Helicopter pilots face a wide range of dangers that regular pilots do not—from hostile ground forces, environmental hazards, and the general dangers that come with an inherently un-airworthy platform.

“Bingo” means the point of no return: the call that fuel is running dry and the mission is over. The same call now threatens the attack helicopter itself. Army aviators face an existential crisis.

Helicopters are large, complex aircraft that have been used in military operations for almost as long as they've been around. As agile vehicles, helicopters completely changed how troops are inserted ...