# Priority 1 Air Rescue

> The global standard in aircrew mission training, staffing, and equipment.

## About

Priority 1 Air Rescue (P1AR) was founded in 1999 by Brad Matheson, an EMT paramedic and long-line rescue operator, in Mesa, Arizona. The company trains helicopter rear crew — hoist operators, rescue swimmers, flight mechanics, and tactical teams — to a single standard across 40+ countries and 30+ rotary-wing platforms.

P1AR is the only rear crew training organization simultaneously certified by EASA, FAA, Transport Canada, CAA UK, and IAA.

Parent company: Emberline.

## Key Facts

- Founded: 1999, Mesa, Arizona
- Founder: Brad Matheson
- Employees: Full-time instructor cadre (not subcontracted)
- Countries: 40+
- Platforms: 30+ rotary-wing airframes across 7 OEMs
- Aircrew trained: 15,000+
- Facilities: Mesa, AZ (US) and Latresne/Bordeaux (France)
- Certifications: EASA AirOPS SPA-HHO, FAA Part 133 Class D HEC/HHO, Transport Canada CARS, CAA UK, IAA

## Services

### Training
Structured aircrew mission training from ab-initio through advanced special mission. 26 courses (TR01–SART08) covering SAR, MEDEVAC, tactical, NVG, aerial gunnery, HUET, and platform conversion. Delivered through a 4-phase pipeline: classroom, equipment practice, AAMS virtual hoist simulation, and live flight. The AAMS simulator reduces live flight requirements from 12 to 2 hours while maintaining full certification compliance. Day one to mission-ready in 14 days.

### Staffing & Operational Support
Instructor staffing, program management, SOG writing, curriculum development, and operational assessments. P1AR deploys qualified instructors in weeks versus the 6-to-18-month government hiring timeline.

### Equipment
Mission gear, rescue equipment, and complete mission kitting designed from 40+ countries of operational fieldwork. Available at shop.priority1airrescue.com.

## Named Customers

U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Air Force, FBI HRT, DHS, French Ministry of Defense, FGAU, Royal Netherlands Air Force, Bundespolizei, Korean Coast Guard, Army National Guard, Bristow Group.

## OEM Partnerships

Airbus (audited and adopted P1AR courses), Leonardo, Lockheed Martin, Breeze-Eastern (recommends P1AR for all hoist operator training), Bell.

## Key Contracts

- U.S. Coast Guard: Selected over 30+ competing vendors (2023). 500+ operators trained. 12-day curriculum adopted voluntarily by USCG instructors.
- U.S. Air Force: Reviewed 15+ potential bidders; only P1AR was compliant. 5-year MH-139 Grey Wolf special mission aviator training contract (~140 SMAs per year).
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection: 175+ aircrew trained. Wrote the CBP SAR Standard Operating Guide from scratch, enabling USCG/CBP interoperability for the first time.
- French Ministry of Defense / FGAU: 8-year contract for EC725 Caracal rear crew training.
- Royal Netherlands Air Force: NH90 rear crew training program.

## Contact

- US: 1924 North Higley Road, Mesa, AZ 85205 | +1 (480) 621-6023
- France: Aerocampus Aquitaine, 1 RTE de Cenac, 33360 Latresne, FR | +33 (0)5 562 101 71
- Email: info@priority1airrescue.com
- Website: https://priority1airrescue.com

## Site Structure

- /training — Training overview and 4-phase pipeline
- /training/courses — 26-course catalog (TR01–SART08)
- /training/why-outsource — 8 forces driving outsourced crew training
- /training/the-standard — The P1 training methodology
- /training/case-studies — USCG, CBP, USAF outcomes
- /training/procurement — 14 sole-source justifications for government buyers
- /training/audiences — Government, HEMS, commercial, industrial, individual
- /staffing — Instructor staffing and operational support
- /equipment — Mission gear and rescue equipment
- /platforms — 30+ supported airframes by OEM
- /about — Company history and founder story
- /about/track-record — Named customers, OEM partnerships, certifications
- /about/cadre — Leadership and instructor team
- /about/the-p1-way — Training philosophy
- /about/parent-company — Emberline
- /insights — Thought leadership
- /contact — Request information