Priority 1 Air Rescue - high quality helicopter rescue and special operations training

First Rescue for Placer County Sheriff

(Dec 2010) The Placer County Sheriffs Office recently used their newly acquired Eurocopter Astar B3 helicopter and its increased capabilities to perform their first hoist rescue. The unit had taken delivery of the new aircraft in December of 2009 and spent the next several months becoming familiar with the new aircraft and its equipment, while also waiting for a retrofit part on the Goodrich hoist, before becoming operational to perform live rescues in mid November.

On December 22nd 2010, the Sheriffs Office received a report of a missing skier from the Sugar Bowl area. The skier had been missing since the day before, when he failed to return home. His vehicle was located in the resort parking lot and a search effort was organized. The man was thought to have skied out of bounds on the backside of the resort, which is a very remote area, with lots of rugged terrain. The temperature overnight was in the low teens and another weather system was moving in rapidly, with snow accumulations in excess of a foot expected.

As part of the initial search effort, the Nordic Ski Team had located a set of ski tracks in the out of bounds area. The area where the tracks were located was given to the crew of the Sheriffs Office rescue helicopter that had also responded to the area. The crew of three followed the tracks from the air for well over fifteen miles, until the skier was located traveling uphill, near a ridge at almost 7500 feet elevation. The skier was contacted via the PA system and it was determined he did not have any serious injuries. The ridge he had made it to was to narrow to attempt a landing and the backside of the ridge presented a very serious avalanche threat, were he to attempt to ski to the bottom.

With weather rapidly deteriorating in the area, the decision was made by the crew to perform a hoist recovery of the skier. The crew consisted of Deputy Ashley Smentek and Deputy Josh Shelton, both EMTs and Rescue Specialists for the Air Support Unit. Deputy Smentek was lowered down the hoist cable, while Deputy Shelton verbally guided the aircraft to the proper location and functioned as the Systems Operator, running the hoist system. The pilot, Sgt. Van Bogardus, held the aircraft steady while facing steady 30 MPH winds, with gusts up to 50 MPH. Once on the ground, in waist deep snow, the skier was secured in a rescue sling and both the skier and Deputy Smentek were hoisted together back into the aircraft. During the hoist it had begun snowing and the increased cloud cover in the area made it necessary for the crew to return with the man to their home base, the Auburn airport, where he was checked by medical personnel. He was suffering from moderate hypothermia, dehydration and exhaustion and was wet from his numerous river crossings. His condition would have likely worsened had he been left in the elements again overnight. It was unlikely that ground search teams would have located him before nightfall, based on the distance he had covered while lost.

The crew attributes a large part of their success to having the proper equipment and training to perform this rescue. The county had acquired the new aircraft after an exhaustive study was conducted and it was determined that to continue to operate safely in the environment that the county has, the military surplus OH-58 was no longer the safest aircraft for attempting search and limited rescue functions. The new helicopter was completed by Hangar 1 Avionics in Carlsbad CA and included state of the art equipment and modifications to allow it to perform in this environment. Full interior and exterior NVG compatible cockpit lighting allow the crews to perform rescues at night, something the other helicopters in the region are not currently capable of performing.

In late November, the Air Support Unit had completed twelve days of intensive hoist and short-haul training, provided by Priority 1 Air Rescue. The training consisted of multiple scenarios the crews would likely face, including night operations, cliff rescues as well as swiftwater rescue applications. The crews are now all FAA Class D certified for human external loads and credit the training they received to the successful outcome of their first hoist rescue. Having little knowledge base as a unit in these types of rescue scenarios, Priority 1 Air Rescue provided training at the crawl, walk, run, pace required to bring the unit up to full rescue capable status and match their crew capabilities with the aircraft capabilities. The foundation provided by the outstanding instructors employed by Priority 1 Air Rescue helped set the proper safety environment and mindset needed to attempt these types of rescues. The instructors were all skilled operators in their former employment, with varied backgrounds and a deep knowledge base. They truly epitomize the high degree of professionalism found in any professional airborne rescue organization and bring that knowledge and experience with them to training.

