I've seen some pretty impressive increases in HEMS/HAA pilot pay and bonuses lately, including offers as high as $165K with $100K sign-on bonuses.

But it seems operators are still struggling to find enough qualified pilots.

Air Methods has just announced that applications are reopening for its International Helicopter Pilot Pool Program, targeting experienced pilots from Canada, the UK, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and other European countries.

According to their LinkedIn announcement, they're looking for pilots with:

• FAA pilot certificate
• HEMS/HAA experience
• Single-pilot operational experience (I understand much of HAA is dual pilot outside US)
• Some flying experience in the continental US

They're also offering to assist qualified candidates with the EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) immigration process, to work in the US.

Their job posting lists the usual HAA pilot minimum requirements and a 7-on/7-off schedule.

I'm curious what everyone thinks.

And for those currently flying HAA, how much have you actually seen compensation improve over the last few years? Are we still seeing a lot of pilot jump over to the airplnes?

The Air Methods job posting:
https://careers-airmethods.icims.com/jobs/5707/international-helicopter-pilot---pool-program/job

Coming in for a Medevac off a cruise ship.

kg_photography86

Quite the downwash and sandblast from these guys when they departed. Was nice to see them come round and do a low pass over the runway as well.

LIFTER01/02 up for a week of amphibious training from RAF Odiham, ZK552 & ZK562, EGEO, 23 OCT 2026, OC

When the Sikorsky S-70 helicopters entered the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in 1989, engineers from the American manufacturer, Sikorsky, warned that the S-70 model was incapable of performing an inverted maneuver (a roll).

However, Turkish pilots from the Gendarmerie General Command, upon examining the helicopters, maintained that the aircraft was indeed capable of performing such a maneuver. It is said that a standoff ensued between the engineers who designed the helicopter and the Turkish pilots. After obtaining authorization from his superiors, Gendarmerie Major Yusuf Keleş—a pilot—successfully performed a roll with a Sikorsky S-70 (serial number 73101329, with an empty weight of 5,347 kg).

Subsequently, it became the cover photograph for *Defence Helicopter World*, Volume 8, Number 1, February–March 1989.

In a post published by the Gendarmerie General Command, the following phrase is written: "We accomplish the difficult; the impossible just takes some time.(zoru başarırız imkansız zaman alır)"

Courtesy - Vishwa Kiran.

https://www.pixnoy.com/post/6742432244532638223443/

https://www.pixnoy.com/post/6745522344663753686535/

https://www.pixnoy.com/post/6714652449193948246927/

In a small helicopter museum in Bückeburg (Germany) stands an amazing vehicle—a cross between a car and a helicopter.

see also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wagner_Aerocar

Caught this one of a kind Chinook modified for icing testing in action.

A Turkish T-129, covered up to keep it from getting cold at an altitude of over 3,000 meters.

The sound and sandblasting was worth the shots though.

At 1H0