Helicopter Pilot Resume: Example, Hours and Writing Guide
Rotorcraft operators hire on specifics: your hours by type, your mission experience, and whether you have flown the conditions they operate in. A strong helicopter pilot resume puts that front and center.
On this page: what recruiters and hiring managers look for, an example, section-by-section tips, keywords, common mistakes and FAQs.
Free, no account needed. Last reviewed October 2026.
What recruiters and hiring managers look for in a helicopter pilot resume
Ratings and hours
Commercial or ATP Rotorcraft, Instrument Helicopter, CFI or CFII, medical class, plus total, PIC, turbine, night and instrument hours.
Mission experience
EMS, offshore, tour, utility, ENG, firefighting, external load or law enforcement. Each one maps to a different employer, so say which you have flown.
Helicopter types
List models and engines (AS350, Bell 407, EC135, AW139) and the time on each, since operators fly specific fleets.
Conditions and safety
Mountain, night vision goggle (NVG), instrument or over-water flying, plus safety programs and training you completed.
Helicopter pilot resume example
This is sample content to show structure and wording. Replace every detail and number with your own, and only claim what is true for you.
John Smith
Helicopter Pilot · Orlando, FL · (555) 010-0142 · john.smith@example.com
Summary
Commercial helicopter pilot with 7 years and 3,200 total hours, most recently on Airbus AS350 / H125 under Part 135. NVG and IFR proficiency, disciplined risk assessment and clean mission records. Seeking a Helicopter Pilot role.
Certificates & ratings
Commercial Pilot · Rotorcraft–Helicopter · Instrument Rating · CFI · Second Class Medical
Aircraft experience
Airbus AS350 / H125 · Airbus EC135 · Bell 407 · Bell 429 · Sikorsky S-76
Education & training
B.S. Aeronautical Science · Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University · 2018
Experience
Helicopter Pilot · Example Aviation Co. · 2021 to Present
- Flew 1,800 hours of HAA transports on Airbus AS350 / H125 under Part 135 over four years, including 600 NVG hours and 220 scene calls with no IIMC events
- Logged 2,400 hours of Part 133 longline and bucket work on Airbus AS350 / H125, holding USFS and DOI OAS cards for six fire seasons
- Flew 3,200 offshore hours in the Gulf of Mexico, averaging 40 deck landings per week in multi-crew IFR operations
- Logged 1,100 hours of dual given on the R22 and R44 under SFAR 73, with 22 students passing checkrides on the first attempt
How to write each section
Summary
Rating, total time, types flown and the mission you are targeting.
Experience
Employer, aircraft, mission and seat, with facts you can support, such as flights completed.
Training
Type courses, NVG, IFR currency and any simulator or recurrent training.
Keywords to include (when they are true for you)
Applicant tracking systems and recruiters search for these terms in helicopter pilot job postings. Work in the ones that honestly describe your experience, ideally inside your experience bullets rather than only in a skills list.
- Commercial Rotorcraft-Helicopter
- Instrument Helicopter
- ATP Helicopter
- CFI Helicopter
- CFII
- SFAR 73
- Second Class Medical
- First Class Medical
- Part 135
- Part 133
- Part 137
- Part 91
- 135.243
- 135.293
- 135.297
- HAA
- air medical
- EMS
- CAMTS
- NVG
- night vision goggles
- unaided night
- SPIFR
- single-pilot IFR
Common helicopter pilot resume mistakes
- Not splitting hours by aircraft type or mission.
- Leaving off NVG, instrument or mountain experience that operators ask about.
- Using a fixed-wing resume template without highlighting rotorcraft ratings.
- Overstating hours instead of keeping them consistent with your logbook.
Helicopter pilot resume questions
What hours do helicopter operators ask for?
It varies by mission and insurance. Operators commonly ask for total time, turbine time, PIC, instrument and night hours, with higher minimums for EMS and offshore work. Check each posting.
How do I show mission experience on a resume?
Name the mission in each job (EMS, offshore, tour, utility) and add a fact you can support, such as flights completed or hours on that mission.
Should I list the helicopter models I have flown?
Yes, with hours on each where possible. Operators hire to match the aircraft they run.
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