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
Military helicopters join aerial firefighting response as Hawk Fire threatens Nevada’s Reno
CH-47 and UH-60 helicopters from the Nevada National Guard are supporting firefighting operations as the Hawk Fire threatens communities around Reno, Nevada
24 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
Light aircraft crashes into police helicopter
A Cessna 150 crashed into a police Bell 407 at Carlisle Airport in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, resulting in the death of the Cessna pilot and injuries to the two people...
24 Aug 2026
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Jon Adams
South Korean national police order new KAI Chamsuri helicopter
The aircraft is configured for law enforcement operations, with infrared cameras and a video downlink
21 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
Report into Gold Mountain fire helicopter crash
A preliminary report into the fatal crash that claimed the life of a firefighting pilot in Colorado has been released
20 Aug 2026
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Jon Adams
Coulson doubles C-130H airtanker fleet with former RCAF aircraft
Ten former RCAF CC-130H Hercules will strengthen Canada’s aerial wildfire response as Coulson Aviation Canada expands its C-130 airtanker capacity
19 Aug 2026
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Editorial Team
Australia introduces national large airtanker SOPs after 737 crash
National large airtanker procedures have been introduced following an ATSB finding that inconsistent state requirements posed safety risks during firefighting operations
19 Aug 2026
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Chloe Fox
AFF Asia-Pacific 2026: enhancing outcomes through collaboration
Tangent Link was honored to host AFF Asia-Pacific Gold Coast on 22–23 July 2026 in Queensland, Australia, which featured 25 speakers and panel sessions over two days, alongside a static...
18 Aug 2026
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Jon Adams
New police helicopter for Ontario’s Peel Regional Police
The Airbus H125 is the first to be operated as part of Ontario’s Joint Air Support Unit
18 Aug 2026
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Editorial Team
Emergency Services Long Reads
Gallery: Getting ready for the wildfire season in Cyprus
Training sorties before the wildfire season starts are an important way to get skills fresh and ready for the demands of the job as soon as they are needed. AS1...
3 Aug 2026
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AS1 Natalie Adams
Industry voice: Fixed-wing air medical safety: experience, technology, and the evolving risk profile
Terry Palmer details how the risks of fixed-wing air medical transfers need to be addressed in an evolving and complex industry to ensure safety for patients and crew alike
3 Aug 2026
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Terry Palmer
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
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
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