OverviewMercy Air
EC135 (IFR)
Salary Range: ($91,190 - $102,576) with 110% ACCRA
+ $12,000 Stipend
+ $3,000 IFR Stipend
+ Experience Stipend: Up to $12,000
Off-Duty Housing Available
$15,000 Sign On Bonus
Location
Borrego Springs, California is special for its striking desert beauty and deep sense of solitude. Surrounded by Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, it offers vast open landscapes, dramatic badlands, spring wildflower blooms, and some of the darkest night skies in Southern California. With no stoplights, minimal development, and a strong arts presence—including its famous metal sculptures—the town feels like a peaceful escape where nature, silence, and stars take center stage.
Benefits
Air Methods is proud to offer a comprehensive benefits package created with the diverse needs of our teammates in mind:
- Health, Dental and Vision
- Competitive 401(k) Retirement Plan
- Flexible Spending Account Benefit Plans
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Full Company-Paid Life Insurance
- AD&D Insurance
- Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Business Travel Accident Insurance
- Voluntary Legal
- Relocation Assistance
- Employee Assistance and Benefit Concierge Service Programs
Job Summary
Responsible to ensure aircraft and weather conditions are airworthy to transport medical crew and patient to receiving hospital within an assigned operational area. Responsible for compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR), Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), General Operations Manual guidelines (GOM), and thorough knowledge of Air Methods policies and procedures.
Responsibilities
Essential Functions and Responsibilities include the following:
- Operates Air Methods aircraft in a safe and legal manner.
- Completes pre-flight before every flight verifying the aircraft is in an airworthy condition by sign off of Daily Flight Log. Pilots will perform a complete walk around of the aircraft prior to entering the cockpit for flight and upon completion of each flight.
- Final authority with regard to operations of aircraft and for the safety of passengers, cargo and equipment.
- Must be thoroughly familiar with all aircraft and medical systems of backup aircraft utilized at operational area and also ensures that the medical flight team is familiar and comfortable with the medical interior and systems.
- Responsible for completion of required documentation.
- Able to conduct detailed flight planning with little notice to exacting standards.
- Participates regularly in Air Methods meetings, activities, projects, committees and community outreach.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Additional Job Requirements
- Regular scheduled attendance. (7 days on/7 days off, 12-hour shifts)
Subject to applicable laws and Air Method’s policies, regular attendance is an essential function of the position. All employees must follow Air Methods’ employment practices and policies.
Supervisory Responsibilities
This position has no supervisory responsibilities.
Qualifications
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. In accordance with applicable laws, Air Methods will provide reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue burden so disabled employees may perform the essential functions of the position.
Pay Scale
Based upon flight and EMS experience.
- STEP A: $82,900
- STEP B: $86,216
- STEP C: $89,665
- STEP D: $93,251
*ACCRA (Geo-Mod) is not included into base salary*
Ex. Step A: 82,900 x 1.4 (ACCRA) = 116,060
Education & Experience
- Associate’s degree (A.A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school and two to five years’ related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
Operation and Safety Requirements:
- As a member of the Flight Crew, any person employed in this position shall maintain a weight not to exceed 250 pounds and shall be less than seventy (70) years old.
Skills
- Maintains positive interpersonal relationships with colleagues, EMS representatives, hospitals and the public and strives to maintain a friendly and professional working environment
- Pilots must have flown in category within the previous 24 months
Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Program:
- 2500 total flight hours with minimum of 2000 flight hours in category
- 1000 hours PIC in category
- 500 hours of rotor wing turbine time
- 500 hours of cross-country flight time, at least 50 hours of which were at night
- 100 hours unaided night as PIC (50 hours of unaided can be substituted for by 100 hours of NVG time, but cannot be reduced below 50 hours of unaided time)
- 75 hours of actual or simulated instrument time at least 50 hours which were in flight in an aircraft including 20 hours in actual instrument conditions in category
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
- Instrument rating (for category and class of aircraft)(ATP rating in category meets this requirement)
- Fixed wing multiengine rating is required for twin-engine aircraft
- Commercial single-engine land is required for single-engine aircraft
- First OR Second Class FAA Medical certificate required.
Internal Bidding Ends: 9/15/2026
Minimum payUSD $82,900.00/Yr.
Maximum PayUSD $93,251.00/Yr.
Benefits
For more information on our industry-leading benefits, please visit our benefits page here.
