Emergency Services
The latest news and updates regarding airborne policing and aerial firefighting, as well as fixed-wing emergency rescue and relief
Emergency Services Headlines
Ten new Airbus H125s for US Customs and Border Protection
The helicopters will be used to strengthen the agency’s aerial capabilities, and support law enforcement and border security missions
10 Jul 2026
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Oliver Cuenca
Air Methods stations fixed-wing air ambulance in Omaha, Nebraska
The aircraft, which will operate under Air Methods’ LifeNet of the Heartland brand, will complement its existing helicopter fleet
9 Jul 2026
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Oliver Cuenca
Firefighting aircraft deployed in southern France
The aircraft, which include both helicopters and fixed-wing waterbombers, were deployed to tackle fires in France’s Mediterranean region
3 Jul 2026
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Oliver Cuenca
NAC acquires SkyConnect stake to expand Black Hawk firefighting fleet
The investment gives the South African aviation group exposure to Europe’s expanding aerial firefighting market through a dedicated Black Hawk leasing platform
1 Jul 2026
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Chloe Fox
Belgium receives first Airbus H145M helicopter
The helicopter is the first of a fleet of 20 due for delivery, which will be used by the Belgian military and police
30 Jun 2026
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Oliver Cuenca
Coulson begins 101-day night vision helitanker deployment in BC wildfire fight
Coulson Aviation has launched a wildfire support contract in British Columbia, expanding nighttime aerial suppression for BCWS during the 2026 fire season
30 Jun 2026
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Chloe Fox
Neptune Aviation launches A319 airtanker conversion program
The first converted Airbus A319 is due to be ready in time for the 2028 wildfire season
29 Jun 2026
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Oliver Cuenca
Medical HondaJet overruns runway during landing in Japan
A medical transport jet sustained substantial damage after a runway excursion, but all three occupants escaped without injury
29 Jun 2026
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Siân Yates
Emergency Services Long Reads
Air patrol and support
Mario Pierobon looks at crew configurations, air–ground coordination protocols, and the integration of emerging technologies, including uncrewed aerial systems, into established airborne law enforcement operations
1 Jul 2026
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Mario Pierobon
The art and science of missing person searches
Police departments are using the technology at their disposal to find people who have gone missing. Barry D Smith explores what makes for a successful operation
1 Jul 2026
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Barry D Smith
Protecting the protectors
Chris Croot finds out the dangers of working in aerial law enforcement, and what the police aviators are doing to diminish the threats to operations
1 Jul 2026
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Chris Croot
Industry voice: Insurance for international medics
Dr David Sinclair reflects on the difficulties freelance medical repatriation doctors face when securing medical liability insurance that will cover them crossing borders with patients
1 Jul 2026
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Dr David Sinclair
Provider profile: Fairfax County Police Department
Oliver Cuenca speaks to Captain Karen Maslona, Commander, Helicopter Division, at Fairfax County Police Department, about its work in policing the US state of Virginia
1 Jul 2026
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Oliver Cuenca
Gallery: The 40th Exercise Tradewinds out of Trinidad and Tobago
The international exercise was co-hosted by the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force and United States Army South, seeing participation of military and security forces from across the Caribbean region and...
1 Jul 2026
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Master Corporal Stéphanie Labossière
Australia’s firefighting surge capacity
A few years after the worst fires in modern Australian history, new capacity and technology have been put in place. Rob Coppinger reports
1 Jun 2026
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Rob Coppinger
Provider profile: Titan Aerial Firefighting
Oliver Cuenca speaks to Carlos A Craveiro, Director of Flight Operations at Titan Aerial Firefighting, about the expansion of its work fighting forest fires in Spain and beyond
1 Jun 2026
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Oliver Cuenca
2025 Aerial Firefighting Special Edition
April 2025
Issue
Our April edition has a special focus on aerial firefighting, with features that include rescues during wildfire situations; the coordination process and tools used between aircraft and firefighters; the distinct job of the smokejumper; the different use cases for buckets and tanks, and what needs to be considered for your airframe; the continued appeal of the Firehawk platform; and the importance of proper expertise when treating traumatic brain injuries; plus more of our regular content.
Helicopter rescue on the fire line
When people need to be retrieved from the scene of a wildfire, how do aerial firefighting teams track them down and extract them safely? Barry D Smith speaks to operators...
2 Apr 2025
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Barry D Smith
Fire support: coordination of ground and air assets
Attacking a fire from the air requires careful coordination with those on the ground as well as other aerial assets. Chris Croot provides a look at the world of aerial...
2 Apr 2025
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Chris Croot
The boots on the ground in the fight against wildfires
Smokejumping – where firefighters parachute in to remote sites to contain smaller wildfires – has been around since the 1940s. Barry D Smith speaks to smokejumpers from the USA and...
2 Apr 2025
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Barry D Smith
Buckets or tanks? Options for aerial firefighters
Modifications to aircraft carrying fluid can be complex. Jennifer Ferrero finds out what changes need to be made, and which conveyance is best for various application
2 Apr 2025
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Jennifer Ferrero