Ever since I started my aviation journey back in May 2007 I have wanted to share my experiences with others to give people a better picture of what being a helicopter pilot is all about. Like many careers there is little exposure to what a job is like until after the money and time investment. I hope this channel can change that!
I started flying Helicopter EMS in 2012 with Med-Trans Corp flying the Bell 407. In 2016-2018, I continued my career in UpState NY flying the BK117 for Mercy Flight Central, a small non-profit organization based at Rome NY Griffiss International Airport. We spent a year as volunteer missionaries in the Philippines serving as handyman and helicopter pilot from 2018-2019
Returning from overseas missions I am working with PHI Health flying medevac in Front Royal VA, and continuing to grow my aviation experience flying the Bell 407 and EC135.
Long-term goal is to be able to find a part-time job stateside and go back overseas as volunteer missionaries.
Must be a very exhilarating but also stressful job. Such a necessary job and cool skill and discipline. But also knowing you are transporting critical care patients whom many won’t make it. Must be some pretty rough days.
Im actually the flight captain for this helicopter crew. Very horrific accident that day. We were all nervous riding up but we saved the lives of everyone involved. Thank you to everyone who assisted us in our rescue.
God was definitely in the cockpit with me a long time ago! Flying solo as a student I accidentally flew into a zero visibility ( I had training to teach me what to do should I get in the situation) . Spatial disorientation was instantaneous and I watched my hands and feet make all the correct inputs to controls and Power for successful recovery! Only the Lord our God could have done that ! The result more experienced pilot ,no structural issues with the airplane , and most important a greater strength to my faith!
My hubby is a Ret. Battalion Capt. Firefighter/Paramedic. He's told me they've had to use Medivac thousands of times and was so glad they knew what to do and could have a pt. to a trauma center in less then 10mins.
When do you think aircraft will become advanced? To this day they have to hit tons of switch's just to fly it then keep hitting them to keep flying. I know it looks impressive, but we have not advanced anymore then this?
Surprised that it took them so long to land, more than two minutes from overflying accident site to touchdown, european resuce heli pilots seem to be far better trained for such situations. That was a very easy landing site, here in Europe they land in inner cities with 5 foot clearince on both sides and usually coming in on direct approach, they are rarely doing an overpass, and if much much lower. In such a situation with such an easy landing spot they would have been on short downwind at less than 100 feet AGL a few knots above ETL and very close to the accident site, turn base and final and touch down in less than 30 seconds.
My father got airlifted after surviving a small plane wreck, almost one year ago as I type this comment. It was so cool to see what goes on when responding to a call. Thank you for the work you do.
Nice video. I really miss the EC and the mission. Nothing like landing in the middle of the city or on the freeway. - Anthony Baca PHI Air Medical North Texas 2005 - 2020
Awesome crew resource management. Using the crew to identify the ground as well as checklist and notes and making a clear and concise decision that you are going to land as opposed to any deviation. Fly safe, but more importantly, fly, smart !
Hi Michael, fantastique live video. I have a technical question: this great (french ;-) ) helicopter has 2 free turbine engines, but there are, apparently, both linked to the rotor without any clutch. So, when the first engine is running, the rotor is spinning. Does it mean that the second free turbine is already spinning ? Does it have any impact on the startup sequence ? Thanks for your answer.
Great flight!!!!!!! Ive got about 1900 fixed and 100 rotary, all my flights I used IFR in order to stay fresh and current---an practice!!!!!!! Loved it!! Now I sit in the back and let Northern Jet Management fly a Citation X!!!
Hi Mike, My name is Greg and I own an alouette II myself here in Ontario Canada. Any chance this particular alouette operator I would be able to contact?
Hey do you still fly in Virginia? Who do you fly for Pegasus out of UVA or Carilion Health lifeguard 10 out of Roanoke? I'm not sure who does the helicopter med transport in that area?
@@michaelmiller85 You should go watch the pipeline being put in down near Roanoke they have a Huey they're doing aerial hydroseeding with, they have an area not far off the highway where he goes into a hover and they hook these big bags of hydroseed and he just picks it up and takes off then he'll land refuel and go do it some more
