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The Helicopter PodcastAuthor: Halsey Schider
Welcome to The Helicopter Podcast, with your host Halsey Schider!This podcast is for helicopter pilots, maintainers, and enthusiasts! Whether you've been in the industry for 30 years or are just someone that loves helicopters, this podcast is for you! The podcasts will feature guests from a wide array of industry sectors to have casual conversation, answer questions, give sound advice, and talk shop. Finally, a podcast produced by helicopter professionals for all types of helicopter people! Language: en-us Genres: Aviation, Business, Careers, Leisure Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Episode #152 - Flying Tours to Fighting Fire: Tony Melendrez - The Helicopter Podcast - Part II
Episode 152
Tuesday, 11 November, 2025
Send us a textWelcome 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 Helicopters, Vertical Aviation International and Airbus.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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