What kind of civilian jobs are available for someone with military helicopter pilot experience? Are there specific industries or companies that often hire former military pilots?
Military experience as a helicopter pilot can open up various opportunities in the civilian sector. The skills you gain from piloting helicopters in the military are both extensive and specialized, making you attractive to a range of employers in sectors such as aviation, aerospace, emergency services, and logistics.
1. Commercial Piloting: Many military helicopter pilots transition into commercial helicopter piloting. This can involve working for helicopter tour companies, charter flights, or corporate transportation. Such positions can be found at companies ranging from small to large helicopter charter services.
2. Emergency Services: Another popular job for former military helicopter pilots is air ambulance and medical evacuation services. These jobs may involve emergency medical transportation or search and rescue missions which call for a high level of precision and training.
3. Oil and Gas Industry: Offshore oil rigs often require helicopter pilots for transportation of crew and equipment between the mainland and the rigs. These roles are challenging but can be lucrative.
4. Wildlife Services: Some government and non-government organizations hire helicopter pilots for wildlife management activities such as tracking animal migrations, population management, or fighting wildfires.
5. Agriculture: In agriculture, helicopter pilots might find work in crop dusting, aerial seeding, or land management.
6. Law Enforcement: Police departments and border patrol agencies also employ helicopter pilots for surveillance, search and rescue, and traffic control tasks.
7. Aviation Instruction: If you're interested in teaching, many flight schools seek out former military pilots to train new students due to their extensive experience and disciplined approach to flying.
Remember, along with your technical aviation skills, your military experience has likely provided you with leadership abilities, decision-making skills, and a strong work ethic, all of which are valued in the civilian job market. When searching for jobs, consider how these transferable skills can be applied in sectors outside of direct helicopter operation as well.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.