No pilot job is for the faint of heart, but you have to have a particular type of resilience (and perhaps a desire for fire rescue) to become a fire pilot.
Many pilots start their training in the military or through a private flight school,however, their career paths can diverge greatly after completing training or schooling. We recently covered the career of an agricultural pilot, who spends their time helping farmers fertilize and maintain their fields.
Today we’re looking at another pilot career that follows a different path from traditional commercial airline or business aviation pilots.
If you want to pursue a career as a pilot that gives back to the community and even have the chance to be a real-life hero consider fire fighting and rescue.
Although backgrounds for fire pilots can be diverse, tailwheel and low-level flying experience is a must. Fire pilots also need the natural ability to fly a plane--those who rely heavily on automation are not well-suited for this field.
If you want to pursue this career start with the understanding that no standard professional training program for a fire pilot exists. However, one path into this career is to work as a pilot on an observation aircraft then transition into a SEAT or right seat of a larger tanker.
Although the career path is not as organized as other pilot jobs, the demand for fire pilots is growing. Some federal agencies employ fire pilots but many are seasonally contracted through companies that government agencies hire for seasonal fire protection. Currently, the US Forestry Service employs the largest number of fire pilots and is also their largest federal contractor. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, The Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service also employ fire pilots, as well as agencies within individual states.
Forest service pilots earn an average of $73,000 to $113,000 a year. That’s a great start for a pilot who is spending their days rescuing our forests and sometimes our people!
Hinds Community College and Delta State University offer aviation programs right here in Mississippi. Click each college to learn more about their opportunities.
