AS350 VRLL Aerial Work Pilot – British Columbia

Heli Preflight; Nelson; Hybrid; CAD 105,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia Helicopters is seeking an experienced AS350 Line Pilot for a permanent, year-round position in Nelson, British Columbia. The role involves mountain and remote operations, wildfire support, water bucketing and utility-site work, reporting to flight-operations with a strong emphasis on safety and customer service.

The successful candidate will hold a Canadian CPL(H) or ATPL(H), TC Category 1 medical, and have substantial AS350 hours.

Qualifications

• A valid Canadian Commercial Pilot Licence – Helicopter or equivalent.
• A valid Transport Canada Category 1 Medical Certificate.
• Minimum 2,000 hours total rotary flight time.
• Minimum 700 hours on the AS350 series.
• Minimum 300 hours of mountain flying experience in any rotary-wing aircraft.
• Legal eligibility to work in Canada.
• Strong communication, customer-service and teamwork skills.
• Sound judgment and a commitment to safe operations.

Responsibilities

• Act as pilot-in-command of the AS350 aircraft.
• Conduct flights safely and professionally per regulations and SOPs.
• Plan and conduct mountain, remote-site, utility and wildfire-support operations.
• Complete flight planning, weight-and-balance, performance calculations and records.
• Coordinate with customers, ground crews, and maintenance staff.
• Maintain aircraft care, cleanliness and readiness.
• Represent Columbia Helicopters professionally at base or away.
• Contribute to a safety-focused company culture.

Skills

Piloting

Operations planning

Teamwork

Customer service

Communication

Education

Canadian Commercial Pilot Licence – Helicopter

Job description

Company: COLUMBIA HELICOPTERS INC
Location: Nelson, British Columbia
Type: Permanent
Salary: $105,000–$180,000/yr
Posted: 07 October 2026

Description

Job Summary

Experienced AS350 Line Pilot – Year-Round 14/14 Rotation

Columbia Helicopters Inc. | Nelson, British Columbia
Full-time, year-round | Two weeks on / two weeks off

Columbia Helicopters is seeking an experienced, safety-minded AS350 Line Pilot for a permanent year round position based in Nelson, B.C., in the heart of the Kootenay mountains.

The position involves varied mountain and remote operations, including seasonal wildfire support, water bucketing, utility work and communications-site support. We are looking for a professional pilot with sound operational judgment who works well with customers, ground crews, maintenance personnel and other members of the flight-operations team.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as pilot-in-command of company AS350 aircraft.
• Conduct assigned flights safely and professionally in accordance with the Canadian Aviation Regulations, Company Operations Manual, standard operating procedures and aircraft limitations.
• Plan and conduct mountain, remote-site, utility and wildfire-support operations as assigned and qualified.
• Complete flight planning, weight-and-balance, performance calculations, risk assessments and required operational records.
• Coordinate effectively with customers, ground crews, flight-following personnel and maintenance staff.
• Maintain high standards of aircraft care, cleanliness and operational readiness.
• Represent Columbia Helicopters professionally while working at base and away from base.
• Contribute to a practical, cooperative and safety-focused company culture.

Schedule and Compensation

This is a full-time, year-round position operating on a 14-days-on / 14-days-off rotation. We understand that rotational schedules occasionally need adjustment and are open to reasonable schedule swaps when operational coverage allows.

We value versatility and compensate accordingly. Starting salary within the advertised range will reflect AS350 time, mountain and utility experience, additional qualifications and the range of operations the pilot can safely perform.

Compensation: $105,000 to $180,000 Salary (depending on your prior qualifications and experience. Also if you have existing clients, this would go toward your daily rate / Salary)

Requirements

Applicants must have:

• A valid Canadian Commercial Pilot Licence – Helicopter or Airline Transport Pilot Licence – Helicopter.
• A valid Transport Canada Category 1 Medical Certificate.
• A minimum of 2,000 hours total rotary flight time.
• A minimum of 700 hours on the AS350 series.
• A minimum of 300 hours of mountain flying experience in any rotary-wing aircraft.
• The legal ability to work in Canada.
• Strong communication, customer-service and teamwork skills.
• Sound judgment and a demonstrated commitment to safe operations.

Preferred Qualifications

The following qualifications are preferred but are not mandatory:

• A recognized mountain flying course. Columbia Helicopters can provide mountain training to an otherwise qualified candidate.
• Wildfire suppression and water-bucketing experience.
• Vertical-reference, external-load or longline experience.
• Remote utility, communications-site, forestry or heli-ski experience.

At Columbia Helicopters, we are a leading helicopter company in British Columbia committed to delivering excellence in helicopter operations, tours and support services. Our dedication to safety, innovation, and customer satisfaction has established us as a trusted industry leader.

With our extensive experience in helicopter operations, we have honed our expertise in a variety of sectors, including precision long-lining, firefighting, aerial construction, oil and gas support, forestry and more. Our team of highly skilled and certified pilots, engineers, and support staff are well-versed in handling complex tasks in diverse and challenging environments.