Knowing the basic knowledge and skill level we had before they came and the long list of training demands we had for them, it is remarkable the progress we made in the amount of time we had to complete it, says Deputy Smentek. I know our success was a combination of having the right personnel and attitudes within the unit, having the right equipment to perform these missions and having outstanding instructors, provided by Priority 1 Air Rescue. The end result of this was being able to perform a rescue that just one year prior, would have been impossible.

Era Helicopters LLC and Prioriity 1 Air Rescue Establish Joint Commercial Search and Rescue (SAR) Training Center

(July 12, 2010) Era Helicopters and Priority 1 Air Rescue (P1AR) announced today they have launched a joint Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) Training School - the first ever established in North America solely dedicated to train commercial, law enforcement and foreign military aviation professionals and their aircrews in performing Helicopter SAR and HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Service).

The Era-P1AR SAR Training Center now offers an extensive array of standardized advanced Helicopter SAR training courses, which safely and effectively trains and integrates Pilots and SAR crew members into a highly cohesive and operational SAR team capable of accomplishing inland or offshore rescues.

The Era-P1AR SAR Training Center key curriculum courses include:

Class D Human External Cargo Initial Helicopter Hoist Rescue
Night Vision Goggle Hoist Rescue
Offshore Vessel/Ocean Hoist Rescue
Special Operations & Tactical Training
Advanced Rescue Swimmer School
Ground Technical Rescue
Mountain/Cliff Hoist Rescue
Helicopter Underwater Egress & Aviation Survival
Swift-Water Rescue
EMT/Air Medical Program
Shorthaul Rescue

P1AR's full-time SAR Instructors have extensive SAR experience in hoist rescue, offshore rescue swimmer operations, maritime vessel hoisting and mountain cliff rescue.

Neill Osborne, President of Era Helicopters, stated, Era and Priority 1 Air Rescue recently teamed together to jointly launch offshore Search and Rescue (SAR) and EMS operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Both companies complement each other. P1AR brings a wealth of hoisting and SAR experience and an excellent cadre of SAR instructors., Combined with Eras well-trained flight crews, flight simulators and latest technology SAR-equipped AW-139s, we are confident that the Era-P1AR SAR Training School will become the premier commercial SAR training source.

Era Training Center holds a CFR part 142 Certificate designating it as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Approved Training Center. The Center trains a diverse array of pilots from corporate aircraft providers, helicopter emergency medical flight services, airborne law-enforcement personnel, offshore operators, government entities and other rotorcraft professionals.

Another unique aspect of Era-P1AR SAR Training School is its Rescue Swimmer Training Course. No other commercial school teaches the methods and capabilities practiced by US Coast Guard & US Navy Rescue Swimmer SAR programs. Era-P1AR SAR Training School offers a two-week intensive standardization course for prior qualified rescue swimmers, and a six-week course is offered for those individuals going through the initial Rescue Swimmer course to perform advanced ocean SAR. Both courses are physically demanding and are designed to provide students with the necessary core swimmer skills to accomplish multiple open water rescues, free-fall/helocasting, direct deployments to offshore rigs, open water insertion, open ocean free swim, escapes and releases, patient packaging and maritime vessel rescues.

The establishment of this joint SAR Training School symbolizes a significant step forward in standardizing Search and Rescue operations on a global level by offering customers customized and comprehensive helicopter SAR and Emergency Medical Services training to specifically meet their mission requirements, said Brad Matheson, President of Priority 1 Air Rescue. We are excited to jointly put forth this SAR Training School with Era Helicopters.

For additional information, contact Paul White, Era Training Center at +1 (337) 656-4200 or by email at pwhite@eratrainingcenter.com or Mark "Roscoe" Torres at Priority 1 Air Rescue at +1 (480) 621-6023 or email at marktorres@priority1airrescue.com.

Priority 1 Air Rescue Completes Bell 429 Hoist Search and Rescue Configuration Milestone

Mirabel, Canada (Feb 2010) - Priority 1 Air Rescue and Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited successfully completed the design engineering and Human External Cargo (HEC) load flight testing on Bell Helicopter's new 429 in a search-and-rescue (SAR) configuration.

