Pipe Dream or Reality?

[1fuzzyflyer]

I have no experience in this side of aviation, but after reading the threads in this forum, it seems that most people treat the airmed industry as a place to get some experience and move on. Seems pay is mediocre at best. Is it possible to find a long term gig making $75-95K/yr w/ good schedule/benefits in the airmed business, or is this just a pipe dream? Just curious...in the Chi-Town area.

 

[propsarebest]

Yes, its possible, but it will take some time. Don't expect to find that cushy 45 hour a month, no overnite, no on call lear 35 job unless you pay your dues.

 

[Photoflight]

Maybe as CP or DO.

90% of airmed stuff is located in more rural areas and the stuff in the larger more popular towns like chicago would probably be less lucrative to the pilots

 

[Say Again Over]

I enjoyed my years flying Air Ambulance, have to say though, you won't actually do a lot of flying. Things like cleaning the aircraft, paper work, servicing oxygen, hours waiting around are a big part of the job. I worked in the southwest and made 60K as a manager, I don't think my salary would have increased much.

 

[MASH4077]

I fly for an "AirMed" company and it is very hard work. We go all over the world. A lot of on-call. pay is decent and it definitely is rewarding. A great way, especially at this company, to build experience flying all over the world.

 

[avbug]

The answer to your question is "not likely," but also it depends. There are many levels of medical aviation, from small piston airplanes to turboprops, to turbojets. Few of them pay much, typically 30,000 to 50,000.

I've done the rural air ambulance thing operating from dirt airstrips in piston airplanes, and rural and urban work in turboprops. I've flown patients and organs on time critical flights in lears and turbojet equipment, too. I've also worked in maintenance and been the director of maintenance for an air ambulance operation. The pay has never been what I would call generous.

You could do it long term if you like. Most people don't enjoy being called out at all hours, with no way to plan a life or schedule anything...forget church, forget evening communiy education classes, forget sports, forget a social life...it's a different life, and it's okay for a while...but how long you want to do it and tolerate it is up to you.