Dozens of law enforcement helicopters converged on the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, California, on April 23 for the 35th annual emergency preparedness fly-in training exercise.
Hosted by the Pasadena Police Department, this year’s event brought together helicopters from agencies across Ventura, San Diego, and Riverside counties, along with others from throughout the greater Southern California region.
The 2025 exercise tested agencies’ ability to coordinate during major disasters and provided a venue to share insights and enhance communication across different protocols.
This year’s event was the first time many agencies reunited since the January wildfires, offering crews a chance to meet face-to-face, review emergency responses, and share lessons learned from recent incidents.
The Rose Bowl remains a designated regional staging area for large-scale disasters and mass casualty events. Most recently, it served as a critical hub during the Eaton Fire response, reinforcing its importance for emergency operations.
Coordinated landings and takeoffs were a major focus of this year’s training exercise. Pasadena’s Air Operations Unit acted as an air traffic control tower to manage the staging, sequencing, and safe movement of dozens of helicopters, while also establishing an operations area in the parking lot to refine procedures critical for real-world emergencies.
A representative from L.A. County Fire served as the guest speaker, delivering a detailed presentation on the challenges of flying during the Palisades and Eaton fires. Their insights highlighted the complexities of coordinating aerial operations during fast-moving wildfires and offered valuable lessons for future emergency responses.
The 2025 fly-in also received strong support from aviation vendors, who showcased the latest in helicopter technology, communications, and safety equipment. Sponsors and participants included Airbus, Bell, CNC Technologies, Teledyne FLIR, Hangar One, Helinet, Robinson Helicopter, Trakka Systems, and others.