The 429 used in the testing was configured with specialized SAR equipment, including the 600-lb two- person-rated Goodrich hoist. Completing this joint SAR design required Priority 1 Air Rescue and Bell design engineers and flight test pilots in Mirabel to work together to successfully integrate P1AR's operational user input with OEM engineering design to develop a fully functional SAR platform.

"Priority 1 Air Rescue is very well respected throughout the aviation community as the leader in hoist rescue operational training and program support", Bell 429 Program Director Neil Marshall said. "Their operational hoisting expertise and input were valued by our design engineers. Priority 1 Air Rescue was instrumental in enhancing the 429's hoist mount design and SAR cabin configuration layout for safe and effective hoist rescue operations."

The demonstrated hoist rescue capabilities now position the Bell 429 helicopter as a major contender in the SAR/Law Enforcement aviation market by offering federal, state and local governmental agencies as well as commercial operators a diverse range of operational support capabilities, including inland and maritime SAR, Homeland Security missions, military and law enforcement insertion/extraction, marijuana eradication support, border and maritime patrol, flood rescue, and industry utility work.

Priority 1 Air Rescue President Brad Matheson stated, "The Bell 429 is very well suited for search and rescue and multi-mission emergency response and possesses two exceptional operational attributes. The aircraft has a very large cabin and a well placed hoist boom mount that allows the hoist system operator to safely transition patient litters or SAR personnel into the cabin door with minimal effort and time. Secondly, there also exists a very predictable and stable rotor wash below the aircraft while hoisting, which makes the rescue specialist's job safer and easier."

Under agreement with Bell and Goodrich Hoist Systems, P1AR will provide FAA-approved Part 133 Class D Rescue Hoist Training as well as provide Goodrich directed Basic Field Hoist Maintenance and Organizational Level (O-Level) maintenance training to Bell 429 and Goodrich Hoist customers worldwide.

Priority 1 Air Rescue Provides Advanced Helicopter Search and Rescue Training

for North Carolina State Highway Patrol

(Nov 2009) Priority 1 Air Rescue has completed Inland SAR training with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) which included initial Class B External Rotorcraft Load and Helicopter Short-Haul Rescue in their recently acquired Bell 407. Completion of Priority 1 Air Rescue's Advanced Mission training syllabus provides NCSHP with the capability to conduct remote access insertion of law enforcement officers to conduct counter drug/eradication and tactical missions, helicopter Search and Rescue for stranded or injured civilians, and provide flood and post-hurricane disaster relief rescue operations.

Priority 1 Air Rescue Lead Instructor, Craig Tavares stated, "The leadership and professionalism exhibited from both the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and the Raleigh Fire Department show a strong example of effective emergency service interoperability and support for the Helicopter Search and Rescue operations. This was more evident during training as remnants of Tropical Storm "Ida" blended with an area of low pressure off the North Carolina coast, bringing several inches of rain and flash flood watches throughout the state. Both the NCSHP and the Raleigh Fire Task Force 8 Personnel quickly obtained a better appreciation of the conditions that they will most likely be called upon to perform rescues of victims in flood affected areas."

Priority 1 Air Rescue NCSHP Pilots received Part 133 Class B Rotorcraft External Load flight training by a Priority 1 Air Rescue Bell 407 Class B/D Certified Flight Instructor. Inland SAR Scenario training culminates all 9 modules provided in the training syllabus and tested both NCSHP and Raleigh Fire Rescue's clinical judgment and SAR mission capabilities while placing them in a controlled challenging situation.

Priority 1 Air Rescue Instructor Bob Watson states, "Our SAR scenarios integrated the proper use of rescue and fall restraint equipment with all rescue skills acquired and practiced during training while additionally combining systematic SAR mission planning from the beginning to the mission end - this further built up their confidence and trust in each other's capabilities in responding to future called upon SAR cases."

