Department: Natural Resources
Location: SHUBENACADIE
Type of Employment: Permanent
Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG
Closing Date: Open until filled
Nova Scotia’s natural landscapes demand a special kind of pilot. The Department of Natural Resources manages the province’s forests, parks, wildlife, and Crown lands—but it’s our Aviation Services team that brings these missions to life from the air.
With over 70 years of operational excellence, Aviation Services provides helicopter support for wildfire suppression, inland search and rescue, public safety, and natural resource management. Our pilots are tactical operators, not just transporters—tasked with delivering precision results under pressure in rugged and remote terrain.
We are looking for helicopter pilots who want to use their highly skilled utility flying experience for mid-career upgrade. Join the public service and enjoy the perks of a full- time, year round, stable, unionised position with all the benefits in beautiful Nova Scotia.
We’re hiring line pilots to join our small, experienced team operating high-performance aircraft with a primary focus on, wildfire response and emergency response, as well as Natural Resource external load support, remote bush operation and intense unprepared landing areas. You'll be flying for the public good, in well-maintained aircraft, under an organization that values professionalism, precision, and purpose.
If you're an external load specialist, wildfire veteran, and bush pilot ready for stable government employment—but not ready to slow down—we want to hear from you.
Are you currently on a seasonal contract but do not know what your next step is? Apply now, start dates for incumbents can be negotiated to work around your current contract status.
- Fly New H-125’s helicopters on mission-critical provincial operations: wildfire suppression, longline operations, remote landings, public safety, and search and rescue
- Operate in challenging VFR environments across forests, wetlands, and coastal terrain
- Sling gear into tight LZs, drop buckets on active wildfires, and assist ground crews during high-tempo missions
- Respond to missing or lost persons requests, rescue injured citizens from remote areas and assist local law enforcement with fulfilling their duties
- Collaborate with engineers, ground support, public safety officers, and conservation teams
- Perform pre/post-flight planning, documentation, and compliance in accordance with CARs
You’re a skilled bush or utility pilot with thousands of hours in the logbook—and still hungry for challenge. You thrive in demanding flight environments, understand the responsibility of external load and Fireline work, and have the composure to operate with limited support in the field.
You want your flying to mean something. And you want to be part of a tight-knit team where skill, safety, and service take priority.
Required Qualifications:
Valid Transport Canada CPL (H)
- 2,000+ hours PIC on helicopters, including 1,500+ hours on turbine helicopters
- Recent experience in external load, wildfire suppression, cargo slinging, and remote and unprepared landing operations
- Familiarity with CARs, and safe bush operating practices
- Nova Scotia Class 5 driver’s license or equivalent
Strong Assets:
- Time on Airbus AS350 / H-125
- Longline experience (100 ft and above)
- CRM / PDM course completions
- Knowledge of EO/IR camera systems, aerial surveillance, and flight tracking software (ForeFlight, Cirro)
- Public outreach and community engagement experience
Why Join Us?
- Mission-based flying with minimal customer pressure
- Aircraft based indoors, high dispatch reliability, and safety-first culture
- Compensation for overtime and, on-call
- Be home most nights—even during the fire season
Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.
Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.
This is your chance to take your field-tested skills and apply them in a role where your precision, safety, and judgment matter every single day. No chasing customers. No air travel commuting. A wide variety of flight portfolio. Just real flying with real purpose.
Career Development where you have access to career guidance, tools, resources, and ongoing training for every stage of your career.
Engaging workplace. Our Employees feel valued, respected, connected, and tuned in. We have forward-thinking policies and strategies.
Countless career paths.
Department Specific Flexible working schedules.
Apply Now and show us what your career in utility flying has built for you.
Pay Grade: ASP08
Salary Range: $4,715.34 - $5,358.34 Bi-Weekly
Employment Equity Statement:
Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.
Accommodation Statement:
We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. Candidates may request accommodations based on any grounds protected by the Human Rights Act. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected].
This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:
Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.
External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.
Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to [email protected].
