Medevac/Air ambulance work
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Medevac/Air ambulance work
Hello,
I am hoping to get into air ambulance flying (fixed wing) if Airline work doesnt materialise for me. Can anybody who works for a dedicated air ambulance company using fixed wing a/c give me the low down on working hours (shifts), pay, experience requirements involved in this line of work? Also comment on the impact on family or social life. I would especially like to hear from those who fly Biz jets configured for medevac work. But any fix wing pilot can chip in.
Thanks
I am hoping to get into air ambulance flying (fixed wing) if Airline work doesnt materialise for me. Can anybody who works for a dedicated air ambulance company using fixed wing a/c give me the low down on working hours (shifts), pay, experience requirements involved in this line of work? Also comment on the impact on family or social life. I would especially like to hear from those who fly Biz jets configured for medevac work. But any fix wing pilot can chip in.
Thanks
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Would imagine the aircraft would be on standby 24/7 365. Don't think there can be "regular" hours in this line of work i.e. you can't expect the peoples of the Scotttish isles to have ruptured appendixes (appendicies) between 9am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday.
Flying about the isles I have seen the Scottish Air Ambulances at various fields, the heli was on Islay on a Tuesday morning and the King was at Wick on a Sunday afternoon when I have flown in. Sorry cant help you anymore with the rosters but would imagine most of it would be spent on quick response stanby.
Flying about the isles I have seen the Scottish Air Ambulances at various fields, the heli was on Islay on a Tuesday morning and the King was at Wick on a Sunday afternoon when I have flown in. Sorry cant help you anymore with the rosters but would imagine most of it would be spent on quick response stanby.
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Copied from my previous post:-
No minimum time requirement - for some of the new fo's its their first job.
No SSTR - but a fairly hefty £16.6K 2 year bond.
Pay for fo's 18-22k depending on experience, Capt's 34-38K.
Normal pension, death in service, private medical etc. 28 calender days leave.
Brand new aircraft with Proline 21. The flying is as good as it gets but don't bank on many hours - about 350 a year.
Glasgow base is a 2 x 12 hour shift system on home standby. Aberdeen is a 3 x 10 hour (2 hour overlap) on airport standby .
We currently seem to be fully crewed for the new contract (lots of recent new hires) but their is bound to be some people move on over time.
Family or social life wise its just like any other flying job, we have a roster (usually issued at the very last minute for the next month!), but then you know when you're working and when you're not for that month. Very few roster changes and almost no nightstops.
Other operaters in the UK include Cega, Air Med, Capital, all operating piston and turbine types. I believe these companies operate single pilot (albeit some with a PA), these means entrance requirements prohibit this being a first job.
There are some operaters around europe with jets, I think there is a German company with Lears (FAI ?). Air Charter Scotland have a lifeport to use in one of their CJ's. I don't know of any UK based dedicated jet ambulances, although I stand to be corrected.
No minimum time requirement - for some of the new fo's its their first job.
No SSTR - but a fairly hefty £16.6K 2 year bond.
Pay for fo's 18-22k depending on experience, Capt's 34-38K.
Normal pension, death in service, private medical etc. 28 calender days leave.
Brand new aircraft with Proline 21. The flying is as good as it gets but don't bank on many hours - about 350 a year.
Glasgow base is a 2 x 12 hour shift system on home standby. Aberdeen is a 3 x 10 hour (2 hour overlap) on airport standby .
We currently seem to be fully crewed for the new contract (lots of recent new hires) but their is bound to be some people move on over time.
Family or social life wise its just like any other flying job, we have a roster (usually issued at the very last minute for the next month!), but then you know when you're working and when you're not for that month. Very few roster changes and almost no nightstops.
Other operaters in the UK include Cega, Air Med, Capital, all operating piston and turbine types. I believe these companies operate single pilot (albeit some with a PA), these means entrance requirements prohibit this being a first job.
There are some operaters around europe with jets, I think there is a German company with Lears (FAI ?). Air Charter Scotland have a lifeport to use in one of their CJ's. I don't know of any UK based dedicated jet ambulances, although I stand to be corrected.
Last edited by Flugtak; 7th Oct 2006 at 10:46. Reason: spelling
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Thanks for the information guys. Thanks Flugtak for the insight. Just two questions regarding Scottish Air Ambulance;
I'm not to sure how competitive it is getting a position like yours, but how long do guys normally stay before they move onto airlines or another job?
As its part of the Gama group, are you exclusively contracted to the air ambulance side? Or can you get called to do some exec charter work as well?
Thanks again guys. I'm researching all the air ambulance companies in UK, Europe and Internationally.
I'm not to sure how competitive it is getting a position like yours, but how long do guys normally stay before they move onto airlines or another job?
As its part of the Gama group, are you exclusively contracted to the air ambulance side? Or can you get called to do some exec charter work as well?
Thanks again guys. I'm researching all the air ambulance companies in UK, Europe and Internationally.
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The Scottish Air Ambulance King Airs are dedicated to the task, they are permanently role equipped so no charters for us. Apart from our contact with ops we could almost be in a seperate company to the rest of the group.
I don't think its more or less difficult to get into this particular job. Scottish address probably helps, but doesn't seem essential - most of the new joins are from south of the border. Its too soon to see how many people will stay or move on, for a newly qualified pilot the lack of hours means they either will have to stay a long time to get a command or move on to jobs with more flying/money. Remember 95% of pilots are looking for their next job.
I don't think its more or less difficult to get into this particular job. Scottish address probably helps, but doesn't seem essential - most of the new joins are from south of the border. Its too soon to see how many people will stay or move on, for a newly qualified pilot the lack of hours means they either will have to stay a long time to get a command or move on to jobs with more flying/money. Remember 95% of pilots are looking for their next job.
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The pilots are revolting
A number of the GAMA pilots flying for the Scottish Air Ambulance at the Glasgow operation are in the process of leaving. Crews have been pressurised into working long hours and rest days, and many are dissatisfied. Ground Engineer left three weeks ago and so pilots expected to clean and maintain the aircraft, ground equipment and the station!
No appointed base captian so there is a power struggle going on.
A number of very dubious practices operating.
Glasgow is 400 miles away from the base at Farnborough; Aberdeen is 550 miles away - out of sight is out of mind.
If you want to be messed about, given broken promises, and be left high and dry - then GAMA is exacty the right company to join.
No appointed base captian so there is a power struggle going on.
A number of very dubious practices operating.
Glasgow is 400 miles away from the base at Farnborough; Aberdeen is 550 miles away - out of sight is out of mind.
If you want to be messed about, given broken promises, and be left high and dry - then GAMA is exacty the right company to join.
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As an employee of the Scottish Ambulance Service and keen on aviation, I've been reading with interest some of these posts. GAMA don't sound like a good deal as far as pilots wages and terms and conditions are concerned.
Especially when the paramedic sitting next to the captain is on more money that he is.
I'm on the land based Ambulances and earned the same as the GAMA captains last year, our air crew guys get more than I do. (P60)
There's something not right!!
Especially when the paramedic sitting next to the captain is on more money that he is.
I'm on the land based Ambulances and earned the same as the GAMA captains last year, our air crew guys get more than I do. (P60)
There's something not right!!
