Commercial Pilot, Instrument Rated, CFI.

Vance has over 28 years experience in firefighting, EMS, search and rescue in mountainous, urban and offshore environments. Operations include water dropping, sling loads and long line, hoist rescue, swiftwater rescue, bluewater rescue, mountain and maritime search, aerial ignition, seeding, mapping, FLIR, night vision goggles.

Vance has over 10,000 hours flight experience in Bell 47/204/205/206/212/412 and Sikorsky S-70 helicopters, with over 2500 hours in mountainous terrain, 1500 hours night, 600 hours NVG, 1100 hours instruction given.

Vance has worked for Helicopters International, Evergreen, ERA Helicopters, Mercy Air, California Department of Forestry and Los Angeles County Fire Department.