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 54 - Small Town, Big Missions: A closer look into Big Bear Fire Aviation Part 2
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Welcome back to the Valor Flight Crew Podcast, hosted by ECHO and brought to you by Vertical HeliCASTS and Valor Plus.
In this episode, we sit down with Ken Fox from Big Bear Fire Department for a grounded, real-world conversation about emergency medical services (EMS), aviation, and the communities we serve. From the challenges of aircraft operations in a small, seasonal, tourist town to the life-saving impact of air medical partnerships, Ken shares the realities of delivering critical care where resources are limited but expectations are high.
We talk about the importance of strong relationships between ground and air crews, the evolving balance between scene responses and inter-facility transfers, and how innovations like prehospital blood products are changing patient outcomes. Ken also opens up about the ongoing struggles with retention and burnout in EMS—and why community connection, outreach, and education are more important than ever.
It’s a conversation about teamwork, trust, and the constant push to move patients faster, safer, and smarter—without losing sight of the people behind the mission.
So strap in, check your gauges, and join us as we lift off into another story from the front lines of public safety aviation.
Thank you to our sponsors Airbus, Metro Aviation and Precision Aviation Group.