Hi y’all. I’m an FAA ATP airplane pilot with several type ratings. I also have private privileges and instrument rating in helicopters. 4300TT, 117 helicopter hours.

To my understanding, I qualify for the ATP-level rating at 200 helicopter hours among other requirements because I already have an ATP certificate. Doing the math, that’s only 83 more hours.

I’ve been on and off with commercial training for several years, and at this point, I haven’t touched a helicopter for about a year now. Just the lack to want to read up has been the main roadblock. Who knows, if I get back to helicopters, I’ll feel the urge to study again.

I don’t plan on making helicopters a career; I’d be lucky if I can even get a paid gig here and there.

With that being said, I still want a higher level privilege in helicopters (private privileges on my current certificate haunting me). Should I continue commercial training, or should I time build until I’m fairly close to 200 helicopter hours and hop onto ATP training? The place I go to is fairly cheap to rent so money isn’t an issue if I maybe do like 10-15 hours a month doing more relaxed cross countries.

Any idea what helicopter this would be? Seen flying 30 miles south of Cleveland, OH. It did not show up on FlightRadar. At first I thought it could be Marine One but the coloring looks off (I know nothing about helicopters).

I checked flight radar24 and there was no broadcast of their aircraft, curious if it’s possible military? FL panhandle

Richard Scarry has the best helicopters!

I'm traveling to NYC next month and would love to experience my very first helicopter ride there. I have seen some options such as Flynyon, Hummingbird, and Heliflights; are those options legit? Is there any other better option? I am considering budget, overall opinions, and, of course, safety; does anyone have any recommendations?

Nobody was happy to hear “you can’t park there”

A CH-53K King Stallion from VMX-1 at MCAS Yuma in the Sierra Nevada mountains hoisting a crashed MH-60S Knighthawk from VX-31 out of NAWS China Lake … my photos from a perch up the mountain, previously posted on my Instagram @jro_photography

Have a lh050 that I want to spice up a bit. It’s grey in color and I’d like it to be a bit more visible from the air. Anyone know of a company making a wrap or sticker kit for these helmets? Haven’t found anything on the general interwebs. Or if anyone has a large lh050 that’s red or orange that wants to trade for a grey one message me. Has about 8 hours on it. A20 with the quick disconnect. Take care gents

Pulling a head out of a can just to find the head I got from supply was WORSE than the one I was replacing. Pretty sure they used this thing as a boat anchor at some point

More cool photos of my time in Afghanistan

Yasuko Naito's husband was a Cambodian diplomat. Her family was forced by the Khmer Rouge into border farms, where they endured harsh living conditions and brutal beatings. She lost her husband and two young children, and she herself wandered with the remnants of Khmer Rouge all the way to Thai border. She was confirmed alive by Vietnam volunteer troops, rescued, and given priority transport on an UH-1 heli to return back to Ho Chi Minh City.

CH-53K King Stallion

Credit: Jro_ photography