PHOTO: Matt Nicholls

 Canada has one of the largest helicopter fleets in the world, with operators expecting a 17 per cent retirement rate among pilots over the next five years compared with 15 per cent of fixed-wing pilots, according to a 2010 Human Resource study published by the former Canadian Aviation Maintenance Council and ATAC. (CAMC is now the Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace (CCAA).Many helicopter pilots start out with a fixed-wing licence. Those who move to rotary wing and find a job as a commercial pilot are likely to encounter situations and face a level of unpredictability far different from what their fixed-wing colleagues will see.Helicopter pilots are often found flying exploration missions for oil and mining companies, transporting workers and cargo in and out of remote communities, providing heavy-lift support such as heli-logging and aerial construction, engaging in fire suppression and putting machines down on unprepared sites in poor visibility. As such, operators are looking for pilots who have clocked the hours, are quick studies and can make on-the-spot decisions. There is a growing executive charter sector in large urban areas such as Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto that may add an element of stability and predictability to your lifestyle, but the bread and butter of Canada’s helicopter sector is utility based and supports the country’s vast resource industry, which also makes work cyclical. As a result, helicopter pilots often find themselves “on the road” and camped in remote locations (a typical helicopter carries about a two-hour fuel load). According to ATAC, the cost of acquiring a commercial helicopter licence is up to $70,000 depending on the type of aircraft. A piston licence is cheaper but is also career limiting because the bulk of Canada’s helicopter fleet is turbine-powered. Upon graduation, a commercial pilot will likely find work as a first officer in a two-crew operation. It is a steeper learning curve to becoming a pilot in command and experienced in the types of missions demanded of Canada’s helicopter operators.

Most operators are looking for pilots with 1,000 hours minimum experience to satisfy customer demands for greater safety and efficiency. This is presenting a challenge for both operators and pilots. The industry, led by the Helicopter Association of Canada (HAC), is looking for solutions to close the yawning experience gap; options they are considering include accreditation and mentoring. There are a lot of operators who will hire lower-time pilots, but are looking for individuals who can bring more than flying skills to the company. This has always been a part of the helicopter culture.

The Canadian helicopter industry is rebounding from three soft years. As demand for helicopter flying increases and many of the higher-time pilots retire, operators are going to have no choice but to be more proactive in opening the business to a new generation
of pilots.