Teton County Search and Rescue’s helicopter isn’t looking to compete with JetBlue or United, but it now meets the same standard as commercial airlines.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pinned a blue ribbon of safety to Teton County Search and Rescue’s 3-year-old helicopter earlier this year and formally recognized the program on July 14.
The “air carrier certification” comes after years documenting safety and standards, said Anthony Stevens, Search and Rescue’s chief advisor. That spans everything from keeping the aircraft clean to crisp communication.
The certification follows a first from the feds that came more than two years ago. The first “external load operator” certification allowed the chopper to fly avalanche bombing equipment for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and the Wyoming Department of Transportation.
Both federal thumbs-up come as the team responds more frequently and sends its chopper across the West. More than 150 calls for service in 2025 made it the organization’s busiest year on record. A 2026 mid-year report shows rescues closer to on-par with the 15-year average. Since its purchase in 2023, the $7.25 million helicopter has been a tool in the Tetons and flown recovery missions in Colorado and Idaho at elevations over 13,000 feet, Stevens said.
The certifications are voluntarily sought, but they help Teton County’s volunteer program build trust with the pros such as the Jenny Lake Rangers in Grand Teton National Park. TCSAR also has cooperative agreements with the Bridger-Teton National Forest and Yellowstone National Park, according to a press release.
“Folks that are higher up in the federal government look at a program like ours and they’re like, ‘Well, are these guys a bunch of cowboys? What are their standards?” Stevens said. “Now it’s easy to point to, ‘Well, we’re held to the highest standards.”
