Firefighting Helicopter Pilot Jobs in France

Firefighting pilots fly water-drop, bucket and tank suppression missions, plus IA (initial attack) crew insertion. Type I heavy (Erickson S-64, CH-47), Type II medium (Bell 205/212, S-61, Kamov Ka-32) and Type III light (H125, Bell 407) classifications drive contracts. CWN, exclusive-use US Forest Service and EU Sécurité Civile contracts are the largest employers. Alpine mountain-rescue hiring tied to ski seasons (Nov–Apr). SAMU EMS and Sécurité Civile hire year-round. EU/EEA citizen. Limited sponsorship of non-EU pilots. ChopperSwap matches your licences, ratings and currency against open firefighting helicopter pilot positions in France — candidates browse, apply and chat for free.

Frequently asked questions

What licences do France firefighting helicopter pilot jobs require?

DGAC / EASA licence with French strongly preferred for EMS, SAMU and Sécurité Civile as the working language. EU/EEA citizen. Limited sponsorship of non-EU pilots. CWN and exclusive-use US Forest Service / Cal Fire carding requires 1,500+ hours of mountain time, longline and bucket operations.

Which operators hire firefighting helicopter pilots in France?

Top employers include SAF Hélicoptères, Mont Blanc Hélicoptères, Hélicoptères de France, Sécurité Civile, Gendarmerie Nationale. Full list and descriptors are above. ChopperSwap aggregates open roles from these and other operators.

What does this role typically pay in France?

Entry-level: 74–101k EUR. Mid-career: 106–143k EUR. Senior: 147–212k EUR. Ranges are gross annual compensation in EUR (~USD

Is the ChopperSwap candidate profile free?

Yes. Every aviation professional uses ChopperSwap free, forever. Add your licences, type ratings, total time and currency once and recruiters reach out through the in-platform inbox. Only employers pay to post jobs.

How fast do France operators respond?

Most ChopperSwap employers respond inside 72 hours. Recruiters see your full profile (with privacy controls on contact details) and shortlist directly from the dashboard, compressing hiring cycles compared with generic job boards.