At a Glance
- Tasks: Fly helicopters for life-saving missions with the North-West Air Ambulance Charity.
- Company: Babcock, a leader in aviation services dedicated to saving lives.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, private medical insurance, and pension scheme.
- Other info: Flexible working options and excellent development opportunities available.
- Why this job: Make a real difference by saving lives while advancing your aviation career.
- Qualifications: Extensive helicopter flying experience and valid UK pilot licence required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
Fly with purpose. Save lives. Make every mission count. At Babcock, we're working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Pilot at Barton Aerodrome, near Manchester.
The role
As a Pilot, you'll play a vital role in delivering mission‑critical aviation services that directly support life‑saving operations. Operating in a dynamic and fast‑paced environment, you will fly in support of the North‑West Air Ambulance Charity, helping to protect communities and save lives every day. This is a unique opportunity to apply your expertise in demanding scenarios, while advancing your career in a highly respected aviation environment. This role is based at Barton Aerodrome, with a shift pattern of 4 on, 4 off, working 12‑hour shifts. You are required to reside within either 25nm or 45mins of the base at Barton.
Day‑to‑day, you will be:
- Flying single pilot helicopter missions in support of air ambulance and emergency medical services
- Conducting Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) operations across varied environments
- Maintaining the highest standards of safety, compliance, and operational excellence
- Conducting night flying and complex operational tasking where required
- Working collaboratively with crew and emergency response teams to deliver critical services.
Essential experience of the Pilot
- 1000 hours pilot in command of aircraft of which 500 hours is pilot in command on twin turbine helicopters; OR 1000 hours as co‑pilot in HEMS/Police operations of which 500 hours is as pilot in command under supervision and 100 hours pilot in command of twin turbine helicopters.
- 2000 hours minimum total helicopter experience
- 500 hours operating experience in twin turbine helicopters in an operational environment similar to the intended operation.
- 20 hours VFR at night as pilot in command.
Qualifications for the Pilot
- Hold a valid UK ATPL(H) or CPL(H) + IR
- Full UK Aviation class 1 medical
- Security Clearance: The successful candidate must be able to achieve and maintain Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) / Standard (BPSS) security clearance for this role.
What we offer
- Generous holiday allowance
- Matched contribution pension scheme up to 8%, with life assurance
- Private medical insurance
- Market leading sick leave policy
- Loss of license insurance
- Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
- Employee share scheme
- Employee shopping savings portal
- Payment of Professional Fees
- Reservists in the armed forces receive 10‑days special paid leave
- Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows the majority of employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement
- Be Kind Day enables employees to take one working day’s paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity
- Excellent development opportunities and benefits package including an employee assistance programme supporting physical, mental and financial wellbeing.
We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email careers@babcockinternational.com with the subject header Reasonable adjustments requirement. We are committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.
Closing date: 23/06/2026
Pilot employer: Babcock International
At Babcock, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package that includes generous holiday allowances, matched pension contributions, and private medical insurance. Our work culture is built on collaboration and support, particularly in our mission-critical aviation services that save lives, providing pilots with unique opportunities for professional growth while making a meaningful impact in the community. Located at Barton Aerodrome near Manchester, we foster an inclusive environment where employees can thrive, with flexible working options and a commitment to employee wellbeing.
