Helicopter Pilot

Helicopters are used for purposes such as:

• taking aerial photographs
• aerial surveys of wildlife
• prospecting
• firefighting
• transporting supplies and equipment to construction sites or oil and gas lease sites
• transporting business executives, medical patients or tourists
• search and rescue
• inspecting power lines and pipelines
• heli-logging
• heli-hiking or heli-skiing.

Helicopter pilots' duties and working conditions can vary a great deal from one job to another but, in general, they:

• determine flight requirements and contact NAV Canada for weather information
• check fuel supply and conduct pre-flight inspections
• ensure that passengers and cargo are loaded properly
• instruct passengers on safety
• operate the helicopter
• navigate using landmarks on the ground, compasses, radio directional equipment, global positioning system (GPS) and maps
• communicate while in flight with other aircraft, NAV Canada and customers or clients on the ground
• file flight plans and keep records.

Operating a helicopter involves controlling the direction of flight with your right hand, controlling altitude with your left hand, pushing pedals with your feet to keep the machine pointing in the right direction and, at the same time, scanning the instrument panel and navigating the helicopter. Good co-ordination and many hours of practise are required to master these skills.

Helicopter pilots employed in remote areas often are away from home for extended periods of time and sometimes work in severe weather conditions. Their hours of work can be irregular and, some days, they may be on call.

Helicopter pilots often load and unload cargo. Dealing with difficult customers and the need to be constantly alert, combined with tight flight schedules or deadlines, can be stressful.

Helicopter pilots need the following characteristics:

• a good sense of spatial orientation
• good judgment and the ability to make decisions and act quickly
• good health, vision (with or without corrective lenses), reflexes and hand-eye co-ordination
• the ability to work with little or no supervision for extended periods of time
• the flexibility required to deal with loads and tasks that vary constantly
• the ability to work and communicate effectively with personnel ranging from labourers to company presidents.

They should enjoy operating aircraft and related equipment, evaluating aircraft performance and directing the work of others.

Above-average occupational growth is expected in Alberta for 2016 to 2020. Job openings are a result of employment turnover and newly created positions.

Some helicopter pilots are employed full time. Others work on a seasonal basis from spring until fall or work on a contract basis.

Helicopter pilots are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 2271: Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors. In Alberta, 78% of people employed in this classification work in the Transportation and Warehousing (PDF) industry.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Transportation and Warehousing industry)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Over 3,000 Albertans are employed in the Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors occupational group. This group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 1.9% from 2016 to 2020. As a result, 57 new positions are forecast to be created each year, in addition to job openings created by employment turnover. Note: As helicopter pilots form only a part of this larger occupational group, only some of these newly created positions will be for helicopter pilots.  

Employment turnover is generally low in this occupation but is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Transport Canada website: www.tc.gc.ca

For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.