EMS Helicopter Pilot Samantha Poirier | Behind the Wings

[@primate4]

She’s so cool along with the entire staff! Congratulations to her on her amazing accomplishments and I wish her continued success!!!!

[@mikebrady5652]

As a retired helicopter pilot for 48 years, and 20 of those as an EMS pilot, I think you show an excellent and professional representation of your craft. Good luck.

[@nightfall22]

Thank you for the service to you community 👍🏾👊🏾

[@Skymedc]

I was a paramedic for 30 years, with 7 of that on A-Stars. I had the privilege of working with some amazing people, but lost 6 friends in 3 different crashes in 2 different jurisdictions. I pray that the industry continues to improve and that they adopt upgraded technology even though it's often cost prohibitive. I wish, also, that some of the companies out there would know when to say no.

[@zaspratd]

I was a recent patient/passenger on the H-125 with Samantha piloting. I had rides on the Auliutte helicopters flown by Flight For Life and the Vietnam veteran pilots with their daring skills in the late eighties. Samantha’s skill was evident from th beginning of the flight. My tenuous hold on life with a grade four tear of the spleen was not ever subjected to any forces on that flight. Samantha is the queen of smooth. Thanks, Sam!

[@101stairborne6]

This type of person SAVED my life when I was in a car accident 5 years ago. Thank you!

[@tp8030]

Been life flighted. I was in vehicle accident that left me paralyzed. I'm glad that helicopter was there. Thank you

[@sergeantmasson3669]

To say that I've been there and done that is putting it mild. 10 years US Army Special Forces medevac veteran that did two tours in Vietnam. Twice combat decorated. Purple Heart and a Silver Star. What Samantha does is amazing.

[@Kristina-jf4hd]

Thank you for your service!

[@GerryTheProdigy]

I wish I could do this! I was in EMS for 8-9 years, was an EMT for one year with a crappy transport company that burnt me out and ended up quitting EMS because of it. I’m 30 and married now and I’ve been helping out my father with his painting company and I just feel so unfulfilled! Seeing this makes me wish I could’ve known about this younger and have made a career out of this.

[@Wings_Museum]

"Saving them on a bad day, usually the worst day of their life, and you can be there to help them is why I do it." - Samantha Poirier

[@dancarter482]

WHO'S slicing onions??

[@raymartinez482]

Thank you for your service. Miss Poierier. 10:03

[@CyanSkies]

She's awesome! My dream was to be an EMS pilot. Got my private (fixed-wing) instead still dream of flying helicopters. She's living the life and helping people as well. Godspeed Samantha!

[@jediknightjairinaiki560]

Wow! Such a humble woman. Thank you Samantha and your crew for everything you do to help others.

[@jediknightjairinaiki560]

@Alana Lowe No hate here but it's ironic, you had to jam yourself on the internet to make your comment. 😉

[@jediknightjairinaiki560]

@Alana Lowe By mentioning "hate" I was making clear to you, I was merely making a comment, not yelling or hating on you. Additionally, she didn't put herself on camera the director, producer, maybe her boss or head of the hospital put her on camera. What is she going to say, "No"?

[@ralphbove]

Spent 31 years in the industry. Nice interview. She represents the industry and her craft very well.

[@afpwebworks]

I am retired now with less than perfect eyesight, so it's not an option for me now, but i have often thought that if you were going to have a career in aviation, being a helicopter pilot would have a LOT of attraction - for one reason, you aren't running back and forth every day on the same flights you made multiple times last week. and the week before. And of all the helo careers, an EMS helo pilot would have to the top of the list. Congratulations to Samantha for bashing down all the barriers (real or imagined) to her becoming an EMS pilot and thanks for showing us what her day is like.

[@georgesmith7988]

I am so happy to be on the same planet as this wonderful person. Samantha is awesome.

[@cyberwasp461]

Thank you, Samantha Poirier, for your dedication.

[@randyporter3491]

While getting certified as a trauma medic, I had the honor of flying and training with an air-medical crew. Let me tell you, they are the best of the best typically. I'm a pilot also and am humbled by the conditions these crews operate under. I can't even imagine what CoastGuard flight crews deal with daily.

[@Giggidygiggidy12]

Would be helpful of you did a video on her path from when she decided to become a pilot and how she did it, paid for it, how long each step took her etc...

[@richardfrances7679]

What a great role model...the technology in that helicopter is incredible...and what a noble mission...

[@kalebbarbee6269]

I love this. I finally discovered a career I could see myself enjoying without any doubts, and being able to see the details of what that entails, it really lights a spark for my motivation and inspiration to get there one day. Thank you for this. :)

[@holgerruntschke1441]

After flying different types of helicopters, I can no longer imagine flying another helicopter than H135 or H145. The machines fly like a dream and have the best space available.

[@skyepilotte11]

Amazing story Samantha...the passion of saving lives...

