Helicopter Pilot

Air Methods Pilots•Bartow, FL

10d•Onsite

About The Position

Air Methods is hiring a Helicopter Pilot in Bartow, Florida, to operate an EC135 under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) for Orlando Health. The pilot ensures the aircraft and weather conditions are suitable for transporting medical crew and patients to a receiving hospital within the assigned operational area. The role requires compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR), the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), General Operations Manual (GOM) guidelines, and Air Methods policies and procedures. A $15,000 sign-on bonus is available to new hires only. The position follows a 7/7 schedule with 12-hour shifts. Air Methods describes its mission as providing air medical transport resources 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, while supporting pilot work-life balance and prioritizing safety.

Requirements

Associate’s degree or equivalent from a two-year college or technical school and two to five years of related experience and/or training, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Maintain a weight not exceeding 250 pounds and be younger than 70 years old.
Have flown in category for a commercial operator or in the military within the previous 24 months.
Maintain positive interpersonal relationships with colleagues, EMS representatives, hospitals, and the public, and help maintain a friendly and professional working environment.
For the VFR program: 2,000 total flight hours, including at least 1,500 hours in category.
For the VFR program: 1,000 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC) in category.
For the VFR program: 500 hours of rotor-wing turbine time.
For the VFR program: 200 hours of cross-country flight time, including at least 50 hours at night.
For the VFR program: 100 hours of unaided night time as PIC; 50 hours of unaided time may be substituted with 100 hours of NVG time, but unaided time cannot be reduced below 50 hours.
For the VFR program: 50 hours of actual or hood instrument time in flight and in category; simulator time does not count. For a rotor-wing candidate who is fixed-wing rated, 100 or more hours of fixed-wing actual or hood instrument time can reduce the rotor-wing instrument-time requirement to 25 hours.
Hold a Commercial and Instrument Rating for the category and class of aircraft; an ATP rating in category meets this requirement.
Hold a First- or Second-Class FAA Medical Certificate.
Meet applicable DOT/FAA drug and alcohol testing requirements, including pre-employment, random, reasonable cause/suspicion, and post-accident testing.
Regular scheduled attendance is an essential function of the position.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Operate Air Methods aircraft safely and legally.
Complete a pre-flight inspection before every flight, verify airworthiness, and sign off on the Daily Flight Log.
Perform a complete aircraft walk-around before entering the cockpit and after each flight.
Serve as the final authority for aircraft operations and the safety of passengers, cargo, and equipment.
Maintain familiarity with aircraft and medical systems on backup aircraft used in the operational area, and ensure the medical flight team is familiar and comfortable with the medical interior and systems.
Complete required documentation.
Conduct detailed flight planning to exacting standards, often with little notice.
Participate regularly in Air Methods meetings, activities, projects, committees, and community outreach.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Maintain regular scheduled attendance on the 7/7 schedule with 12-hour shifts.