NCSHP selected Priority 1 Air Rescue among the competition due to several factors, Priority 1 Air Rescue's Part 133 Class D Training Courses are FAA approved, and exceed the NIMS Functional/Operational requirements, and meets and exceeds existing Fire Service requirements.

About Priority 1 Air Rescue

Priority 1 Air Rescue, commonly referred to as the One Stop SAR Shop is solely focused on Helicopter SAR and is a proven industry-leader providing FAA approved Helicopter Rescue Training, Helicopter Search and Rescue Products, and total SAR program support services. Its Class D Human External Cargo Hoist Rescue Training has been provided to more than 900 SAR Pilots, Rescue Technicians and SAR Aircrew worldwide in all environments from the South America jungles to the Middle Eastern deserts, atop the Canadian mountains, over the Pacific Ocean and to the extreme frigid Alaskan Interior.

Priority 1 Air Rescue has extensive experience on all types of Agusta, Eurocopter, Sikorsky, MDHI, and Bell Helicopters providing mission training on all facets of Emergency Response and Special Operations.

Priority 1 Air Rescue and State of Delaware SAR Interoperability Success

(Sept 2009) Priority 1 Air Rescue recently completed Class D Helicopter Rescue Hoist Training for State of Delaware inter-agency personnel rising from the Delaware State Police Aviation Unit, DNREC and the Delaware Fire Service. Training was concluded with a first-of-its-kind major SAR interoperability exercise in the State of Delaware by testing these interagency assets all working together while responding to a major incident aboard a Supertanker in anchorage in the Delaware Bay.

With the Delaware State Police's mission of providing Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, and EMS service to the state and its people, in January 2008, the Delaware State Police received Trooper-6 Heavy, a Bell 412-EP helicopter fully equipped for overwater SAR and Medevac response, and placed it into service to augment the DSP's fleet of three Bell 407's. With the State of Delaware's jurisdiction extending out to significant bodies of open water, DSP found themselves involved with more and more water search and rescue operations. This increased over-the-water operation was one of the justifications for adding the twin engine 412 helicopter equipped with flotation and a 600 pound capacity rescue hoist. Needing to find a sound rescue hoist training program, DSP then partnered with Priority 1 Air Rescue, a leading expert in the field of Part 133 Class D HEC Rescue Hoist Training as well as SAR Interoperability programs, to provide all of the training necessary to qualify personnel to conduct overland, overwater and vessel rescue hoisting.

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Priority 1 Air Rescue assists King County Sherrifs with

Rescue of 2 Stranded Hikers off Mount Si

(July 2009) While conducting NVG Rescue Hoist Training for King County Sheriffs, their emergency services dispatch requested an immediate launch of the King County Sheriff's SAR aircraft to locate and rescue 2 teenage hikers that had wandered off the Mount Si hiking trail and had inadvertently got stranded on a precarious steep outcropping of loose shale.

King County and Priority 1 Air Rescue's crew quickly launched, arrived on scene and located the distressed hikers by obtaining cell phone triangulation with the assistance of the local phone company. Ken O'Niel, pilot in command, hovered the helo as close as possible to the outcropping, while the Priority1 Air Rescue System Operator lowered and slowly swung the King County Sheriffs Rescue Specialist to where the 2 hikers were perched. The Rescue Specialist using the rescue capture strap quickly secured the first hiker and quickly hoisted him to safety. The same Rescue Specialist was then hoist delivered to the ledge and safely rescued the second teenage hiker using the victim set harness. The crew safely departed the area and flew the 2 hikers to an awaiting ground ambulance where medical personnel checked their condition and released them.

Keith Potter, King County Sheriff's SIC stated, "This rescue would not have been attempted a few years back without the excellent FAA Part 133 Class D HEC Mountain Rescue Hoist Training we received from Priority 1 Air Rescue. We are fortunate to have had Priority 1 Air Rescue here this week providing NVG Rescue Hoist Training for our unit when this emergency call came. The Priority 1 Air Rescue Class D HEC hoist training we received coupled with their hoist checklists, proper rescue equipment and standardized hoisting terminology was truly instrumental in this successful rescue."

