General career and industry information

Helicopters in Canada are normally utilized for the transportation of men and equipment in Northern or remote areas. Therefore, a prospective helicopter pilot should consider that this means being prepared to spend extended periods of time away from home, often working out of bush camps.

The majority of commercial companies hire their personnel on either a full-time, or contract basis. The peak period for commercial helicopter operations is during the summer months. It has been our experience that the peak training periods tend to be in the fall and spring.

On graduation, commercial helicopter pilots may expect to earn approximately $3,500.00 per month. As their experience grows, salaries will increase accordingly. After about 2 years, they should be able to earn approximately $35,000.00 to $90,000.00 annually. With additional or specialized skills, it is possible to earn annual salaries in excess of $100,000.00. Since the Canadian Licence is well recognized by ICAO countries around the world, excellent opportunities also exist overseas for experienced Canadian Licensed pilots.

There are no known facilities in Canada that offer pilot training to ab initio students in exchange for future services, --- other than the Canadian Armed Services.

Heli-College Canada cannot guarantee a student employment on completion of training. However, we will do our utmost to assist you in obtaining a position. In the past, we have been able to place many of our graduates with local operators. Don't be misled by a school who makes it sound easy ... Finding your first job in this industry is always a challenge. But please remember, every pilot out flying commercially today, has gone through this process successfully. You are no different than they were, when they started in the industry. We suggest that you carefully read through the articles posted in this web site regarding training and the current job market. Should any openings occur in our company for which you are qualified, our own graduates are always considered on a priority basis.