Welcome to The Hangar Z Podcast, brought to you by Vertical Helicasts!

In this three-part series, Jeff Ratkovich and Jon Gray sit down with the industry's best airborne tactical instructors to discuss the importance of training and collaboration in the industry.

This series has an all-star lineup up including Jack Schonely, Clay Lacey and Nick Minx. 

Schonely spent over 30 years with the Los Angeles Police Department. He is a nationally recognized expert in suspect tactics and perimeter containment and is a sought-after tactical trainer.

As you will quickly learn from his experience, he is uniquely qualified to instruct and write on perimeter containment, search techniques, tactics used by suspects, use of force, and a wide variety of aircrew topics.

Schonely has participated in over 2,000 perimeter containments during his career, and he has seen many successes and failures.

He has shared his experience with thousands of law enforcement officers across the world instructing on this topic. He is author of the book Apprehending Fleeing Suspects; Suspect Tactics and Perimeter Containment and has been published in numerous publications relating to this topic.

We also get to hear from Lt Clay Lacey, who is currently employed by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). In 2000, Lacey was specially assigned to the Texas DPS Aviation Operations Division as a task force tactical flight officer where he has worked hundreds of flights and thousands of hours in support of criminal manhunts, surveillance, search-and-rescue, vehicle pursuits, foot pursuits, and airborne use of force. 

Lacey developed the Texas DPS technical flight officer (TFO) training program from the ground up and currently serves as a TFO instructor within the unit. Lacey teaches around the world on behalf of the Airborne Public Safety Association and individual law enforcement units seeking additional specialized instruction, authors equipment procurement and bid specifications for the Texas DPS, and serves as a consultant for companies conducting large-scale emergency management and preparedness planning throughout the United States.

Last but not least is Minx, the owner of Tactical Flying. Minx manages day-to-day operations while playing an active role in training and development.

A sworn officer for nearly 20 years with San Diego Police Department, Minx was assigned to SDPD’s Air Support Unit as a TFO in 2012, and has since become certified as a helicopter pilot.

He has over 3,000 combined hours working both seats in an aircraft, and continues to hone his skills as a tactical operator and a cooperative member of an aircrew.

In particular, Minx has always been fascinated by the study of suspect behavior. Using incident videos and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) finds, he compiles data to track patterns of movement in fleeing suspects, and applies this information toward the continuous improvement of techniques and training in suspect searches.

As part of Tactical Flying, Minx has provided instruction to tactical flight operators in both domestic and international settings, with clients ranging from military and law enforcement officers to federal agencies.

Thank you to our sponsors Summit Aviation,  Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing, and Robinson Helicopters.