Join a team that flies

to save lives

People need our help. Will you take us there?

Flying for Air Methods

As the leader in the air medical industry, Air Methods
seeks exceptional pilots to partner with us to serve
our communities. As a result, Air Methods is proud to
have higher minimum requirements than other air
medical operators.

View Open Pilot Positions

Flying For Life

Whether you’re in command of an air medical helicopter or airplane, the number one objective is to maintain the highest level of safety while providing critical care medical transports. That’s why AirMethods seeks out the best aviators in the world to be part of our team. Thanks to these dedicated professional pilots, hundreds of thousands of people are now living healthy, active lives after suffering a critical illness or injury. A rewarding career as an air medical pilot with Air Methods has a profound, lasting effect on patients and their families.

General Requirement (All Pilots)

Commercial and Instrument License (or ATP)

For category and class of aircraft. For fixed-wing operation, an SEL rating is required, and MEL may be required for certain bases.

Second-Class Medical Certificate

First class may be required for some customer contracts.

Recency of Experience

If a pilot candidate has not flown (in category) within the previous 24 months, the chief pilot will determine the candidate’s viability.

The Training Program

Our pilots have an enormous obligation to our patients and their families – especially when it comes to assuring that safety remains the highest priority throughout the transport continuum. That’s why Air Methods offers a superior training program, which includes extensive classroom, simulator and aircraft instruction, with ongoing computer-based learning.

Rotor-Wing Visual Flight Rules (VFR) Program:

  • 2,000 total flight hours with minimum of 1,500 flight hours in category
  • 1,000 hours PIC in category
  • 500 hours of rotor wing turbine time
  • 200 hours of cross-country flight time, at least 50 hours of which were at night
  • 100 hours unaided night as PIC (50 hours of unaided can be substituted for 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 (simulator time only counts if it is in a certified Level D FSTD)

Rotor-Wing Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Program:

All VFR requirements plus:

  • 2,500 total flight hours with a minimum of 2,000 hours in category
  • 1,000 hours PIC in category
  • 500 hours of cross-country flight time
  • 75 hours of actual or simulated instrument time at least 50 hours which were in flight in an aircraft including 20 hours in actual instrument conditions in category

For a rotor-wing candidate who is fixed-wing rated, 100 hours or greater of fixed-wing actual or hood instrument time can reduce the rotor-wing required instrument time to 25 hours.

Fixed Wing AirPlane

  • 2,500 total flight hours with a minimum of 2,000 hours in category
  • 1,000 hours PIC in category
  • 500 hours of cross country flight time
  • 100 hours of night flight time
  • 100 hours of flight in actual instrument conditions in CAT

Getting Started: Are You Ready to Fly?

The new-hire pilot training begins with a of week of Basic Indoctrination Training at Air Methods headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Fixed and rotor-wing pilots and medical crew members work together in an interactive environment learning the fundamentals of air medical operations to include:

  • Federal Aviation Regulations
  • Avoidance of controlled flight into terrain and inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions (IIMC)
  • General operations manual and operations specifications
  • Aeromedical
  • High-altitude operations
  • Mountain flight operations
  • Brownout/whiteout/flat light operations
  • Aeronautical decision making
  • IFR and GPS navigation
  • Hazardous materials
  • Aircraft and equipment security
  • Aviation safety
  • Aviation safety action program
  • Air medical resource management

Work Schedule

Air Methods is 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 pilots typically work a seven-on / seven-off rotation, 12-hour shift. Annual flight time is typically 200-300 hours. Pilots are generally not required to be available on days off but have the option to fill in open shifts on an overtime basis if desired.

Benefits

Air Methods provides a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees:

  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Full company-paid life insurance
  • AD&D insurance
  • Short-term and long-term disability insurance
  • Business travel accident insurance
  • Employee assistance and benefit concierge service programs
  • Health, Dental, and Vision
  • Flexible spending account benefit plans
  • Voluntary legal
  • 401(k)
  • Relocation assistance

Our pilots are represented by the OPEIU Local 109 union, and compensation is guided by the union agreement.

Hiring Process

To be considered as an official candidate at Air Methods, you must apply online through our website, www.airmethods.com/careers (e-mailed and paper resumes will not be accepted). The recruiter and hiring manager will review your resume and qualified candidates will be contacted and invited to a series of phone and on-site interviews to determine knowledge and suitability. During this process we’ll share more about our mission, vision, and culture to allow you to explore if Air Methods is right for you.

View Pilot Brochure

Air Methods is always here to answer your call.
For inquiries regarding open positions please fill out the form.

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