Helicopter mechanics are atrocious and need to be reworked.

I’m not going to talk about how awful it feel to pilot, how the handling sucks because that’s already been mentioned by many.
All the ideas surrounding helicopters are BAD and poorly thought out.

Let’s start with the main and most absurd one: the repair/ammo reload station.
I have no idea how such a stupid and mediocre idea made it through Labs. Did the community really think this was a good idea, or did Dice simply ignore the feedback?
First, it takes forever to even start repairing or reloading ammo. Second, you’re COMPLETELY vulnerable during the process. Right now it’s just annoying, because enemy jets are still piloted by beginners, but a few months after launch, using that station will be a death sentence — you’ll get attacked mid-reload and that’s it.
If they want to force pilots to return for reloading to avoid a massacre, at least make that reload fast and functional in mid-air.
Suggestion: increase the reload/repair speed and allow it to work mid-air.

The fact that the helicopter doesn’t passively repair HP after a while without taking damage is also a problem. Look, if the station actually worked in a viable way, this could be acceptable, but considering the absurd delay for the station to rearm the aircraft, having no passive repair is just way too punishing.
Suggestion: passive healing. Also unlock the repair skill to be used whenever you want.

And these flares… their duration is laughable. You already have to start leaving the fight the moment you get locked, because if you try to attack while using the flares, you’re guaranteed to die.
Again, if it weren’t for the previous issues, this would be acceptable. But since repairing the aircraft is so difficult, any damage becomes way too punishing.
Suggestion: increase the flares duration.

I strongly believe that improving at least one of these aspects would already make the helicopter a more relevant vehicle, because as it is, I feel like I have less impact on the match in a helicopter than I do as infantry, and mind you, I’m an experienced pilot in previous titles.