How do you become a crewman aboard a helicopter?

[van1]

I assume a Helicopter Reconnaissance Observer flies aboard the helicopter and doesn‘t only rely information from the ground to the pilots?

What routes are there for an NCO to fly?

 

[Zoomie]

That role (air recce) does not presently exist in the CF. When the Kiowa (Bell Jet Ranger) was retired, the recce role of the airforce was lost with it.
The people who sat beside the pilot were NCMs from Armoured Recce units. A former RSS Sgt from my ex-unit was one of those lucky fellas. He said it was a great time and actually got some stick time.
There is talk of the Recce role returning to the Tac-Hel community. The Griffon is at present a multi crew aircraft and is not rated for single man flight. That restriction, (and a few others) would need to be lifted before Airborne Recce can return.
The Griffon has recently been authorized to fly at 4 feet above ground level at no more than 40 Knots (about 80km/hr). So the platform exists, we just need the army to start making some noise and getting the 1 Wing head-honcho‘s in line.

 

[van1]

Don‘t they need door gunners or anything like that? What about crewmen on the C130 Hercs in the Airforce?

It would be great to fly all day