This feature is part of the 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour, sponsored by Switlik Survival Products— a special series spotlighting outstanding public safety aviation units across North America. Be sure to explore the related podcast episodes and video content linked at the end of the article. Photos by Brent Bundy.
Covering more than 2,400 square miles (6,216 square kilometers), Miami-Dade Fire Air Rescue operates in one of the most diverse and demanding response environments in the country — where roughly 60% of its jurisdiction is the vast, unforgiving expanse of the Everglades.
At the heart of this mission are four Leonardo AW139 helicopters, strategically split between the north and south county to ensure rapid coverage across an extraordinary range of scenarios.
From the wetlands of the Everglades to the open waters of Biscayne Bay, crews must be ready to respond anywhere, anytime. That includes remote islands and the Atlantic Ocean, as well as Miami’s dense high-rise corridors, cruise ships, the Florida Keys, and massive cargo vessels. In a region where no two missions look the same, constant training and adaptability are not optional — they are essential.
Because of these demands, Miami-Dade Fire Air Rescue crews operate in a constant state of readiness and training. An aircraft is staffed and available 24/7/365 to respond to firefighting missions, scene medevacs, and search-and-rescue operations. Each call requires a minimum crew of four — two pilots and two flight medics — working in seamless coordination.
Within the unit, flight medics are trained across an exceptionally broad range of disciplines. All are certified flight paramedics, reflecting the fact that roughly 80% of their missions involve scene medevac, but their capabilities extend far beyond medical care.
They also serve as hoist operators, rescue specialists, rescue swimmers, rescue divers, and systems operators. The medics are interchangeable and operate under a crew resource management model, with roles assigned dynamically for each mission. The result is a team of highly experienced, extensively trained, and physically capable professionals.
Capt. Jason Vanbuskirk describes the Leonardo AW139 as the “Swiss Army knife of helicopters” — a fitting characterization for the unit’s diverse mission set.
Each aircraft is outfitted to meet a wide range of operational demands, including a Teledyne FLIR 380-HDc system for search-and-rescue missions and an Onboard Systems hoist — an essential tool given the frequency of overwater rescues and operations in areas where landing is not possible, such as the Everglades. The cabin is equally well equipped with advanced medical gear to support the unit’s heavy medevac workload.
Air Rescue plays a critical role in the broader South Florida emergency response system. Nowhere is this more evident than in Everglades National Park, which sees more than one million visitors annually.
The park’s main access road stretches 38 mi (62 km) along a two-lane highway, making ground response times significant. When a serious medical emergency occurs, air rescue is often the fastest — and most effective — means of delivering care. The park’s remote nature makes aviation assets an essential component of its safety infrastructure.
Beyond the Everglades, crews routinely respond to emergencies across Biscayne Bay, remote island chains, and even into the Atlantic Ocean. South Florida’s high volume of recreational and commercial water traffic generates frequent calls for service, many of which are time critical. In these environments, rapid aerial response can mean the difference between life and death.
Every public safety aviation unit strives to become indispensable to its community. Miami-Dade Fire Air Rescue has clearly achieved that distinction — an elite, highly professional team operating in one of the most complex and unforgiving environments in the country, always ready to respond.
Sponsored by Switlik Survival Products, this feature is a part of the 2026 Blades of Valor Road Tour — a journey across the public safety aviation community, spotlighting the people, aircraft, and missions shaping the field. Watch for continued coverage from additional tour locations in upcoming issues of Vertical Valor Plus and verticalmag.com.
For an inside perspective on Miami-Dade Fire Air Rescue, tune in to a special Hangar Z Podcast episode recorded with the crew (Part 1 and Part 2), and explore a companion video featuring a full Leonardo AW139 walkaround. You can also explore our coverage of the regional public safety aviation fly-in hosted by Miami-Dade for the Blades of Valor tour, learn more about the unit’s hoist training program, and revisit our unit profile for a broader look at the department’s evolution.
Still to come, we’ll be taking a closer look at the department’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) program in an upcoming episode of the Vertical MRO Podcast. Stay tuned for more from the Blades of Valor Road Tour, and visit our dedicated hub for additional unit profiles, videos, and podcasts.