[@iansimms2307]

Thank you Samantha ! Exactly 32 years ago, I was Air lifted to UNMH in Albuquerque, NM. I was 4 days from being old enough to solo a fixed wing Cessna. Thanks for all you do!

[@MackieJackCreations]

Rockin’ it over the Rockies. Right on Samantha, and thank you for what you do. Fly safe.

[@davidfrisk4978]

I might just injure myself again (accident - EC145 @ Travis County STARFlight) to have a beautiful pilot like Samantha.. ;). Outside of the obvious, patients in need either don't care or are able to understand whoever the pilot is, and often where they exactly are.. The pilot who flew me to BAMC from downtown Austin.. Ended up being my rotary flight instructor after I got mobile again prior to him moving outside of the country. One thing I learned was just how darn good an EMS / SAR (etc) pilots are... These people onboard are the real definition of "Angels"... THANK YOU!!!

[@davidthibodeau4874]

Congratulations on being a great Human being to helping others. Each day everychance you can get Amazing.

[@jerryparnell1064]

Thank you Samantha for your service. You are incredible.

[@DDD-us6uu]

Beautiful person inside and out, thank you and your team for your service.

[@sweetbloodsmusic8279]

Thanks for all you do Samantha. Thanks to your crew as well.

[@vandavis000]

Thanks for being so knowlegable and having the skills to help save lives. ❤ your an angel with literal wings samantha😊

[@fo727]

What a great story! I love your pace and enthusiasm! Love the fact that flight nurse Trent Robinson is still at it! You ought to interview him!

[@ohbogey]

Wow!! Amazing dedication to a very intricate job! She really loves her machine! I especially enjoyed the walk-around of her awesome heli❤& Happy International Women's Day too!

[@tonyrowland9216]

military for 6 yrs then straight to EMS FLIGHT. 20 yrs. loved every sec.

[@benhj]

Absolute hero! Nice one.

[@randypennel3731]

Congrats Samantha and Thank You For doing what you do from a retired ground Paramedic, Your Amazing.

[@Charles53412]

My niece was a respiratory nurse on board Mercy Flight Helios out of Great Falls MT. All respect for the Flight EMS crews ! Was that a Garmin Flight Deck ?

[@gordonpaige2338]

Samantha, I remember meeting you at the FBO at FNL Great to see that you’ve come so far. Congratulations and great video.

[@interestingyeupy]

Samantha, you are awesome! Thank you! You are an inspiration.

[@trob0914]

Having been a “fixed-wing/ rotor” flight medic, my admiration of her skill is very high. I’m surprised that she seems to have done her flight training on her own and not through the military! My hat’s off to her for her accomplishments and dedication!!

[@cwr8618]

yea no joke. Building hrs in rotors is so expensive. Curious how she paid the bill

[@ticenits1926]

@@cwr8618 rich parents

[@cwr8618]

@@ticenits1926 i believe it. fixed wing, i could buy that she paid it off in cfi hrs or something but rotor wing is crazy. most folks either did military flying or used their gi bill, but there's some who just grind it out over a long time.

[@ticenits1926]

@@cwr8618 Actually I watched a vlog journal from flightschool to turbine pilot and the person sold some business they ran for a few hundred K and took a year off to get all of their certs and turbine time in an r66. I think it cost them about 150k to become employable and 'skip the line' of CFI's.

[@cwr8618]

@@ticenits1926 so friggen expensive. ridiculous. and i don't think think most helo pilots make that much money

[@derekwilliams6267]

I want to be a helicopter pilot, and watching this video motivated me even more to do it. I definitely thought it was interesting how she mentioned she didn’t go to college to become a pilot. Good to know it is a valid option to go to a private flight school, but going to college for it is my plan currently. Definitely an expensive route, but seemingly the most straight forward way to get all the necessary certifications

[@geddon436]

I wanted to be helicopter pilot as well, but, after seeing cost and my chronic health issues, I changed it.

[@wavybebes6979]

I’m in my last year of highschool and want to be an helicopter pilot(really considering in the USGC) and struggling on which route to take.

[@amonjackson2072]

@@wavybebes6979I’m 24 and I’m heavily considering joining the USCG

[@juanruiz1260]

Awesome we live in a culture that doesn’t want to recognize how special and capable woman really are and this is very refreshing.

[@fdcap9835]

Awesome Interview! What an inspiration! (I love Wings over the Rockies Museum! I visit whenever I’m in the Denver area)

[@randypennel3731]

Samantha Thanks For Always having the backs of the ground medics, Also you are one heck of a Pilot Thank You

[@gregmgm06]

Loved this video. I have so much respect for what Samantha and the crew do.

[@cdalton3169]

Beautiful smile. Love her attitude!

