Marcos Tudela, a pilot of medical helicopters, asserts that all students who complete the course enter the job market immediately. However, he denounces the lack of a specific agreement that regulates the conditions of the collective.
The helicopter sector is experiencing a moment of high employability. According to Marcos Tudela, a 32-year-old pilot from Valencia, “practically all students who complete the helicopter pilot course find immediate employment.” He stated this in an interview published by ‘Actualidad Aeroespacial’.
Tudela combines his work as a medical helicopter pilot for the company Elliance with his role as an instructor at European Flyers, the school where he obtained his license. His career has included aerial photography, VIP transport, and firefighting before moving into medical emergencies.
“The role of the medical pilot is to pilot an ambulance that flies,” explains Tudela. On board, there is also a doctor, a nurse, and a mechanic or crew member, forming the team that responds to each emergency. Missions are activated via a call with the location and medical scenario, and from that moment, the pilot must assess the flight conditions to decide whether the operation can be carried out safely.
“Many scenarios can arise. From landing in already recognised places to remote locations; from arriving when there is already medical assistance to being the first to assist,” he details. The goal is to provide help as quickly as possible and reduce times for patients who are time-dependent.
No two interventions are the same. The patient's condition, weather conditions, topography, and the characteristics of the landing site require quick decisions under pressure. Factors such as fuel, wind, the altitude of the take-off point, or visibility can completely condition a mission. “Unexpected situations arise, and you have to stay calm and be resourceful. In the end, you lead a team in the aeronautical part,” Tudela asserts.
Among the most complex circumstances, he mentions low cloud ceilings and poor visibility. “The limit between being able to take off and not take off is critical. As a pilot, you have to learn to say no when necessary,” he points out. The decision to cancel or postpone an operation can be difficult when there is a medical emergency, but the safety of the crew and the patient must prevail. For Tudela, operational safety, humility, and consistency are the pillars of the profession.
Despite the good employability, Tudela believes it must be accompanied by an improvement in working conditions. “Helicopter pilots need an agreement that protects us, as is the case in fixed-wing aviation, to guarantee the conditions of the profession. Every take-off carries a risk, which is compounded by the tasks we perform,” he claims.
The specialisations required to work in areas such as firefighting or medical emergencies are usually funded by the operators themselves, who select candidates based on their experience and the needs of each service. However, the lack of a specific labour framework remains a pending issue for the collective.
Tudela's example, having moved from school to flying in critical missions, reflects a sector with demand but needing greater regulatory support. For those interested in the profession, initial training is the first step towards a job market that, according to data, absorbs all graduates.
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