Workforce development remains a huge issue in the helicopter industry, as shortages of trained professionals continue. The webinar on May 28 discussed topics such as how aviation schools are operating and how they will produce the next generation of helicopter professionals, how this will impact operators and their established pipeline of new employees, and if there will be enough jobs for new graduates in the current environment.

On August 6, 2020, panelists Dan Arenson, chief pilot at Haverfield Aviation; Jay Diggs, HR officer III and recruiter at Maryland State Police; and Mike Sagely, senior pilot at Los Angeles County Fire Department, revealed how to get your resume to the top of any recruiter’s pile and how to maximize your experiences, training, and skills to excel in the rotorcraft industry. A few tips from our panelists that can increase your success in the industry include: be patient, diligent, and flexible when chasing opportunities to get the career you want; expose yourself to as many opportunities as possible, especially if you’re unsure which sector is best for you, so you avoid wasting time gaining experience in the wrong one; network with people in the field to gain insight about the industry; and take advantage of training opportunities and the upward mobility offered by your organization. Stay tuned for the Q&A with our panelists at the end of the video! If you’d like to submit ideas or questions to be addressed in future webinars, please email your requests to president@rotor.org.

Helicopter pilots fly exciting missions all over the world, from fighting fires in Greece to hauling timber in Canada, from mustering cattle in Australia to transporting the injured in Norway. They film movie stars making Hollywood blockbusters and then they fly those stars out to their yachts. Whether you are looking for your first job as a rotorcraft pilot, or are already flying and looking to make a change, how do you find the role that’s right for you? Watch this edition of HAI@Work as three industry experts share the secrets to landing a dream job as a helicopter pilot. Kim Barwick is a helicopter captain with IBM in New York, flying executives in and out of the city. Her experience also includes flying tours around the Big Apple and in Hawaii. As chief pilot with Helinet Aviation, in southern California, Brian Petschauer has flown missions in electronic news gathering and organ transplant, as well as—you can almost see the Hollywood sign from their hangars—plenty of VIPs. Ron Stewart comes to his role as director of helicopter operations with Wilson Construction, based in Oregon, by way of firefighting, animal capture, advanced defense research, and even harvesting cones from the tops of redwoods to germinate new trees. Watch and learn how you can pursue your dream.

Watch the Dec. 3 HAI@Work replay to hear three operators from various parts of the globe discuss what it takes to qualify for, prepare for, and find the ideal international job.

In this powerful edition of HAI@Work from July 23, 2020, Dan Sweet, HAI director of public relations and communications interviewed panelists Dennis Martin, director of sales and marketing at Enstrom Helicopter Corp.; Ricardo Dowdy II, director of maintenance at Sundance Helicopters; and Earnie Gill, recruiter at Metro Aviation, on what it really takes to pursue a long-lasting career in the rotor industry and what each company looks for when hiring AMTs. Each panelist also revealed industry secrets for prospective AMTS such as how to stand out from the pack during the application process, how you can start in an entry-level position and work up the ladder to management, and why you should be persistent when applying for a job. Stay tuned at the end of the video for the Q&A and other tips from the panelists!

Helicopter maintenance offers an impressive variety of career opportunities, and today’s shortage of professional aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) makes this rewarding field doubly attractive. As the industry experts at our Feb. 25 HAI@Work webinar revealed, AMT work environments can vary considerably between employers. During the webinar, representatives from three respected rotorcraft operations described what they look for in hiring rotorcraft maintenance professionals, as well as a typical day on the job and how to prepare for the career. Panelists included Flight Trails Helicopters President Rick Cobbold, Columbia Helicopters Director of Maintenance Matt Nash and Senior Human Resources Director Jessica Calzada, and MD Helicopters Director of Human Resources Cathy Elsasser and Director of Production Operations Ted R. Hall. Click here to watch the webinar to receive tips and advice on landing rotorcraft maintenance careers. #helicoptermaintenance​ #helicoptercareers​ #aviationmaintenancetechnician

During the Dec. 16 HAI@Work webinar, the panelists discussed tips for capturing the perfect backlit photo, staged vs. live photos, shooting with available light, standing out from your peers, convincing companies that they need photographers like you for various marketing activities, and stepping out of your comfort zone to try new shots. The panelists also talked about the importance of knowing your worth as a professional, putting safety first, understanding the costs photographers accumulate on a job, and the shelf life of your photos. Additionally, panelists offered advice for getting your foot in the door and why you shouldn’t name-drop a magazine without their permission. The session concluded with questions from viewers like YOU looking to get a start in #aviationphotography.