Valor Flight Crew
Produced in partnership with ECHO (Every Coast Helicopter Operations), the Valor Flight Crew Podcast promotes the personnel and life-saving equipment behind helicopter air ambulance services.
Join hosts Mike Fadale and Blake Shrider for in-depth interviews and expert insights from air medical personnel, pilots, communication specialists, and maintenance crews who play critical roles in airborne emergency response.
Both members of the ECHO team, Mike and Blake, have diverse backgrounds in public safety aviation and leadership, allowing them to bring unique perspectives and expertise to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast.
Valor Flight Crew
Episode 10 - Fit for Shift: What Pilots Wish Crews Knew (and Vice Versa!) Part 2
Welcome to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Vertical Valor Magazine.
In this episode of the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, Blake and Mike sit down with pilots Gene Reynolds and Matt Johnson for an honest, behind-the-scenes conversation about what really makes air ambulance operations run smoothly. It’s all about communication, trust, and teamwork — both in the cockpit and in the back of the aircraft.
They talk through everything from pre-flight briefings and sterile cockpit rules to the ‘Fit for Shift’ mindset that keeps everyone ready for whatever the mission throws at them. Gene and Matt share their take on how training isn’t just a checkbox — it’s something we all need to fully engage in so we’re sharp when it counts.
The crew also dives into the balancing act of managing equipment and weight on the aircraft. Turns out, every pound matters, and it takes solid communication between med crews and pilots to make sure we’re carrying what we need — and leaving behind what we don’t.
Weather challenges, IFR operations, and the pressures pilots face all get some airtime, too. The conversation touches on the cultural shift happening in aviation: focusing on patient care and crew safety over operational pressures. Whether you’re flying, treating, or supporting from the ground, this one’s packed with takeaways on how we can all work better together.
Thank you to our sponsors Precision Aviation Group, Spectrum Aeromed and Vertical Valor magazine.