[@barrywinslow9798]

Excellent vid.....thanks for all you do. God Bless

[@JAleksandr]

Been following her on IG for a very long time. June 4th of ‘99 I was Flight for Life’d to Colorado Springs with ruptured spleen and collapsed lung. I barely made it as it was-without FFL I def wouldn’t have-love these crews!

[@coover65]

Thank you for such a wonderful insight. Very different to our ambulance helicopters here in Australia. Ours have winch capabilities, and the ambulance service I work for has a fleet of AW139s serving most of the state. Some localities are beyond the range of ambulance rescue choppers.

[@mr_beezlebub3985]

Are there fixed wing aircraft that do medical transport in Australia? I imagine they'd be quite useful for getting people the help they need when medical facilities are much further away.

[@coover65]

@@mr_beezlebub3985 Three ambulance services here had their own fixed wing aircraft, but I believe only Victoria still has their own fleet. In Queensland (2.5 x larger than Texas), the Flying Doctor has the contract (RFDS). Many parts of the state are beyond the range of our AW139 helicopters, so patients in the outback get flown out by RFDS. Most grazing properties in the outback have their own airstrips, making access easier. I spent 18 months as working at a small-town ambulance station and we'd have most of our patients flown out by RFDS. The local "hospital" was basically a clinic, not capable of treating serious patients-no CT, MRI etc. Being a city slicker, I never got bored of the RFDS pilot radioing me to drive up and down the airstrip with siren on to scare away kangaroos and emus from the runway and immediate surrounds just prior to their touchdown.

[@dallasyap3064]

Perhaps this Loveland medical service helicopters don't have hoist/winch, but there are other areas that have helicopters that have them.

[@coover65]

@@dallasyap3064 Are all rescue/ambulance helicopters privately run in the US?

[@dallasyap3064]

@@coover65 I don't live in the US, but I do know that there are some privately run rescue helicopters in the US.

[@shedrick6846]

Thank you Samantha for what you do and who you are!!!!

[@bruceaux174]

I have so much admiration for EMS helicopter crews. They risk their lives in the worst conditions to save others.

[@eddy2561]

My good friend's daughter Erin, in her mid-20's at the time, chose to become a helicopter pilot and to increase her flying hours flew a couple of years in the North Alaska territories...she has great stories from there. Erin also was a EMS pilot in Chico, CA ,but has moved onto other assignments.

[@georgeacenas2349]

Very professional. I'm a nurse, strong work.

[@DaleDirt]

Excellent ... Thank you Samantha for who you are and what you do .

[@tomg7522]

Awesome video. You rock Samantha! The folks in your coverage area are oh so lucky to have you. "Saving them on a bad day, usually the worst day of their life, and you can be there to help them is why I do it." - Samantha Poirier. Plagerized from Wings over the Rockies Air & Space Museum 😁

[@randyporter3491]

Here's a REAL woman doing a real job, helping real people. Take note advertisers and start showing women more respect. REAL respect.

[@mikestone9129]

It's always great to see women PIC in any type aircraft. Especially helos, congrats.

[@petemorris3818]

During my time in HM Forces, I was in the Corps of Royal Military Police. I wanted to transfer to the Army Air Corps to become a pilot. I took my hearing and eyesight test and then put in my application. My CO turned me down because he said he couldn't afford to let me go. You had to be on the course before your 29th birthday. I found out later that he should not have refused my application, but by then it was too late. I've despised that man to this day! I'm 75 now but my interest in helicopters has never waned. They still amaze me.

[@sky4helo]

You're a good stick Sam! And a heck of a role model! Keep the needles in the green!👍👍👍

[@CNI2063]

My mind was opened by the reality of what looked like an oil truck fueling the H125. The design looks more refined and sleek than the Bell UH-1 from the 1950s.

[@keithwright8829]

Samantha....Beautiful. Thanks for what you do. Very cool!

[@OscarGolf21]

Have you considered running a segment on a Division of Fire Prevention and Control helitack crew? Their work between fire and SAR brings a lot of good to the Colorado community.

[@MikeKobb]

This was such an enjoyable video. Great story, terrific person, awesome aircraft.

[@dallasyap3064]

Great video, informational and entertaining. Always have respect for MEDEVAC crew.

[@JohnDoe-xu2vx]

Fortunately for most of us regular humans there are a small number of heroes to save us like Samantha.

[@moseskelly2886]

There's a ton of absolutely incredible medivac helicopters!!😎 I've seen amd heard of a whole lot. It's awesome how everyone has lots of things in common and things that make that helicopter unique. The Airbus H-125 is an amazing helicopter. 💯

[@topofthegreen]

That is an inspiring story.

[@MongoSmashMode7]

She is really cool! I love the why, and how she came to do this. It will make her want to be better at her work.

