Helicopter Pilot

Air Methods; Twentynine Palms (CA); On-site; USD 99,000 - 112,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Tuition reimbursement

Life insurance

Job summary

Mercy Air in Twentynine Palms seeks pilots for Air Methods operations supporting medical transport. The role emphasizes strict adherence to FARs, AIM and GOM guidelines, ensuring aircraft airworthiness and safe patient transport within a defined operational area.

Applicants should have 2–5 years of related experience with an AA or equivalent; a Bachelor's degree is preferred, and FAA medical certificates are required.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or equivalent required; two to five years related experience.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• FAA certificates and medicals as required for flight operations.

Responsibilities

• Operates Air Methods aircraft safely and legally.
• Completes pre-flight checks and signs the Daily Flight Log.
• Exerts final authority for aircraft operations and safety of passengers, cargo and equipment.
• Ensures medical crew is familiar with aircraft interior and medical systems.
• Completes required documentation for flights.
• Performs detailed flight planning with short notice.
• Participates in meetings, projects and outreach.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Flight category hours

Interpersonal skills

Safety mindset

Education

Associate degree or equivalent

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

Overview

Mercy Air

EC145 (VFR)

Salary Range: ($99,480 - $111,901) with 120% ACCRA

+ $25,000 Stipend

+ Experience Stipend: Up to $12,000

Off-Duty Housing Available

$40,000 Sign On Bonus

14/14 Schedule

**Must meet 29 Palms contract requirement**

AIR METHODS: GO ABOVE AND BEYOND HERE!

As the leader in the air medical industry, Air Methods seeks exceptional pilots to partner with us to serve our communities. We are committed to providing air medical transport resources to our communities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, while providing our pilots with work life balance. Our #1 objective is to ensure safety to/from every time, so come join our growing and high-performing culture, sparked by teammates who deliver on being the best!

Location

Twentynine Palms sits at the gateway to the stunning Joshua Tree National Park, where dramatic desert landscapes, iconic Joshua trees, and brilliant star-filled skies attract visitors from around the world. The city blends rugged natural beauty with a unique military and arts culture, thanks in part to the nearby Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, the largest Marine Corps training base in the country. With its peaceful desert atmosphere, vibrant murals, and access to incredible hiking and outdoor adventure, Twentynine Palms offers a distinctive mix of frontier spirit, creativity, and wide-open desert charm.

Benefits

Air Methods is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package created with the diverse needs of our teammates in mind:

• Health, Dental and Vision
• Competitive 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Flexible Spending Account Benefit Plans
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Full Company-Paid Life Insurance
• AD&D Insurance
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Business Travel Accident Insurance
• Voluntary Legal
• Relocation Assistance
• Employee Assistance and Benefit Concierge Service Programs

Job Summary

Responsible to ensure aircraft and weather conditions are airworthy to transport medical crew and patient to receiving hospital within an assigned operational area. Responsible for compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR), Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), General Operations Manual guidelines (GOM), and thorough knowledge of Air Methods policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions and Responsibilities include the following:

• Operates Air Methods aircraft in a safe and legal manner.
• Completes pre-flight before every flight verifying the aircraft is in an airworthy condition by sign off of Daily Flight Log. Pilots will perform a complete walk around of the aircraft prior to entering the cockpit for flight and upon completion of each flight.
• Final authority with regard to operations of aircraft and for the safety of passengers, cargo and equipment.
• Must be thoroughly familiar with all aircraft and medical systems of backup aircraft utilized at operational area and also ensures that the medical flight team is familiar and comfortable with the medical interior and systems.
• Responsible for completion of required documentation.
• Able to conduct detailed flight planning with little notice to exacting standards.
• Participates regularly in Air Methods meetings, activities, projects, committees and community outreach.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional Job Requirements

• Regular scheduled attendance (14/14 schedule - 12 hour shifts)

Subject to applicable laws and Air Method’s policies, regular attendance is an essential function of the position. All employees must follow Air Methods’ employment practices and policies.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. In accordance with applicable laws, Air Methods will provide reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue burden so disabled employees may perform the essential functions of the position.

Pay Scale

Based on flight and EMS experience.

• STEP A: $82,900
• STEP B: $86,216
• STEP C: $89,665
• STEP D: $93,251

Education & Experience

• Associate’s degree (A.A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school and two to five years’ related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Bachelor’s degree preferred

Operation and Safety Requirements:

• As a member of the Flight Crew, any person employed in this position shall maintain a weight not to exceed 250 pounds and shall be less than seventy (70) years old.

Skills

• Maintains positive interpersonal relationships with colleagues, EMS representatives, hospitals and the public and strives to maintain a friendly and professional working environment
• Pilots must have flown in category within the previous 24 months

Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Program:

• 2000 total flight hours with a minimum of 1500 flight hours in category.
• 1000 hours PIC in category.
• 500 hours of rotor wing turbine.
• 200 hours of cross-country flight time, at least 50 hours at night.
• 100 hours unaided night as PIC (50 hours of unaided can be substituted by 100 hours of NVG time, but cannot be reduced below 50 hours of unaided time).
• 50 hours total actual or hood instrument time in flight and in category (for a RW candidate who is FW rated, 100 hours or greater of FW actual or hood Instrument time can reduce the RW required instrument time to 25 hours).

Twentynine Palms Contract:

• 250 PIC hours in an EC-145/BK-117/H-145
• Maintain 100 PIC hours per year

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Instrument rating (for category and class of aircraft)(ATP rating in category meets this requirement)
• Fixed wing multiengine rating is required for twin-engine aircraft
• Commercial single-engine land is required for single-engine aircraft
• First OR Second Class FAA Medical certificate required.

Internal Bidding Ends: 9/9/2026

Minimum pay

USD $82,900.00/Yr.

Maximum Pay

USD $93,251.00/Yr.

Benefits

For more information on our industry-leading benefits, please visit our benefits page here.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)