About Helicopassion

André Bour, founder of Helicopassion, during a field reportage aboard a French Army helicopter.

A field-based approach to documenting helicopters

Created and developed by André Bour, Helicopassion combines immersive reportages, documentary resources and visual storytelling, with a strong focus on operational reality — from mountain rescue and offshore operations to military exercises, aerial work and helicopter emergency medical services.

Rather than presenting helicopters as isolated machines, Helicopassion seeks to show them in action, in the environments where they operate and where their role truly makes sense.

The site is built around a long-term documentary approach, close to aircraft, missions, crews and operational contexts.

Who is André Bour?

My name is André Bour, aviation photographer specialized in helicopter operations and founder of Helicopassion.

After a career in information systems consulting, including program management and IT architecture, I progressively dedicated most of my work to developing Helicopassion.

My role combines field photography, editorial work and long-term documentary organization. Part of the work takes place on location — alongside crews, operators and institutions — while another continues behind the screen through image selection, writing and content structuring.

What continues to drive the project remains unchanged: documenting this world through images, facts and real operational environments.

A collaborative documentary project

Although Helicopassion is driven daily by André Bour’s editorial work, the site also relies on a broader network of contributors and field contacts.

Professional pilots, photographers, spotters, operators, institutions and authors have all contributed to enriching the documentary value of the site over the years.

Today, Helicopassion brings together contributions from more than 300 French and international contributors, helping document helicopter operations across different countries, environments and missions.

André Bour, founder of Helicopassion

Jean-Luc Brissaud, pilot and early contributor

Stéphane Gimard, photographer and spotter

What can be found on Helicopassion?

Over the years, Helicopassion has grown into a large documentary platform dedicated to helicopter operations, aviation culture and field reporting.

The French version of the site now includes thousands of illustrated pages built around several major editorial areas:

• Field reportages: real helicopter missions, exercises, operators and operational environments.
• Events and airshows: demonstrations, public presentations and industry gatherings.
• Helicopter dossiers: aircraft types, variants, characteristics and operational uses.
• Guides and resources: technical topics, professions and helicopter-related activities.
• Media and visual culture: books, photography and other forms of visual storytelling connected to helicopters.

The English version progressively brings together a curated selection of these contents, with a focus on immersive reportages, major helicopter operations and internationally relevant topics.

The overall objective remains consistent: helping readers better understand the helicopter world through real situations, field experience and visual documentation.

Audience and international reach

Over the years, Helicopassion has progressively established itself as a recognized documentary platform for helicopter enthusiasts, professionals and aviation readers.

The website now represents thousands of illustrated pages and tens of thousands of photographs built through long-term editorial work and field access.

In 2025, Helicopassion.com welcomed more than 145,000 users.

On social media, Helicopassion also reaches a large international audience through Facebook and Instagram, with several million yearly views across its platforms.

Ongoing projects

Helicopassion continues to evolve with several long-term objectives:

• pursuing immersive field reportages;
• expanding helicopter dossiers and documentary resources;
• improving content organization and navigation;
• developing the visual presentation of photographs and publications;
• continuing to document helicopters in real operational environments.

The project remains guided by the same objective as from the beginning: documenting the helicopter world with accuracy, curiosity and respect for the people behind the missions.

Contributing to Helicopassion

Helicopassion grows through encounters, field access and collaborations.

• Operators and institutions can help facilitate field access and reportages.
• Photographers and authors may contribute images or editorial content.
• Readers can support the visibility of the site by sharing content while crediting authors and sources.
• Organizations looking for high-resolution imagery or publication rights may contact Helicopassion directly.

Every contribution helps support an independent documentary approach dedicated to helicopter operations and aviation culture.

Why document the helicopter world?

Helicopters occupy a unique place in aviation. Their ability to operate close to terrain, remain stationary in flight or access remote environments gives them a role unlike any other aircraft.

Whether performing rescue missions, mountain operations, offshore transport, aerial work or military deployments, helicopters often operate where few aircraft can.

Helicopassion aims to better document and explain this reality: the missions, the operational constraints, the environments and the people who make these operations possible.

Over the years, many professionals have expressed appreciation for the way their work and missions are represented on the site — with attention to operational reality and respect for those involved.

One of the most meaningful aspects of the project remains these exchanges with readers and professionals who sometimes explain that Helicopassion helped shape their interest, passion or even career path in the helicopter world.