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Helicopter pilot vs check airman

The differences between helicopter pilots and check airmen can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a helicopter pilot and a check airman. Additionally, a helicopter pilot has an average salary of $89,418, which is higher than the $82,530 average annual salary of a check airman.

The top three skills for a helicopter pilot include FAA, PIC and pilot-in-command. The most important skills for a check airman are flight training, PIC, and line checks.

Helicopter pilot vs check airman overview

Helicopter PilotCheck Airman
Yearly salary$89,418$82,530
Hourly rate$42.99$39.68
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs4,0541,042
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Helicopter pilot vs check airman salary

Helicopter pilots and check airmen have different pay scales, as shown below.

Helicopter PilotCheck Airman
Average salary$89,418$82,530
Salary rangeBetween $62,000 And $128,000Between $64,000 And $105,000
Highest paying CitySanta Rosa, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyBrainerd Chemical Co-
Best paying industryTransportation-

Differences between helicopter pilot and check airman education

There are a few differences between a helicopter pilot and a check airman in terms of educational background:

Helicopter PilotCheck Airman
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 70%Bachelor's Degree, 68%
Most common majorAviationAviation
Most common collegeUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignSUNY Farmingdale

Helicopter pilot vs check airman demographics

Here are the differences between helicopter pilots' and check airmen' demographics:

Helicopter PilotCheck Airman
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 94.5% Female, 5.5%Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% Asian, 2.7% White, 82.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 2.7% White, 81.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between helicopter pilot and check airman duties and responsibilities

Helicopter pilot example responsibilities.

  • Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
  • Train in robinson r22 and r44
  • Ensure compliance with all OSHA and EPA regulations.
  • Operate in IFR and marginal weather conditions between multiple states.
  • Maintain program compliance with OSHA, DOD, and other local agencies as required by regulations.
  • Ferry and sightseeing flights done at request of management in accordance with 14 CFR part 91.
  • Show more

Check airman example responsibilities.

  • Project manage the initial fielding of the RQ-11 tactical UAV system.
  • Train and educate selected personnel in the emergency reclamation of down aircraft and successfully conduct one combat reclamation of a helicopter.
  • Oversee flight crewmembers, including co-pilot and flight engineer.

Helicopter pilot vs check airman skills

Common helicopter pilot skills
  • FAA, 18%
  • PIC, 18%
  • Pilot-In-Command, 17%
  • IFR, 7%
  • Combat, 6%
  • Helicopter Operations, 5%
Common check airman skills
  • Flight Training, 46%
  • PIC, 12%
  • Line Checks, 11%
  • Recurrent Training, 11%
  • Aircraft Systems, 9%
  • Airmen, 6%

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