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Welcome to The Helicopter Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS!

In this two-part episode of The Helicopter Podcast, host Halsey Schider reconnects with his longtime friend Tony Melendrez, a former colleague from their Maverick Helicopters days. Tony shares his unconventional journey into aviation, sparked by a desire to blend his firefighting family background with helicopter flying. Tony’s path took him from flight school in California to tour flying in Myrtle Beach and the Grand Canyon. After five years at Maverick, Tony pursued his passion for heavy helicopters, flying Sikorsky S-61s overseas and later transitioning to firefighting with Croman Corporation. He discusses the challenges of moving from tours to utility and firefighting, emphasizing the importance of seizing opportunities and maintaining industry connections. Stay tuned for the next episode of The Helicopter Podcast to learn more about the day-to-day experience of a helicopter firefighter!

Thank you to our sponsors Robinson Helicopter, Hillsboro Heli Academy and Precision Aviation Group.

Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Helicopter Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!

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Welcome to The Helicopter Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS!

In this episode of The Helicopter Podcast, host Halsey Schider chats with Kelsey Hoogendoorn, an Arizona-based aviation enthusiast and certified helicopter flight instructor (CFI/CFII). Kelsey opens up about her deep-rooted passion for helicopters, sparked during her early days as an Operations Control Specialist (OCS) at Metro Aviation. Drawing on her Embry-Riddle University aeronautics background, and her experience supporting air medical missions, she highlights the critical role of OCSs in risk mitigation, weather analysis, and crew decision-making. Kelsey shares her pathway to becoming a helicopter CFI while navigating the reality of financing training and building hours. As a member of The 99s and Whirly Girls, she emphasizes mentorship, tenacity, and the value of non-linear paths in aviation.

If you'd like to ask questions or get in touch with Kelsey, find her on LinkedIn!

Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, Hillsboro Heli Academy and Enstrom Helicopter Corporation.

Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Helicopter Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!

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Welcome to the Vertical MRO Podcast, brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS, in partnership with Vertical Magazine.

In this episode of The Helicopter Podcast, host Halsey Schider engages with Tyson Phillips, co-founder of AT Systems and a seasoned Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk pilot with a diverse background in military medevac, military air assault and firefighting. Tyson shares compelling stories from his career, including personal encounters with spatial disorientation (SD) during deployments and tragic accidents that inspired his mission to address this issue.

Tyson breaks down the science behind SD and inadvertent entry into instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC), revealing how the brain's responses under stress lead to conflicting visual and vestibular signals. He critiques gaps in traditional training, like minimal hood time for helicopter pilots, and unveils AT Systems' solution to this: Their innovative, iPad-controlled view-limiting device, which simulates degraded visual environments in actual flight to train decision-making, instrument reliance, and recovery—incorporating non-rated crew members and scenario-based drills for real-world resilience.

To learn more about AT Systems, visit: http://atsystemsllc.com/

Special thanks to our sponsors, Robinson Helicopter, Hillsboro Heli Academy and Precision Aviation Group.

Listen closely for your chance to win awesome prizes from Heli Life! Throughout 2025, every episode of The Helicopter Podcast will reveal a secret word. Once you catch it, head to contests.verticalhelicasts.com to enter!