About Priority 1 Air Rescue

Priority 1 Air Rescue & Delaware State Police Establish

Statewide Multi-Agency SAR Emergency Response Program

(July 2009) Priority 1 Air Rescue has completed training and certification for 32 SAR Pilots, Hoist System Operators, and Rescue Specialists establishing the most comprehensive state-wide multi-agency SAR/Medevac response program for the State of Delaware. The Delaware State Police (DSP) selected Priority 1 Air Rescue to train and integrate DSP Troopers with rescue personnel from Wilmington Police Department, Sussex County Paramedics, Wilmington Fire Department, Middleton Fire Department, and Dover City Fire Department.

Delaware State Police's new Bell 412EP has proven SAR versatility as an inland and maritime rescue platform with the Goodrich Rescue Hoist and an air medevac platform with the installed Life-Port Medical Interior. With DSP's emergency response jurisdiction extending throughout the state to include State waters of the Delaware Bay, Priority 1 Air Rescue's training and SAR exercises consisted of overland hoisting in confined wooded/forested areas, ocean rescue, maritime vessel hoisting, and helo-cast insertion to rescue distress personnel in the water.

Will Milam (Priority 1 Air Rescue Instructor ) stated, "Priority 1 Air Rescue is very honored to have been considered an integral component of the Delaware Statewide Interagency SAR/Medevac Program while providing a comprehensive partnership". We continue to have the opportunity to work with exceptional aircrews from the DSP and other state Fire and Rescue agencies - the SAR Interoperability exhibited by the State of Delaware rescue agencies with the DSP Troopers proves to be a truly unique and successful example of effective emergency service inter-operability. Their program serves as an accomplished and fiscally efficient model for other agencies to strive for as all of the participants share the same common objectives - save life and property while serving and protecting the community.

Era Helicopters and Priority 1 Air Rescue Services Announce New SAR/Medevac Services

(June 2009) Era Helicopters LLC (Era) and Priority 1 Air Rescue Inc. (P1AR) announced today the implementation of a teaming arrangement to jointly provide Search and Rescue and Medical Evacuation (SAR/Medevac) operations in the Gulf of Mexico and abroad.

Together, Era and P1AR are now offering FAA-approved full-service SAR/Medevac capability and turnkey solutions to offshore Oil & Gas companies. The P1AR crews including pilots, hoist operators, rescue swimmers and flight paramedics will supplement Era's state-of-the-art AW-139 and EC-225 helicopters dedicated to the program. These aircraft types have flight performance capabilities to execute deepwater maritime SAR/Medevac operations at distances up to 250 nautical miles offshore.

This innovative service capability was jointly developed and initiated recently when P1AR completed its Class D Human External Cargo rescue training for Era at the Era Training Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana. "The introduction of this type of service symbolizes a significant step forward in operational safety in the Gulf of Mexico by offering customers the availability of an incredibly comprehensive helicopter SAR/Medevac service to facilitate emergency response", said P1AR lead SAR crewman Bob Watson.

"P1AR brings a wealth of hoisting and rescue experience to combine with Era's well-trained flight crews and latest technology SAR-equipped AW-139s and EC-225s", stated David Stepanek, Era Helicopters, Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer. "We are pleased to join with P1AR to provide SAR/Medevac and hoisting service to the Oil & Gas market or wherever these services are needed."

The P1AR SAR aircrews are trained and certified with United States National Registry Paramedic licenses to the highest national and international rescue and aviation standards, and are also multi-disciplined as hoist operators, helicopter rescue swimmers, and paramedics, also capable of providing ground-based technical rescue support for high angle rope rescue, worker entrapment and confined space rescue support on various oil platforms and vessels.

Priority 1 Air Rescue Provides Shanghai Police Aviation Unit Helicopter SAR Training

(April 2009)Priority 1 Air Rescue out of Mesa Arizona recently completed a two week advanced helicopter training program providing Eurocopter and the Shanghai Aviation Police Force with Advanced Helicopter Rescue Hoist Training, Search and Rescue (SAR) Fundamentals and Planning, and Goodrich Factory-Approved Hoist Maintenance Training.

