Helicopter Pilot Job Outlook

By Kyle Garrett

The entire helicopter industry is rapidly expanding and the number of helicopter pilot jobs continues to rise. Helicopter pilots serve a variety of vital functions, including emergency medical services, firefighting, forestry management, search and rescue, law enforcement, corporate/executive/private transport, TV and radio news, aerial photography, agricultural spraying, offshore companies, tourism, and utilities (pipeline and power line). Until recently, many helicopter industry jobs were filled with Vietnam War-era pilots who were trained in the military and had a huge number of flight hours in their logbook when they returned from overseas. Employers, always wanting to hire pilots with the most experience, had their choice of who to hire, and getting a job as a helicopter pilot was more difficult. Read more about helicopter pilot salaries.

Helicopter Pilot Job Demand

Today, many of those experienced pilots are retiring and the helicopter industry has grown. As a result, new helicopter pilots are in much higher demand. Pilots entering the workforce are finding they are becoming more employable as the number of "high time" pilots decreases. Employers have also reduced their hourly requirements from several thousand to sometimes as low as 500 hours for hiring eligibility. This means that newly minted helicopter pilots with just a few months of flying as an instructor may be eligible for some entry-level helicopter pilot jobs.

Helicopter Pilot Job Growth

The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts job growth for all pilot jobs for the foreseeable future. Careers for commercial pilots of both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft are expected to increase by up to 21 percent between 2010 and 2020. Helicopter pilots with the most training, hours, and education will have the easiest time getting jobs, so you'll need to prepare yourself accordingly. Research helicopter pilot training.