Best Helicopter Pilot Jobs in Texas

Are you looking to find a helicopter pilot job in Texas? Hundreds of companies hire helicopter pilots in Texas every year and now, more than ever, are looking for experienced pilots to combat the pilot shortage. We took a look at the companies hiring helicopter pilots, here are our top picks.

To become a commercial pilot certificate in the state of Texas you must:

After all the requirements are completed you may apply for helicopter jobs within the state. 

When choosing the best helicopter job for you in Texas, it is best to understand what kind of industry you are looking to get into, if this is a time building stepping stone and the size of the company. Once you have gauged these metrics, you can look into jobs that fit the bill. Here are our top picks for the best helicopter jobs in Texas.

Med-Trans Corporation employs helicopter pilots to provide medical air transportation services to its customers. Helicopter pilots for Med-Trans work continuous shifts 7 days on then 7 days off. 

Location: Odessa, DFW, Fort Stockton, San Angelo, Seminole, Lubbock, and Amarillo

Contact Info: 

Email: careers@gmr.net

Phone: (866) 365-3843

Employees: 700+

Company Revenue: $145 million

Salary or Per-Trip Price: $70,782 - $93,500 per year

Benefits: 

Disadvantages: 

Bell Helicopter is one of the largest helicopter manufacturers. Bell looks for experimental and demo pilots on a regular basis to support new airframe research and development. Although the minimums to be considered for these jobs are high, Bell is known for paying its pilots well and having great benefits packages.  

Location: Fort Worth, TX

Company Website: Bell Helicopter

Contact Info: 

Phone: 817-280-2011

Employees: 8,800 employees

Company Revenue: $2 billion

Salary or Per-Trip Price: $91,696 - $129,318 per year

Benefits: 

Disadvantages:

Veracity Aviation is a helicopter pilot training school that hires dozens of flight instructors a year out of flight school with as low as 500 hours. Four locations give CFIs options as to where they build time. For longer term career opportunities, Veracity also hires for higher positions such as chief pilot and base chiefs. 

Location: Seguin, Georgetown, Pearland, Fort Worth

Company Website: Veracity Aviation 

Contact Info: 

Email: aviation@tccd.edu

Phone: 817-515-7100 

Employees: <100 employees

Company Revenue: $20 million 

Salary or Per-Trip Price: $36,000 - $48,000 a year

Benefits: 

Disadvantages: 

FlightSafety International is a professional aviation training company and supplier of flight simulators, visual systems, and displays to commercial, government, and military organizations. It provides training for pilots year round at its four locations within Texas. The competitive salary and benefits make FlightSafety a great option for those looking for a long term helicopter pilot position. 

Location: DFW Airport, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio

Company Website: FlightSafety International

Contact Info: 

Email: AskHR@flightsafety.com

Phone: 316-220-3150

Employees: 4,300

Company Revenue: $1 billion

Salary or Per-Trip Price: $84,000 - $140,000 per year

Benefits:

Disadvantages:

Westwind Helicopters, Inc., is a On Demand Part 135 Operator with years of experience operating both on and offshore in Texas, Louisiana, and the Gulf of Mexico. The main responsibility of its helicopter pilots is to transport workers to and from the oil barges in the Gulf of Mexico. The schedule for a Westwind helicopter pilot is 2 weeks on 2 weeks off. 

Location: Santa Fe, TX

Company Website: Westwind Helicopters Inc.

Contact Info: 

Phone: 409-925-7300  

Employees: >50

Company Revenue: $45 million

Salary or Per-Trip Price: $75,000 - $95,000 per year & $5 per flight hour flown bonus 

Benefits: 

Disadvantages:

The timeframe it takes to become a helicopter pilot depends a lot on how much time you are devoted to training and where you complete your training. To begin flight training with no experience, to get a commercial helicopter certificate training may take 6-12 months if you are attending training full time. For part time pilots, a commercial pilot certificate can take longer, 12-24 months. 

When considering helicopter pilot jobs, look out for types of companies and if they can offer job security, the safety protocols of the company, how much you will make, and the location of the position. Choose the position that will meet your requirements in each of those areas before applying. 

Job security is important to understand and take into consideration when applying for a helicopter pilot job because you do not want to be stuck looking for a new position in cases of company closure, bankruptcy, or a recession. Look for long standing companies that have years of experience hiring and training pilots. Ask current and former employees their opinion or look at reviews online to gauge job security. 

Safety in the aviation industry should be at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Companies that hire helicopter pilots should be dedicated to the safety of the pilot as well as the passengers. Research the safety protocols of the companies you apply to online or by asking current and former pilots. During your interviews, ask your interviewer if there are any specific safety protocols you should be aware of before taking the position. 

Salary is one of the most important metrics when applying for a new position. Set a guideline for yourself and your family and apply to companies and positions that meet those guidelines. Right out of flight school do not have unrealistic expectations of salary, but find the best position to fit your needs in the short term. The more experience you get, the higher salary you can ask for. 

When searching for a pilot job, hone in on the area you want to live in. Whether that be Texas or another state, helicopter pilot jobs are everywhere, so choose a location you will be happy to live in for the long term. 

Border patrol pilots or Air Interdiction Agents pilot airplanes, helicopters, and unmanned aircraft systems to interdict inbound threats to the U.S. and investigate dangerous criminal networks. These jobs are located in border cities in the state of Texas, such as El Paso, Laredo, and Del Rio as well as border cities in other states. 

Border pilots must undergo a flight assessment at Air and Marine Operations (AMO) National Air Training Center (NATC) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The exam has four phases:

If the candidate passes the flight assessment they are eligible to apply for border patrol pilot positions. 

US Customs and Border Protection pilots make approximately $150,000 - $190,000 per year.

Applying to a new job can be daunting but in Texas you have options. Choosing the best helicopter job in Texas for you can be easy if you take into consideration the most important metrics, safety, salary, location, and job security. If you are interested in learning more about helicopter pilot jobs or staying up to date on the top news in aviation, subscribe to FLYING Magazine.