In keeping with tradition, this issue looks back at the previous six issues and the phenomenal stories they told.
Each issue is highlighted, and a QR Code follows the paragraph to read more about the particular cover story. The complete issues are also posted online. Some memorable stories, such as the Israeli Police Force’s SEAT program, Orange County’s Firehawks and Polish Domaders, were told.
But let’s go back to the central theme of this editorial. A new year is a time to renew, review and reevaluate. What worked last year? What didn’t work last year? What are you planning on changing? What are you planning on improving?
What can you learn from any incidents that you experienced? Are their new systems to be implemented and new SOPs to utilize? The first of the year is an excellent time to answer those questions.
After many conversations with George Parker, an aerial application operator from Idaho, he finally submitted his first article to our sister publication AgAir Update. Now, I am running the same story in this issue of AerialFire. It applies to this industry as well. If you know George, which I assume most do, you know not only does he have a wealth of knowledge on all things aviation-related, but he also has a unique gift to explain them. George has taken an unknown amount of man hours and developed a program he uses on his first-year pilots. The program is adopted from many sources, but the main focus is having a take-off “profile.” It’s exceptional information for both the new and experienced pilots.
March will bring the first International tradeshow, in Bordeaux, France hosted by Tangent Link. You can find AerialFire there. Please stop by the booths and give me your next story idea!