[@jackshittle]

I would like to have heard her explain what type of pilot jobs she had to take prior to having enough hours to even be considered for a medevac pilot. For those who don't know you don't get your pilots license and then get hired as a medevac pilot. You usually have to be a private pilot instructor for a while and then from there take minimum wage pilot jobs such as helicopter tours and then shuttling workers to oil platform rigs - things like that. Then once you have a minimum of 2000 hours logged THEN you can apply for a medevac helicopter pilot job.

[@Bobbyd0052]

GREAT JOB MAME ! I THINK EVERY FEMALE UNDER 20 , NEEDS TO WATCH THIS ! SAFE FLYING TO YOU AND YOURS ! 🇺🇲

[@BT-s4321]

Very inspiring woman. Wonderful to watch. Well done

[@shaukatjaved7602]

Helping others and saving lives is the best job in the world.

[@OldmanGamerYT]

That was so cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@cwr8618]

This is rad. I wonder what kind of shifts she works. How hard is it to get one of these gigs if you're qualified - is there a shortage of EMS drivers like there are airline folks? How many hrs min do you need to qualify?

[@sharipuckett6923]

Thanks for all you do. ❤

[@gingertom2009]

My dream job - and so envious AND happy for you!

[@wglgee1347]

Love what u do I’m looking into this as I am a pilot but fw also been a mechanic for 35+ years, u are awesome!!!

[@taraskompaniyets1039]

I would love to do this kind of job!! I wish I felt passion for helicopters when I was younger! Good luck, girl!!

[@garycody1929]

So good. If I need an emergency pick up she is the pilot I want

[@Atlas_Fortis]

Oh hey, I saw Sam in there! Neat.

[@aircampilot8025]

awesome pilot awesome human being

[@stevenbowers4164]

It's interesting to see how others work this, our (England) helimed are used as first response with an expectation to be airborne in 4 minutes from the call, that call can be an ambulance crew request, the ambulance service trauma desk request or self deployment to a job that sounds likely to need them, medical staffing is either two critical care paramedics with half having a doctor as well, your starting to see doctors who specialises in pre hospital emergency medicine, many of the pilots are former military, if its available a series called helicopter ER which is on its ninth series follows the Yorkshire helimed

[@juju1896]

Steven bowers I love that show! I wish I could watch all the seasons. I live in the US. My niece is a flight nurse with a flight paramedic and pilot in an EC 135. I get woozy at the sight of blood but I geek out learning how the rescue crews do their thing and how it varies like you said. Fascinating!

[@randyworrell5702]

This is so cool would love to learn how to fly like this EMS Pilot

[@jeffvandenberg8422]

Very neat. Great video. Thanks for sharing. Be safe and stay healthy. Cheers from Sarnia Ontario Canada 🇨🇦

[@davidrobins4025]

Great story. Thanks

[@reopat14]

Thank You for your Service. I love strong women.

[@bradlavassaur8265]

Awesome video. Thank you for sharing.

[@StayPositive-sd8op]

I wish I could be in your spot sir. I've always have been interested in how these work and what's inside to take care of the patient... So Samantha if you ever want to take someone up for a ride please let me know. Stay safe!!

[@ryozaburosawaki5953]

Amazing. Who flies knows the feeling.

[@celticmanhax5584]

Another great FRENCH copter ! ❤🧡💚💙💜🤎🖤👍

[@medzlopez]

Great story and very inspiring. I noticed their uniforms or flight suits. Could you ask UCHealth LifeLine the supplier of their uniforms so I can order one with the same pattern and design?

[@redmesa2975]

In February of 2000, St. Mary’s in Grand Junction lost a helicopter. My understanding, the pilot was testing & performing auto rotations, near White Water. 1000 ft agl, & speculation was he pulled too much collective & folded the rotors. Pilot had flown oil crews to off shore rigs in Louisiana & was fairly new to high altitude flying. I saw the helicopter/ pilot in Aspen about 2 weeks earlier. I was impressed how precise the helicopter lifted, turned 90 degrees then flew off. Looked like he was a great pilot.

[@rockd8946]

Out standing.

[@mikegerdeman362]

Very cool…….Congratulations Samantha!

[@AngelGamon-v3x]

Awesome story!

[@MissilemanIII]

You took me for a ride in the back. I remember seeing you.

[@SantaFe19484]

Where I live, the EMS helicopter service is called Life Lion.

[@vmpgsc]

Sierra Hotel, Samantha!

[@Heli4213]

O k am I the only one totally in love with this lady now?

[@Tonetwisters]

Thatta girl! God bless you!!

[@fitch8363]

Well done, Samantha.

[@philwhipple4557]

Thank You Sam

[@Sebastopolmark]

Life is about passion AND motivation (drive) NOT a male or female. There are so many people who choose a profession due to a personal event, either to them or someone else, like Samantha. Doctor, cancer researcher, nurse etc. Find your passion and COMMIT. It can and will change your life! !! !!!

[@davidmann4533]

What a fabulous woman