Helicopters are one of the most versatile vehicles ever invented. Their unique ability to hover in mid-air, fly sideways, backwards and being able to land in a space no bigger than a tennis court make them uniquely suited to perform a wide variety of tasks. These are some of the many professional helicopter pilot positions that are available now and will continue to be available into the foreseeable future.

I. Emergency Medical Services (EMS)- These are the helicopters that respond to life threatening emergencies on our nations interstates, highways, and local roads. EMS helicopter pilots usually fly as a single pilot and sometimes in weather that is less than favorable. The flight time requirements differ but for the most part you will need a minimum of 2000 hrs of pilot in command (PIC) flight time in order to be considered a competitive candidate. As far as who you’ll be working for…most EMS helicopters are owned by a company that is separate from the hospital. The company leases out the pilots and the helicopters to the hospital. Notice that I said most. There are hospitals that directly employ EMS helicopters and their pilots.

II. Electronic News Gathering (ENG)- Pilots who fly Electronic News Gathering missions report on traffic conditions, cover local events like parades and festivals and also give us that wonderful coverage of high and low speed police chases. These pilots usually work a split shift that corresponds with the morning and evening rush hours and are on call in case of developing stories.

III. Government Agencies- The federal, state, and local governments offer a wealth of flying opportunities. On the Federal level agencies such as the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency), ICE (immigration and customs enforcement), NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), DHS (Department of Homeland Security) as well as others offer flying opportunities that are diverse and wide-ranging. On the state levels state departments of transportation and wildlife.

IV. Military- Military flying can be one of the most rewarding types of flying. In government and military flying money is less of an issue. Excellent training is the norm and you could be flying some of the most advanced helicopters on some of the most exciting missions.

V. Law Enforcement- Flying for state and local law enforcement can also be very rewarding. In most law enforcement agencies they hire pilots from within the ranks of ground officers. So, if you want to fly for a state or local law enforcement agency you can expect to be an officer on the ground for a few years

VI. Petroleum Support- Petroleum support pilots fly workers and equipment from on shore locations to off shore oil rigs. They usually stay at bases strategically located near the rigs and will work an extended number of days and than have an extended number of days off. (for example 7 days on and 7 days off). In the United States most of these pilots work along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and some work in Alaska.

These helicopter pilot careers are available to anyone who desires a career as a professional pilot. They all offer challenge, adventure, excitement, and financial rewards. If any of these positions interest you, research what skills you need to acquire the position. Put a plan of action in place and act on that plan.

1. Be at the airport on time.

Isn’t it stressful to race through the security and immigration with just a short period of time; knowing that you may get offloaded if you don’t get to process all the papers you need? The stress you get from this experience can really turn you into a stressed out passenger when or if you finally get onto the plane. Travel stress brought by this kind of situation may be avoided by allotting more time for all the things you need to do at the airport.

2. Get the best seat!

Studying the aircraft configuration before you travel will help you get the best seat. You will have more time to request for a seat with more legroom especially when you reserve online.

3. Dress comfortably.

Remember that you will have to sit and stay in one position for several hours and the least you can do to make yourself comfortable during these hours is to make sure that the clothes and the shoes you are going to wear don’t make hard situation harder.

4. Do not eat and drink a lot.

Your digestive system is not in its optimum condition when you are seated in a confined space. Remember to eat only in moderation before traveling otherwise you’ll have an uncomfortable time while on the plane. Moreover, you should be aware that alcohol has more severe effects when the body is in pressurized environments such as an airplane cruising at a high altitude.

5. Drink plenty of water.

Do not forget that it is very dry inside the plane because the air inside is just re-circulated. This might cause you dehydration and to counteract the effect, you’ve got to drink plenty of water.

6. Walk the aisles.

Long haul flights often make people feel sore, bloated and stiff. This is because the muscles could not react easily to the situation of not being used for a long time. Try walking the aisles to give your muscles some exercise.

7. Noise cancelling headphones can help!

The noise especially when the plane is on the highest altitude can really cause you a lot of stress. There is nothing wrong with investing on some headphones that are designed to cancel the noise that surrounds you on the plane. You may have to spend some dollars on these headphones but you are assured that you will have a stress free travel because you can be on the go right after getting off the plane.

Stress is everywhere and it only depends on the person how he is going to avoid the things that may put him into a stressful situation. When it comes to travel, it’s very important that you follow the above given tips to ensure that you’ll reach your destination looking fresh, excited and raring to experience fun and adventure!