Priority 1 Air Rescue (P1AR) is at Heli-Expo 2013 celebrating the official opening of its world-class Search and Rescue–Tactical Training Academy (SART/TAC) in Mesa, Ariz. The 6,000-square-foot facility allows P1AR to provide a full spectrum of basic to advanced operational mission training solutions for commercial, government and military customers.
The first training academy of its kind, SART/TAC is dedicated to providing helicopter SAR and tactical mission aircrew training. Programs offered include Inland/Maritime Search and Rescue, Utility Industry Worker Placement and Emergency Evacuation, Military and Law Enforcement Tactical Operations, Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS), Basic Helicopter Aircrew, and Helicopter Under-Water Egress Training (HUET).
The SART/TAC facility employs a virtual hoist SAR/aerial gunnery synthetic training device, hoist procedural training tower, ALSE training area, fast-rope and rappel tower, Advanced Life Support synthetic medical training mannequins, maintenance training hoists, multi-media classrooms, and the utilization of a 28-lane Olympic-size swimming pool for HUET and Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Training programs. Classrooms are equipped with cutting-edge instructional technology and training aids including wireless interactive smart boards, student-configured Apple iPads, and a self-study computer lab room with access to custom-designed, web-based training courses. Prospective customers can take a virtual tour of the facility at the P1AR booth at Heli-Expo 2013.
According to P1AR president Brad Matheson, “In the past few years we have seen a marked increase in training demands from customers requiring greater program standardization, transition training for newly delivered SAR aircraft, night SAR mission training, and more advanced training for greater mission capability. SART/TAC gives us an unrivalled ability to provide our customers’ mission training needs.”
Patrick Dennis, P1AR’s senior vice president of training solutions, added, “With decreasing budgets, commercial and defense agencies worldwide are seeking more effective training to achieve greater mission capability and faster program implementation for their contracts, and gone are the days when even military units are afforded nine months to train one crewman in SAR.” P1AR achieves its customers goals through its breadth of experience and integration of new technology, and by taking a more commercial approach to fully train and certify aircrews. P1AR also has an operations division offering “plug-and-play” staffing, with qualified SAR/paramedic aircrews for commercial Federal Aviation Regulations Part 135 and government SAR medevac services all over the world. SART/TAC will also provide P1AR hoist system operators, rescue swimmers and rescue paramedics a dedicated facility to conduct initial and recurrent training in order to maintain a high degree of standardization and proficiency.
“Establishing this world-class training academy in Mesa, Ariz. is a significant progression for our industry and will further meet the ever-growing training demand for this essential mission capability,” Dennis said. “We are now also focusing on growth and development with the opening of an additional Search and Rescue–Tactical Training Academy within the European Union in 2013.”
Visit Priority 1 at Heli-Expo 2013, Booth N5012.
