Nicole Webber is a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter pilot in Coos Bay, Oregon. A self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie, she never lost sight of her childhood dream.
Being born in the early-'50s, I grew up in a world in which women were supposed to be secretaries, nurses, teachers, but ultimately - wives and mothers, above all else. It was ground-breaking to even see a woman on TV as a "weather girl" (never as a news anchor or even reporter). A commercial or military pilot? Not likely. If there's one thing I can feel proud of in my lifetime, it is seeing young women finally being given the chance to enter some really interesting, adventurous careers.
@@Ryan-ed1lq to be a pilot requires being an officer. ALL aviation rated enlisted can become Basic Aircrew, Flight Mechanic (Crew Chief) or other specialized aircrew designators like Drop Master/Load Master etc although the real men fly helicopters and the REAL real men fly H-65’s.
That’s so cool how she started off as a kid with a dream and now she’s come full-circle. Getting a pilot billet in the coast guard is extremely competitive, and she’s undoubtedly inspiring the next generation of female aviators. BZ LT Webber!
Live in Canada but always had a huge appreciation for Coast Guard (CCG & USCG) A Friend was rescued from the beach in Point Roberts when a rope swing snapped and he dropped 60 feet into rocks and had to be evacuated by the CCG hovercraft with a punctured lung, bruised spleen, fractures, etc. Been up close to some helicopter ops during 12 years in the CCGAux and so impressive. Rescue swimmers are incredible and the crew that support them.
Definitely Strack! Met this officer and her crew here in Charleston Oregon earlier this summer. Set their helo right down in the parking lot like 50 yards from my boat. They're badasses and they're not cocky about it. True pro's. I live on my little boat here full time and I'm REAL happy that THIS crew has my back.
Sexy Beast These dolphin helos we use are small and nimble for sure! I’m not sure about this location, but response time from the sector in Houston, Texas all the way to Galveston is like 5 minutes. Very quick. They do great work.
Just met her dad a few minutes ago and he suggested watching this. I'm glad that he did and hearing about it from him first was neat. Way to always chase your dreams!
Definitely proud of you Nicole, I couldnt be happier that you got what you worked so hard for, Proud to know and be one of your many long time friends. Keep on protecting those coast and make everyone proud!
Great piece on an outstanding graduate of the CGA. Thanks for your service, Nicole, and for sharing your story. A wonderful role model for young women looking to find an important and adventurous career. Go Bears !
We are incredibly proud of all of you! Its why we are joining the CG auxiliary in our sixties and sailing our dream as safely as possible. From the Captain and Crew of S/V Venceremos ,out of San Diego we salute you every day for keeping America safe!
Excellent video, I wonder how many of us, at one time or another, saw a plane or helicopter, a wonder how that pilot felt looking down as we looked up and wanted to be them, and then make the dream of flying come about as Nicole did? Excellent Nicole.
Way to go Nicole. This video brings back memories. Riding ATVs with my daughter at the dunes. Being on the phone with her clear across the country when the alert @3:40 went off. Much louder on MaBell. Pulling off base Newport looking at the highway sign thinking that looks familiar an finding that route goes clear across country to Atlantic & I live 100yds from it. Oregon coast is beautiful.
I did 6 years in, got medically retired due to UC. Our pilots are AMAZING. As far as rotary wing pilots go, they do such a hard job. Trying to maneuver over a ship just above antennas with waves and adjusting speed... not to mention a swimmer at times. They are great. I wanted to become a pilot when I was in but the discharge has held me back. I’m trying to get my FAA waiver now that I’m a civilian so I can fly, however they are giving me a hard time. If you’re thinking about joining the coast guard, I would say don’t go any other route then aviation! Everyone is great!
A fellow scaper, nice. I am considering joining the CG right now and really want to go to CG Flight School. Hopefully I can achieve a similar position as hers! I have a Bachelor degree so hopefully that will help. Cheers!
Semper Paratus HU-25A Falcon AE and crew member here. Great story and love how she says Rotor Wing Aircraft Pilot! CG pilots are extremely well trained and I'm very proud to have been a Coastie Sailor and Aviator. Thank You Nicole for your Service. Respect
Been to the Oregon Coast when I was temporarily at Station Cape Disappointment - I visited an Air Station right across from the one she flew at! I was lucky enough to get to go up in one of their helicopters - the view from the sky up there is really breathtaking.
Uscg flight mechanic here…being a part of a helo crew is one of the most rewarding jobs out there. The professionalism and ability to fly and hoist in extreme environments is unbelievable. BZ to all the crews covering this great nation.
Coasties are awesome people! They have many missions. But the search & rescue pilot and their crew. Are a unique bunch, in that while they enjoy the success of a rescue. And consider the hazards a mere inconvenience. The hazards cannot be understated. Sometimes the rescuers, become the rescued or recovered.
In the Navy and Coast Guard, pilot candidates need to have a four year degree. The Army only requires 60 college credits. In some case, candidates can go from high school to flight school. I don't know if the Coast Guard will transition from the Dolphine to the UH-60 which has much more power. i wonder what the transition would be like from Coast Guard to active Navy?
French helicopter Aerospatiale Dolphin, hearly engined (on demand from the US) with 700hp Lycomming engines who had some reliability issues, now overhauled with French Turbomeca Arriel 934hp engines...
You Go Gal! It's hard to believe people have her a thumbs down! Just gender bias, jealous losers! Gals can save lives too in helos, boats, ships...! I served in USCG small boat Search & Rescue units which also ran like a firehouse in the 80s. What a great service! Lifesavers in peacetime and sailors in wartime! You Go Gal!
I'm sitting at that very airport watching them dolphin helicopters right now as I write this. They fly over my house all the time. But you'll never have to rescue me. Not only is the water cold but there are shark's in there too.🦈🤔
You will need to go to the academy unless you already have a degree and a commercial pilots license. Even then you would need to undergo rigorous training if you do get accepted. The only other way is to go enlisted, then attend OCS.
Aprilia rs Coast guard OCS accepts people with no prior military experience, but you are partially correct in that their acceptance process usually favors prior enlisted coast guard. One final major source of coast guard pilots is DCA (Direct Commission Aviator), which gives pilots from other branches the ability to become coast guard pilots through an accelerated training pipeline
I was in the US Navy and we used to joke if you don’t like it here go join the Coast Guard but I bet a lot of the Navy guys wouldn’t qualify for the Coat Guard because their standards are higher. I was on a 600 ft cruiser with 1000 sailors and it was so impersonal because you couldn’t get to know them all. Also in a sense the Coast Guard has a more noble mission because their main priority is to save people. Sometimes I wish I had joined the Coast Guard instead of the Navy.
Too many glasses and too much vibrations that don´t mix well I guess. Probably there´s always some seal getting hard and dry as well. ... or maybe every helicopter gets "sweaty" when the sound of a JetRanger (Bell206) is put over the sound of the real aircraft (AS365 in this case).
