Priority 1 Air Rescue

Priority 1 Air Rescue, also called P1AR, trains aircrew for helicopter rescue, tactical, and special mission work. The site says Brad Matheson, an EMT paramedic and long-line rescue operator, founded the company in 1999 in Mesa, Arizona. The company's focus is on the crew members in the cabin, such as hoist operators and rescue swimmers.

The company has three lines of business. These are training, operational staffing, and mission equipment. Training includes classroom theory, static hoist towers, certified simulators, and live flight integration. The staffing service covers aircrew staffing and program management for agencies. The equipment line supplies gear for mission crews.

The site says the company has trained more than 15,000 aircrew in more than 40 countries. It says the training covers more than 30 aircraft platforms. The site says the company has been operating for 27 plus years. The site also says it holds certifications from EASA, FAA, Transport Canada, CAA UK, and IAA.

The site lists six case studies. The U.S. Coast Guard case study covers more than 500 operators trained on a 12-day hoist curriculum. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection case study covers more than 175 aircrew and a standard operating guide built from scratch. The Arizona Department of Public Safety case study covers a statewide hoist capability. Other case studies cover Kentucky State Police, the Bonneville Power Administration, and UK Search and Rescue. The UK case study says P1AR has trained more than half of UK search and rescue rear crew.

The company has permanent training facilities in Mesa, Arizona, and at Aerocampus Aquitaine in Latresne, France. The site says it also deploys training worldwide. It describes OEM partnerships with major helicopter and mission equipment makers.

The site says it is the only rear crew trainer certified across multiple civil aviation authorities. Contact is by phone at +1 480 621 6023 for the United States and +33 5 562 101 71 for France. The site offers a monthly newsletter and a shop for gear. It also has Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn accounts.