In this gripping episode recorded live at Verticon, former fighter pilot and host John Ramstead sits down with Dave Salem, founder of Eagle West Helicopters and former law enforcement officer turned production test pilot. Dave shares an extraordinary journey that spans from police patrol cars to executing full-down auto rotations at night using NVGs. This conversation dives deep into the world of advanced helicopter training, emergency preparedness, and the life-saving decisions pilots must make in seconds.
Whether you're in aviation, leadership, or just inspired by those who push boundaries in service of others, Dave’s insights on real-world training and helicopter safety are nothing short of exceptional.
Episode Highlights

From law enforcement to aviation: Dave Salem’s unconventional path
Inside the role of a production test pilot at MD Helicopters
Advanced emergency procedures and real-world training philosophy
Full-down auto-rotations at night — aided and unaided
Night Vision Goggle (NVG) training and the challenges of perception in darkness
Tailoring high-stakes scenarios to specific pilot roles
Why instinctive training saves lives

Key Points & Timestamps

[00:00:03] The critical 15–30 second window after an engine failure
[00:01:23] Introduction to Dave Salem and his background in law enforcement
[00:02:07] Early influence: Dave’s father, a Vietnam-era rescue pilot
[00:03:06] Transition to MD Helicopters and becoming a production test pilot
[00:04:04] The aircraft certification process explained
[00:04:55] Volunteering with Pinal County's elite search and rescue team
[00:05:48] Starting Eagle West Helicopters and identifying a training gap
[00:06:53] What is a full-down auto-rota...

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