2022 Career Guide: EMS Helicopter Pilot
A career as an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) helicopter pilot can be equally as challenging as it can be rewarding. Pilots in this career are responsible for transporting patients and medical crews safely from the scene of an incident to the hospital.
Becoming an EMS pilot requires hours of sophisticated training and multiple certifications, but these long hours aren’t for nothing. Pilots are rewarded in pay and in the satisfaction of being instrumental to the saving of lives.
What is an EMS Helicopter Pilot?
EMS helicopter pilots are an essential part of a hospital's emergency response system. They are responsible for maintaining and operating ambulance helicopters. These pilots are elite professionals who have impeccable risk management skills, phenomenal physical stamina, and a passion for the fast-paced, high-stress environment of an EMS worker.
Job Description
The main responsibility of an EMS helicopter pilot is to safely and efficiently transport crew members and patients from the scene of an accident to the hospital. The job of an EMS pilot is incredibly rewarding but can come with a unique set of challenges and risks.
EMS pilots must be able to safely operate a helicopter in all conditions at all times of the day. Because disaster can strike at any time, a pilot must be ready for dispatch 24/7 making overnight shifts a regular part of the job.
Pilots must also be experienced flying in challenging weather situations, landing and taking off on hazardous terrain, and assisting the patients and medical staff. Some basic tasks that a pilot must be able to perform are:
Complete a preflight checklist: inspect the helicopter, make a staff review, and be familiar with flying conditions.
Be prepared to launch within 5 to 10 minutes of an emergency call.
Smoothly navigate through good and bad weather at all times of the day and night.
Balance the helicopter's load, accommodating for patients and medical staff.
Maintain aircraft and their certifications to the Federal Aviation Administration standards.
Helicopters are sophisticated vehicles that require acute familiarity and attention to detail to operate. The high stakes and standards that come with this job are not overlooked and most pilots are well compensated for their work.
The salary for an EMS helicopter pilot can fluctuate greatly due to multiple factors; however, the median salary for a pilot in the U.S. is around $114,000 annually.
Qualifications to becoming an EMS Pilot
Becoming an EMS helicopter pilot is no small task. Hours of flying experience, a myriad of medical certifications, demanding physical fitness and, in most cases, a college degree are required.
Education Requirements
While not mandatory across the board, many operators prefer that helicopter pilots have a degree such as an associate degree related to aviation in some way. Pilots are also required to hold at least 1 medical class certification in CPR or first aid.
In addition to a degree, EMS pilots are required to have a Commercial Pilot Rotorcraft License and typically over 1500 hours of flight experience. The pilot's education will consist of two licenses and one Certification. These are pilots' private and commercial license and their instrument certification. These will be earned through three main training portions that must be completed with passing grades. Ground education, flight training, and flight time.
Private pilots license
Ground education is a classroom-based portion that is a modular approach to the before, during, and after of basic flight procedures. Students will put this learning into action during their flight training which students will fly with an experienced instructor who demonstrates the basic operations and essential maneuvers of flying an aircraft. Finally, students will need 40 hours of supervised experience during which they are fully operating the aircraft.
After completing the ground, flight training, and flight time requirements, students will showcase their skills by taking an FAA exam. Students must demonstrate mastery of content that includes flight preparation, take-off, landing, hovering, and emergency procedures.
Instrument Certification
After obtaining a private pilot license, EMS helicopter pilots will need to obtain their instrument certification since the job requires operating a helicopter in poor weather conditions and at night. This certification requires additional ground education and flight training along with 15 hours of instrument flight training, 40 hours of instrument time, 50 hours of cross-country flight time, and demonstrable mastery of instrument operation.
Commercial Helicopter Pilot License
The final step is for EMS pilots to obtain their commercial helicopter pilot license. Before beginning the course, students must pass the knowledge exam demonstrating an in-depth understanding of piloting an aircraft. Following, students will gain additional hours of cross-country flying experience both solo and paired.
Physical Requirements
Pilots must be in good physical shape in order to be able to help load and operate a helicopter. Because helicopters are weight sensitive, almost all piloting jobs have a weight maximum of a fully uniformed pilot around 230 lbs.
In addition, the long and odd hours worked by an EMS pilot require impeccable self-care skills so that they can work at top efficiency no matter the time of day. EMS pilots should also be able to work with great coordination and speed as they will need to be able to react quickly to unexpected events and adjust the instruments with agility.
All commercial helicopter pilots are required to pass the FAA class 2 medical certification. These standards require evaluation of eyesight, color vision, hearing, blood pressure, and pertinent medical history that could impact flying ability.
Flight Experience
In total, a candidate will typically need at least 1500 hours of total flight time on an aircraft. Ideally, those 1500 hours must meet the following flying criteria:
1) 1500 hours of total helicopter time
2) 1000 hours helicopter pilot in command
3) 500 hours turbine
4) 100 hours unaided night flying or 50 hours unaided with 100 hours aided.
Depending on the time and financial commitment made by a pilot in training, it can take anywhere from 3 to 5 years to complete the minimum requirement of hours to become an EMS helicopter pilot.
Career Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that airline employment is projected to increase between 2020 and 2030, specifically in the industry of ambulance services. This demand will, of course, vary by region as EMS pilots who are willing to work in remote areas will consistently be in higher demand than those who live and work in cities where ground travel is safer and more viable.
Closing remarks
Operating an EMS helicopter requires extensive knowledge of operating and maintenance as well as substantial experience operating a helicopter through a variety of conditions and emergency situations.
The role of an EMS pilot is nothing to be taken lightly as proper operation could be the difference between the life and death of patients and crewmembers. Though incredibly challenging–physically and emotionally–the role of an EMS pilot is an incredibly rewarding career.
