Priority 1 Air Rescue (P1AR) was recently awarded a 5-year contract by the Arizona Department of Safety (AZ/DPS) to deliver multiple initial to advanced level synthetic and live flight training for all AZ/DPS Bell 429 SAR Pilots, Hoist System Operators, and Paramedic Rescue Specialists operating at their 3 aviation units in Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff.

The initial phase of the training is conducted at the P1AR Search and Rescue Tactical Training Academy (SART/TAC), beginning with instructor-led ground school and synthetic training utilizing P1AR’s Advanced Aircrew Mission Simulators (AAMS) and Hoist Procedural Towers (HPTs). P1AR SAR instructors then travel to the various AZ/DPS aviation facility locations to conduct the second phase of hoist training, conducting the live flight component, including basic hoist operations, helicopter swift-water rescue, vertical surface/cliff rescue, advanced NVG SAR mission, and then progress to scenario-based training in both day and night environments.

“We are honored to have been selected by the AZ/DPS to support their wide variety of lifesaving air ambulance and SAR missions throughout the State of Arizona,” stated P1AR Director of Training Jason Schelin. “P1AR has provided synthetic mission training since 2012 and live flight mission training for over 25 years. Conducting the initial phase of the ‘blended’ program with synthetic mission training utilizing our AAMS and HPT before their live flight phase significantly increases safety and student performance while providing our students a more comprehensive and progressive ‘crawl, walk, run’ paced course of learning. We look forward to continuing our solid relationship with the AZ/DPS, supporting their highly capable and indispensable lifesaving program in Arizona”.

About Priority 1 Air Rescue –
Priority 1 Air Rescue, commonly referred to as the “One Stop SAR Shop,” is solely focused on Helicopter Search and Rescue and Tactical Mission Training and Operations. With 25 years of experience, P1AR has provided industry-leading SAR and Tactical training to over 10,000 students worldwide. In addition to its full-time training and support staff, P1AR provides full-time Hoist System Operators, Helicopter Rescue Swimmers, and Flight Paramedics for SAR/ Medevac programs, providing 24/7, 365-day coverage on commercial SAR contracts worldwide.
The P1AR Search and Rescue Tactical Training Academy (SART/TAC) facilities are located in Mesa, Arizona, U.S., and Bordeaux, France. SAR/TAC develops and employs the latest Virtual Hoist SAR and Aerial Gunnery Synthetic Training Devices with hoists, M134, M240, GAU21 weapon platforms, and AUF helicopter sniper dome, and cockpits coupled with Hoist Procedural Towers, Fast-Rope and Rappel Towers, Multi-Media Classrooms, and EASA, FAA, TC compliant training programs for Helicopter Hoist Operations (HHO) and Human External Cargo (HEC).