Line HEMS Pilot - Captain (Touring)

Job title: Line HEMS Pilot Captain (Touring)

Reporting to: Chief Pilot

Contract type: Permanent appointment subject to satisfactory completion of 3-month probationary period

Salary: Circa 90000 per annum based on qualifications & relevant experience

Working pattern

• As required by Chief Pilot and the EHAAT roster this will be based upon EHAATs use of the HEMS FTL variation of 12-hour shifts (0830-2030 at North Weald and 0700-1900 at Earls Colne) to achieve 365 days a year operational coverage. All pilots will be required to conform to the relevant Flight Time Limitations regulations and will have several duty days each year for training and checking activities.
• Touring pilots will be rostered with a minimum of 28 days notice and will work 182 days per year (less leave taken) consisting of up to 6 duty days including up to 4 12-hour shifts and positioning days as appropriate. This pattern will result in average working hours equivalent to approx. 40 hours per week.

About us:

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance unlike NHS emergency services is a charity. The free life-saving service is provided 24/7 by helicopters and by rapid response vehicles.

Each critical care team consists of a pilot and co-pilot a pre-hospital care doctor and a critical care paramedic.

They can be rushed to the scene with life-saving support equipment to deliver advanced clinical care usually only available in the hospital emergency department.

Once stabilised the patient will be conveyed to the most appropriate hospital by air or land.

Without access to National Lottery funding and with only limited support from Government we rely upon the generosity and goodwill of the people and businesses of Essex and Hertfordshire to remain operational and keep saving liveswe cant fly without you!

About the department:

As part of our programme to become an independent operator with its own Air Operator Certificate from mid-November 2025 EHAAT will directly employ pilots flying our two AW169 helicopters from our North Weald and Earls Colne airbases. In addition to our management pilots were excited to be recruiting more pilots to build a resilient and supportive team one that will enable us to maintain four pilots working 12-hour shifts 365 days a year.

To make this happen well continue to rely on a combination of locally based pilotswho live within 45 minutes of one or both basesand touring pilots. At EHAAT were deeply committed to recruiting developing and keeping a strong close-knit group of pilots who are essential to our mission: providing first-class pre-hospital emergency medical care to the people of Essex Hertfordshire and beyond.

Job purpose:

The role of a touring captain is to provide essential absence relief for the based pilots at North Weald and Earls Colne. These pilots will be fully integrated members of the overall pilot team and will regularly fly at both bases.

Although the nature of the touring captain role is to cover for absence being one of several pilots available to step in at short notice means that such short-term call-outs are relatively rare. Most of the time requirements to cover other pilots leave training and other absences are known well in advance and relief pilots will be rostered accordingly.

Touring captains will also take on a range of secondary duties in support of the Air Operator Certificate contributing to the success of the whole team.

Summary of duties and responsibilities:

• As a pilot to ensure all flying-related tasks are carried out in a safe and efficient manner in accordance with the EHAAT Air Operations Manual in conjunction with all relevant and applicable regulations as laid down by law and as amended.
• As a pilot be meticulous in ensuring high standards of personal currency and proficiency regarding professional performance and to licensing medical certification proficiency checks line checks and other training requirements and the associated documentation of such.
• As a HEMS crew member demonstrate confidentiality discretion and sensitivity in all aspects of the role allied to a strong focus on safety and appropriate actions to participate develop and promote appropriate safety attitudes and a true Just Culture.
• As an EHAAT employee to conduct all duties with diligence and professionalism always acting in accordance with EHAAT values and seeking out opportunities for continuous professional development for yourself and your colleagues.
• As an EHAAT team member being proactive with colleagues partner organisations suppliers and the public to communicate the mission of EHAAT and its operations.
• Fully comply with the numerous and extensive specific responsibilities of the role as detailed in regulation working closely with flight crew and HEMS crew members to achieve the mission within the strict bounds of safety compliance and efficiency.
• Demonstrate exemplary performance and standards in the air and on the ground professionally and personally setting a fine example to less experienced operators and assisting in the development of less senior pilot and crew colleagues as appropriate.
• As one of the pilot team and as directed by the Chief Pilot perform specific additional duties to support the smooth running of the EHAAT HEMS air operations.
• From time to time to represent the Aviation department on technical or operational matters or to represent EHAAT on more general aviation operational matters with neighbouring Aviation organisations.
• On an agreed basis and fitting in with FTL requirements occasionally support charity events or visits.
• As EHAAT is a patient-focused emergency medical charity we feel it is essential that all our staff are competent and confident in the delivery of CPR and use of an AED (defibrillator) in an emergency. For this reason you will need to complete in-house CPR and AED awareness training alongside mandatory AOC pilot first aid training.

Person Specification

Essential:

Qualifications & experiences

• Current AW169 Type Rating
• Current UK CAA (ATPL(H) or CPL(H) with Multi-Crew Certificate (MCC)
• Current AW169 Instrument Rating
• A minimum of 1500 flying hours as PIC
• All minimum hours requirements for qualification as a UK CAA HEMS captain as laid down in regulations (supported by logbook evidence)
• Minimum 250 hours AW169
• UK CAA Class1 Medical
• Minimum 2 years HEMS experience
• Previous NVIS experience
• Reside within (or be prepared to relocate within) 45 minutes of North Weald
• Full UK driving licence

Personal Qualities

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate well with all people at all levels
• Able to work as part of a diverse team exercising sound judgement and decision making being suitably operationally astute
• Strong leadership skills with the drive and determination to deliver exceptional standards
• An outward-facing self-starter who champions safety compliance and operational effectiveness
• Highly organised with an eye for detail able to find solutions in complex problems

Desirable:

• Recent experience as a HEMS Line Training Captain
• Live within 45 minutes travelling time of at least one of our airbases at North Weald and Earls Colne airbases
• Unrestricted Class One CAA Medical
• Whilst this is a multi-pilot flying role previous single-pilot HEMS experience may be advantageous
• Proficient with MS Outlook Word Excel and Powerpoint

The Package

As a valued member of the charity team you will have access to a wider range of benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave
• Contributory pension scheme with minimum 6% employer contribution plus an annual pension review
• Occupational sick pay from day one of employment
• Free access to an Employee Assistance Programme (plus immediate family)
• Private medical insurance
• Loss of licence insurance
• Personal accident cover
• Access to Cycle to Work through salary sacrifice
• Discounts at a variety of retailers via Blue Light Card

More information and how to apply

• Applications at
• The closing date for applications is 29^th June 2025
• Interviews will be held in person in late July.

Please note that your application form will be used for shortlisting so please ensure everything you wish to include is covered in the form.

This position is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS check as a condition of employment.

If you would like an informal chat about the role please contact and we will organise a time to speak to one of the team.

Disclaimer: Essex & Herts Air Ambulance reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised date if a high number of applications are received. Once a vacancy has closed we are unfortunately unable to consider further applications so please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.