i hate helicopters. when you look at the physics involved, so many countervailing forces going on, it is amazing they fly at all. they can be instruments of good...my house was saved in the waikoloa fire many years ago by brave HFD pilots flying buckets of water and dropping them on the approaching fire. on the other hand (my left one) i am wearing a watch that went down with me in a "hard landing" (as the USMC likes to say) in one overseas in combat. it didn't survive but i did. i paid to have that watch brought to back life, something that those 12 brave souls will never get a chance to do. improper training, lack of confidence in their skills (who hasn't suffered that) and turmoil due to the head officer being let go the day before all added up to the perfect storm. it breaks your heart to read that article. when they fly overhead at my worksite i bite my finger until they leave. i hate helicopters. sean gallagher, Ocean Safety, HFD