An overview of the role

The role of a helicopter pilot is to transport passengers from one place to another by helicopter. There are a wide variety of careers for qualified helicopter pilots.

You can work as an offshore pilot transferring workers to oil rigs, take tourists on airborne sightseeing tours, undergo specialist rotary training, become a pilot with the armed forces or save lives alongside doctors and paramedics flying an air ambulance.

What are the responsibilities of a helicopter pilot?

Responsibilities of a helicopter pilot include:

  1. Flying the aircraft, in control of the height, speed and navigation
  2. Performing safety checks including fuel, load and equipment
  3. Checking weather conditions
  4. Route planning, taking into consideration any airspace restrictions
  5. Communicating with air traffic control
  6. Composing and filing flight plans and other relevant paperwork

Helicopters are capricious and require precise mental and physical co-ordination. It’s like trying to spin plates while reciting the alphabet backwards in Urdu.

Patrick Muirhead, Helicopter Pilot 1

What are the key skills required by a helicopter pilot?

Key skills for a helicopter pilot include:

  1. Excellent eyesight, spacial awareness and normal colour vision
  2. Excellent hearing
  3. Excellent concentration
  4. Good organisation
  5. Good communication
  6. Mathematical ability
  7. Adaptability
  8. Physical fitness

Unlike commercial fixed-wing aeroplanes which are primarily computerised, helicopters are more unstable and require a far greater degree of manual flying, coordination and calculation. They also offer a more direct flying experience that pilots describe as more thrilling than that of flying a larger plane.

As pilot Patrick Muirhead observes, flying a helicopter for a living makes you a ‘glorified chauffeur’. It is fundamentally a ‘people job’ and requires a  degree of customer service skill in addition to the extensive flight training – particularly the ability to remain calm and reassuring in any situation. These skills are even more crucial if your role involves air ambulance work.

If you have little to no flying experience, an aptitude assessment prior to beginning an pilot course is advisable to save time and money, should this career path turn out not to be for you.

Many helicopter training companies provide such assessments, so get in contact and enquire about them. It may also be possible to have a trial training session at a reduced price before starting the course proper.

What qualifications does a helicopter pilot require?

In order to become a helicopter pilot in the UK, you will need to gain the relevant qualifications and experience. Firstly you can study for a commercial pilot licence (CPL(H)). This normally takes 3-4 weeks (30 hours of instruction time) after which  you must pass a five-section CPL(H) test.  In order to be accepted onto a CPL(H) course you will need a current Private Pilot Licence for Helicopters PPL(H), A current valid pass in all CPL(H) theory exams, A EASA-FCL Class 1 Medical Certificate and to be aged 18 or over.

Commercial helicopter pilots are also expected to have a minimum of five GCSES in English, maths and science (or equivalent). A pass grade in physics is especially desirable.

The second route to becoming a helicopter pilot is by joining the armed forces and signing up for pilot training.

In order to be accepted onto an RAF pilot course you will need:

  1. To be a UK citizen
  2. To have been a UK resident for a minimum of five years before applying
  3. To be aged between 17-25
  4. To pass a variety of fitness tests

RAF pilots are also expected to have a minimum of five GCSES, including English language and maths, plus two A-levels (or equivalent).

An RAF commission is for twelve years. Once you have completed your commission you will have the necessary experience to work as a civilian pilot.

For many helicopter pilot roles (such as North Sea rig work, where storms and impaired visibility is common) the pilot must also have an instrument rating qualification. This means that they are capable of piloting the helicopter using only the in-cockpit instrumentation, with no visual references. As such, it is considered one of the hardest tests in aviation and helicopter pilots that are IR-qualified are more employable.

Unlike fixed-wing pilots, who regularly fly high enough for their vision to be obscured by cloud, most onshore helicopter pilots never use their instrument rating and most commercial helicopters are not even qualified for use in IR conditions.

However, the complexity and difficulty of the qualification marks pilots who have achieved it as extremely skilled and capable of working any role. Achieving an IR is therefore highly recommended, even if you don’t plan on working in a role where it is mandatory.

Do I need relevant work experience to become a helicopter pilot?

Candidates will not be accepted onto a CPL(H) course without a minimum of 155 hours flying time in helicopters – 50 hours as pilot in command and 10 hours cross-country.

What is the helicopter pilot salary in the UK?

A trained, qualified helicopter pilot can expect to earn:

  1. Junior helicopter pilot – £29,000
  2. Helicopter pilot – £55,000
  3. Senior pilot – £86,000
  4. Specialist helicopter pilot – £118,000

The highest-paying helicopter pilots are emergency medical services (EMS), firefighting, oil rig and external load operations.

 

When you have a hectic day, you get in the aircraft and can push everything else out of your mind. Being in flight helps me see the big picture a little bit better and I love that.

Amanda Harris, Helicopter Pilot 2

Is the role of a helicopter pilot right for me?

There are both pros and cons to working as a helicopter pilot.

Pros of working as a helicopter pilot include:

  1. A varied, challenging career
  2. Attractive pay once you have complete 1,500 hours of flying
  3. Good career progression and a variety of jobs available
  4. Roles such as air ambulance and coastguard rescue work save lives and are very rewarding careers
  5. Very high demand for pilots in some sectors (such as offshore rig work)
  6. It is common for pilots to work a one-for-one schedule, receiving one day off for every day worked. Many take 7 days on, 7 days off
  7. It’s a sociable job

Cons of being a helicopter pilot include:

  1. Extremely costly training – as much as £100,000. After the initial £60,000 for training, most pilot roles require candidates to have an instrument rating, which costs £40,000
  2. Extensive studies building up to 14 written proficiency exams, which requires a large amount of commitment
  3. It can be very difficult for recently qualified pilots to find work – most well-paid roles require at least 1,000 flying hours, meaning more time and expense
  4. Some pilot roles, including army and offshore rig work, involve flying in risky conditions and are notoriously dangerous for pilots
  5. A pilot’s schedule is erratic and duties often involve nights, weekends and overnight stays away from home

Related occupations

Occupations related to the role of a helicopter pilot include:

  1. Airline pilot
  2. Air traffic controller
  3. RAF airman/woman
  4. RAF officer
  5. Astronaut
  6. Train driver

References:

1. https://www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/getting-job/i-want-your-job-veterinary-nurse-758945.html

2. https://www.levo.com/posts/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-female-helicopter-pilot