The Shanghai Police Aviation Unit under the Shanghai Public Security Bureau recently took delivery of the Eurocopter EC-155 Helicopter to accomplish operational missions to include security, surveillance, and inland/offshore SAR missions. The combination of the EC-155s speed, flight performance, versatility and large cabin space makes the aircraft an excellent platform for both inland and maritime SAR Operations.

Priority 1 Air Rescue President Mr. Brad Matheson states "Priority 1 Air Rescue is privileged to have been selected and given the opportunity to train the Shanghai Police Aviation Force and further their SAR capabilities. The Shanghai Police Force pilots and aircrew are exceptionally dedicated to their mission and committed to saving lives and we are honored to have trained them for this endeavor.

Priority 1 Air Rescue provided the complete Turn-key mission package needed to get Shanghai Police SAR operational - this included FAA approved Advanced Mission Hoist Rescue SAR training, SAR mission equipment, EC-155 SAR aircraft configuration, Goodrich Factory Approved Rescue Hoist Maintenance Inspection Training, Training and SAR Operational Manuals, Maritime SAR Planning, Pilot External Load, and On-line Virtual Web Training.

Priority 1 Air Rescue Announces Kern County Sherriff's Air Unit Ready for Operational SAR Missions

Bakersfield CA (Dec 2008) Kern County Sherriff's Office Air Support Unit, of Bakersfield California, recently took delivery of their Bell HUEY II Helicopter and assumed SAR Ready - Operational status after successfully completing helicopter hoist rescue training from Priority 1 Air Rescue based out of Mesa Arizona. Priority 1 Air Rescue President Mr. Brad Matheson states that he feels privileged to be selected by Kern County Sherriff's Office after a thorough and complete selection process determined that Priority 1 Air Rescue offered the overall best value and capability for Kern County.

Priority 1 Air Rescue provided the complete mission package needed to get Kern County operational this included FAA approved Advanced Mission Hoist Rescue SAR training, SAR mission equipment, HUEY II SAR aircraft configuration, Goodrich Rescue Hoist maintenance inspection training, Rescue Hoisting SOPs, SAR Scenario Flight Exercises, and Virtual Web Training. This coupled with Priority 1 Air Rescue's highly experienced SAR Instructors and impressive resume of past Rescue Hoist trained customers on similar helicopter rescue programs solidified the selection.

On Sunday January 17^th at approximately 11:00 p.m. Kern County Sheriff's dispatch received a report of three missing motorcyclists lost in the vast Piute Mountain area east of Lake Isabella. The group reportedly had no provisions and had been missing since early Saturday afternoon. Kern County Sheriff's Air-1 helicopter responded to the area and using night vision goggles located the group along a rocky stream in the rugged Kelso Creek area. There were no access roads and no place for the helicopter to land. Local temperatures were in the 30s with 6-12 inches of snow on the ground. Kern County Sheriff's Rescue Helicopter Air-5 arrived shortly after and hoisted Sergeant Tim Melanson down to the group. The riders reported that shortly after dark, they became disoriented and crashed their motorcycles several times trying to find their way off the mountain. Sergeant Melanson and his crewmembers hoisted the group to safety and flew them to awaiting ground Search and Rescue members in nearby Weldon.

Priority 1 Air Rescue Congratulates the Mexican Government State of Tabasco Air Rescue Unit

for the Public Service 2007 Above and Beyond the Call Award

During this mission, the crew rescued over 400 hundred people from the Tabasco, Mexico floods.

Capt. Raul Lozano Tellez, Capt. Ivan Valencia Reyes, Capt. Enrique Velazquez Gonzalez, Paramedic Victor Figueroa Corchado, Paramedic Adrian Rivera Padron, Paramedic Fausto Valdes Becerra, Paramedic Noe Vilchis Lopez, Hoist Operator Mario Martinez Garcia, and Aviation Maintenance Technician Rogelio Sanabria Piña.