Are the airlines looking for helicopter pilots? On December 20th, 2017 Fox News published a story about how the current pilot shortage could reach crisis level in the next several years. Right now small regional carriers and low-cost carriers are hurting for commercial pilots to fill their cockpit seats. Between 2017 and 2036 117,000 new pilots are going to be needed in North America. One of the solutions for carriers is to look for helicopter pilots to fill the front seats. Wait a minute, can helicopter pilots fly fixed wing aircraft? After some training, they can, and that is where the airlines are looking.

Right now there are thousands of Army helicopter pilots who are out of work. Because of their Army experience, they qualify for an FAA commercial pilot’s license with rotorcraft Category, Helicopter class ratings with an Instrument rating. But, they have no fixed wing training. As a partner of Go Jet Airlines, Arizona Flight Traning Center in Glendale, Arizona offers pilot candidates a direct connection to transition directly into the cockpit with a conditional job offer once the program is completed. Tuition assistance and hiring bonuses are also available through other current and future partnering airlines.

One airline that has a rotor transition program is Envoy Airlines. Captain Ric Wilson, Vice President Flight Operations. says “With the solid foundation in aviation gained as a military pilot and the financial assistance and mentoring provided by Envoy, both rotor, and fixed-wing pilots can achieve their dream of flying commercial jets in just a matter of months.”

AFTC offers three courses that comprise the Rotor Transition Program:

FAA Private Pilot, Single-Engine Land Certificate – this course will give helicopter pilots the necessary instruction to add a fixed-wing PPL to their license. It consists of 20 hours of dual instruction in a Cessna 172, 10 hours solo and preflight and postflight briefings. FAA Instrument Rating – Single Engine Land – this course will add on the Instrument Rating to the fixed-wing PPL. It consists of 15 hours of dual instruction and preflight and postflight briefings. FAA Commercial Multi-Engine Land Certificate – this course will provide a Commercial Multi-Engine initial. It consists of 23 hours of dual instruction in a multi-engine aircraft, 12 hours of ground instruction and preflight and postflight briefings.

Their Partnership with Go Jet consists of:

Prospective candidates interview with GoJet. If selected, the candidates may participate in the program and are offered a conditional offer of employment.

GoJet agrees to pay up to $26,000.00 of tuition assistance per pilot participating in the Rotor Transition program (depending on pilot experience and hours required to meet airline minimums).

Pilot agrees to a promissory note and commitment contract with GoJet.

If you are a helicopter pilot with an FAA commercial pilot’s license with rotorcraft Category, Helicopter class ratings with an Instrument rating. The airlines want you. Yes, the airlines are looking for helicopter pilots. If you have an interest in this program feel free to contact me, Patrick Williams, AKA CFI Guy Arizona at 480-737-5999. I am a FAA Certified Flight Instructor looking for some of these helicopter pilots to train.