Explore: Emergency services

Helicopter Pilot
Devon Air Ambulance

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Hi, my name is Tilda.

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I’m a HEMS pilot. Helicopter, emergency

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medical services pilot, and I fly for Devon Air Ambulance.

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My job involves flying a helicopter

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in order to get the critical care team, which consists of either

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two paramedics and a critical care doctor or just two paramedics to an incident.

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We are literally bringing A&E to the scene.

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So it’s a 999 call out

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where they say they need a doctor or critical care paramedic.

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It’s a lot more service than the land ambulance can provide,

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and we carry a lot more specialist equipment

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that you wouldn’t be able to afford to put on every land ambulance but you could afford to put

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perhaps on two helicopters.

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The best bit is when it’s a happy ending and that you do save a life

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and you’ve really made a difference.

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Obviously, when it’s not a successful outcome,

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it’s very difficult.

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Then you really feel for the people that are left behind.

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So I find, yeah, that can be very, quite emotional.

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But so I’ve learned to become detached from it.

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So you have to be quite

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strong about it and just switch off.

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It all started when I was about 13 and we had a careers form that came around school and said,

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What do you want to be when you leave school?

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And so I said either a stunt woman, a secret agent,

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an astronaut or pilot, and the pilot was the easier option.

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So I did actually write to the Air Force

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when I was about that age because I knew they didn’t

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let women fly in the military – I said ‘why don’t you let me fly?’

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And they said, Well, you never know.

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Perhaps by the time you’re old enough, things might have changed.

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And they did.

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So I actually started flying when I was at university.

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I joined the University Air Squadron

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which is run by the Air Force and they teach you how to fly.

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And then I joined from there.

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I’d say that three strong points that you need to become a HEMS

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pilot would be to be flexible, to be able to put up with

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rapid planning and depending on the weather, depending

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on the type of the incident where you need to go, who you’re carrying.

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Be fairly practical and be willing to get your hands dirty,

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often landing in really muddy fields,

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having to help move the patient to and out of the aircraft,

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and also be able to stay emotionally detached.

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Because obviously you do get to meet

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the patient’s family or relatives quite often.

“The best bit is when it’s a happy ending and that you do save a life and you’ve really made a difference.” When she was 13, Tilda wanted to be a stunt woman, a secret agent, an astronaut or a pilot. She went on to join her university air squadron where she learned how to fly. She then joined the RAF but now works as a helicopter pilot for the ambulance service.

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More information about Aircraft pilots and flight engineers

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£96,200

average salary

The UK average salary is £28,758

average weekly hours

There are 37.5 hours in the average working week

90% male

10% female

The UK workforce is 47% female and 53% male

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Description

? Aircraft flight deck officers check, regulate, adjust and test engines and other equipment prior to take-off, navigate and pilot aircraft and give flying lessons.

Qualifications

Entrants with GCSEs/S grades and A levels/H grades, an Advanced GNVQ/GSVQ Level III or a BTEC/ SQA award can apply for an airline sponsorship. Private residential training is available to candidates with GCSEs/S grades or appropriate BTEC/SQA or GNVQ/GSVQ awards or to holders of Private Pilots Licences who have 700 hours flying experience. Normal colour vision is required and candidates undergo a medical examination. Training lasts up to 15 months and consists of courses of study and flying instruction. Airlines may have additional age and height requirements.

Tasks

Studies flight plan, discusses it with flight deck crew and makes any necessary adjustments;
Directs or undertakes routine checks on engines, instruments, control panels, cargo distribution and fuel supplies;
Directs or undertakes the operation of controls to fly aeroplanes and helicopters, complying with air traffic control and aircraft operating procedures;
Monitors fuel consumption, air pressure, engine performance and other indicators during flight and advises pilot of any factors that affect the navigation or performance of the aircraft;
Maintains radio contact and discusses weather conditions with air traffic controllers;
Performs specified tests to determine aircraft’s stability, response to controls and overall performance;
Accompanies pupil on training flights and demonstrates flying techniques.

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