High Desert Career Training

A career as a helicopter pilot requires skill, experience and professional discipline. Any pilot hiring employer is looking for the best that’s out there. High Desert Helicopters builds career pilots. We work with your future employers to learn what they demand from their pilots and train accordingly.

Income Potential

A recent graduate will typically work as a flight instructor. Flight instructors at High Desert Helicopters earn between $18 and $30 an hour. After building 800 to 1000 flight hours a helicopter pilot will earn between $55,000 to $102,000 a year, largely determined by flight hours and experience.

Career Training Advantages

Consider that the Full Professional Program can be completed in one year. This means that you are working in the industry and earning money a lot faster than other career options that take four or more years to enter the job market.

Another thing to consider is that helicopter pilots are in high demand and excellent helicopter pilots are in dangerously short supply. Part of the reason for this is the military. Civilian helicopter operations are largely staffed with retiring Vietnam War pilots and today the military is training half as many pilots and holding onto them twice as long. Additionally, the civilian helicopter industry is growing rapidly; doubling in size over the last ten years alone.

Pilot Job Options

As a helicopter pilot you have the opportunity to work in several different environments and industries. Here’s a quick list of job options.

• Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
• Search and Rescue (SAR)
• Aerial fire fighting
• Flight Instruction
• Offshore Oil & Gas Platforms
• Tours & sightseeing flights
• Airborne law enforcement
• Electronic news gathering
• Charters / Executive transport
• Humanitarian Missions
• Heavy Lift
• Agricultural Work
• Aerial Photography / Movies
• Aerial Survey
• Powerline / Pipeline Patrol
• Tuna Boat