Rotor Wing Captain

A mission unlike any other.

LifeFlight of Maine is unique. We are the only air medical program in the most rural state in the USA. We are an independent nonprofit with an essential public mission.

We are highly skilled, committed, compassionate, and determined to ensure that everyone in Maine who needs critical care receives it, no matter where they are — no one in Maine is ever too far from the care they need to survive.

The work we do changes lives and families forever. We have earned Maine’s trust by being there when people need us most, and we strive every day to be worthy of that trust.

Safety.

Are commitment to safety permeates everything we do as an organization. It’s not a catchphrase. It’s our culture, and we take it very seriously.

We were even recognized by VAI in 2025 with their Salute to Excellence Safety Award.

Click here to see the Rotor Wing Captain job description.

We own, operate, and maintain all of our own aircraft through LifeFlight Aviation Services, our Part 135 certificate holder.

Our pilots, mechanics, nurses, paramedics, EMTs, and communications specialists are among the best in their respective fields.

We flight single-pilot, IFR missions in our twin-engine Agusta 109 SPs.

We work as a team. We have a saying: “Three to go. One to say ‘no.'” Everyone on the team must be completely comfortable with safety of a mission for it to proceed. A typical helicopter transport team consists of a pilot, a nurse, and a paramedic. Each team member has a job to do, but each person also understands their responsibility to the team.

Maine is a ruggedly beautiful state, and we fly over all of it — sometimes in a single shift.

Whether you grew up here or are considering moving here for the first time, Maine has something to offer everyone.

Learn more about living and working in Maine.

Join our team as a Rotor Wing Captain.

If you are an experienced helicopter pilot, meet the qualifications for employment at LifeFlight of Maine, and want to have a conversation, please complete this short form and a member of our aviation leadership team will be in touch asap.

Click here to start a conversation with us.

Rotor Wing Captain Position Summary

At LifeFlight, the RWC serves as the pilot-in-command, leading and executing flight assignments in a safe, effective, and professional manner. The RWC evaluates Visual Flight Rules (VFR) options and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) options when applicable. The RWC is expected to promote a Just and Accountable Culture, teamwork and strong Crew Resource Management, and work collaboratively with other members of the flight program to complete tasks. Utilizing a fleet of Leonardo A109SP helicopters with 4-axis autopilot, LifeFlight flies single pilot IFR helicopter operations across Maine’s vast and varied landscape, day and night, 365 days a year. No two flight operations are the same. This is a challenging, unique, and rewarding opportunity for an experienced rotor wing pilot looking to be part of a program making a meaningful difference across the state.

Job Location:
Primary: Bangor

Pay:
$106,049-119,022 per year 

Education and/or experience

1. 2000 total flight hours with a minimum of 1500 helicopter hours

2. 1000 hours Pilot in Command time

3. 1000 hours of Turbine engine time

4. 300 hours of Nighttime

5. 100 hours Instrument time (Actual Preferred)

6. FAA Class I Physical Medical Certificate

7. Preferred helicopter EMS experience

8. ATP Preferred, ATP written required within 1 year of hire

9. Preferred Night Vision Goggle (NVG) experience

Or, if candidate is ATP rated or has recent Air Medical or SAR or NVG experience, then:

1. 1500 total flight hours with a minimum of 1200 helicopter flight hours

2. At least 1000 of those hours must be as PIC in rotorcraft

3. A minimum of 1000 hours of Turbine engine time

4. 300 hours under NVG

5. 75 hours IFR experience (At least 50 hours of actual non-simulated Instrument experience)

License:

a. Commercial Pilot, Rotorcraft-Helicopter Instrument Privileges

b. ATP rating preferred.  ATP required within 18 months of hire.

Working conditions/physical demands:

1. Ability to operate helicopters and is exposed to non-conventional motion, noise, vibration, chemicals (i.e., jet fumes) and extreme heat or cold.

2. Ability to lift at least 50 pounds using proper body mechanics and bend and carry heavy equipment and assist with carrying and loading patients.

3. Ability to use maintenance stands and ladders to preflight aircraft.

4. Able to refuel aircraft at the LFAS facility.

5. Must live within 60 minutes of assigned base while on duty

6. Works in a patient care environment on the aircraft and is exposed to possible infectious diseases and chemical toxins.

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements considered necessary to successfully perform the job.

More About LifeFlight of Maine

LifeFlight’s helicopters, airplane, and ground ambulances are based in Bangor, Lewiston, and Sanford (Maine). LifeFlight’s crews cover the entire state, including offshore islands, complementing and supporting the work of local EMS and hospital personnel in caring for critically ill or injured patients. The crew is comprised of a highly qualified team of pilots, flight nurses and flight paramedics, EMT vehicle operators, aviation maintenance technicians, and communications specialists. 

LifeFlight was fully re-accredited by CAMTS (Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems) in 2025. In that same year, LifeFlight received the “Salute to Excellence Safety Award” from VAI (Vertical Aviation International) for its commitment to safety across the organization. LifeFlight was recognized among the “Best Places to Work in Maine” in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

About LifeFlight Aviation Services

LifeFlight Aviation Services (LFAS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of LifeFlight of Maine committed to operating a safe, high-reliability, instrument-based aviation system for medical transport in Maine and northern New England. LifeFlight of Maine maintains a vast network of aviation infrastructure consisting of PBN IFR routes, point-in-space instrument approaches, AWOS weather stations, fuel depots, and high-definition remote weather cameras. LifeFlight of Maine operates a fleet of Leonardo A109SP helicopters with 4-axis autopilots, a G1000 equipped King Air B200, and a fleet of ground ambulances.