A sharp drop in new helicopter pilot licenses is raising concerns for the country’s air ambulance service
Dawn Sabeski’s vehicle was struck in a head-on collision on a Manitoba highway on May 28, 2017.
Sabeski’s friend, who was in the vehicle with her, died in the impact; Sabeski was taken to a rural hospital in western Manitoba.
Her injuries were extensive – internal bleeding and multiple fractures – and she required ongoing medical attention.
So she was transported to the Health Sciences Center in Winnipeg by the STARS Air Ambulance (which stands for Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service).
“I wouldn’t have made it [if I were] transported to the HSC by ambulance. I couldn’t have made it,” said Sabeski, who lives in East Selkirk, Man.
Many parts of rural Canada rely on air ambulances flown by licensed helicopter pilots.
But the number of helicopter pilot licenses issued by Transport Canada has declined over the past decade – raising concerns about what that means for air ambulance services.
According to CBC News, Transport Canada issued 62 helicopter pilot licenses in 2012. In 2022, however, that number fell by 80 percent to just 12.
Retirements, high training costs
John Gradek, an aviation expert at Montreal’s McGill University, said the dramatic drop in the number of licenses could be due to several factors.
Gradek, who coordinates the school’s aviation management program, said pilots have been retired, and many have also been poached by regional and national airlines, which are facing their own pilot shortages.
But he also said there are other reasons, including the cost of the training, which can be around $100,000.
“It’s an expensive career choice,” Gradek said, adding that higher pay could be a way of attracting those considering a career in the cockpit.
Cade Clark, vice president of government affairs for Helicopter Association International, said members of the Virginia-based organization are exploring ways to educate high school students about the industry.
“How do we reach out to high school kids, let them know this industry is wide open and available to them? And when we recruit new students, how do we help them through that pipeline?” he said.
Clark said the helicopter pilot shortage isn’t unique to Canada and is being felt south of the border and around the world.
A Virginia State Police spokesman told CBC News that in August 2022 they reduced air ambulance service at one of their bases from 24/7 to 16 hours a day due to the pilot shortage. Round-the-clock operation is scheduled to resume in mid-March.
“When we’re not available, the public suffers — and that’s a pretty black and white issue,” Clark said.
“When we’re not available, the public suffers — and that’s a pretty black and white issue.” – Cade Clark, International Helicopter Association
“We are truly life savers and when vertical aviation is not available to serve the public there are real consequences… Our operators take this very seriously while we as an industry evaluate how we can address this issue.”
McGill University’s Gradek said air ambulance services are expanding across the country and the demand for pilots will be even greater.
“Unfortunately, we may find ourselves in a situation where we need to ration ambulance pilot availability to actually dampen the growth that provincial governments want to see in the air ambulance service,” he said.
tough competition
Helicopter pilot Ryan Shrives, who has 24 years of experience, has been flying with HALO Air Ambulance at Medicine Hat, Alta for approximately three and a half years. He has previously flown for the South African Air Force and the United Nations.
The competition for pilots is so fierce these days that Shrives is poached on a regular basis.
“Five years ago you begged. They were handing out resumes and trying to beg for a job,” he said.
“Nowadays when you have experience, when you have time on the plane and a lot of training in different areas, the guys call you weekly. I’ve had other medevac companies – and I don’t lie when I say – they call us weekly.”
Paul Carolan, HALO’s chief executive, said the helicopter service has lost seven pilots in recent years: four to other air ambulance operators and three who have left the industry.
“If the call comes in now, we have to be prepared for it. So having these people there and ready is always a factor, and it’s a fundamental part of who we are,” Carolan said. “So it’s not more difficult, but it certainly complicates things a little bit.”
The organization has replaced the lost pilots, but Carolan said recruitment is a constant priority.
“We review every opportunity and speak to every person, trying to ensure we remain competitive in a highly competitive market,” he said.
“There is only one position that matters when it comes to what we do and that is the ability to fly the plane. Whether you have clinicians in the background, it doesn’t matter if you can’t get them there.”
