tank pursuit. As the Tactical Flight Officer during the incident, he captured the entire 30-minute pursuit on video and shares the complete story—from what was happening in the aircraft to the critical decisions being made in real time.

Whether you're a pilot, Tactical Flight Officer, or simply fascinated by aviation and police operations, these are conversations you won't want to miss.

YouTube video clips courtesy of CBS 8 San Diego Evening News.  The full video can be watched here.
Thank you to our sponsors Onboard Systems Hoist and Winch, Robinson Helicopter and Spectrolab.