Directory · Helicopter operators
Westwind Helicopters: pilot minimums, pay and hiring
| Type | Part 135 offshore and onshore oil and gas helicopter operator |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Santa Fe, Texas (8426 FM 2004) |
| Bases | Santa Fe, TX; Abbeville, LA (112 Revis Sirmon Lp); Houma, LA (211 Aviation Rd) |
| Aircraft | 4 Sikorsky S-76s, 15 Bell 407s and 3 Bell 206s per Westwind (fleet page lists the S-76A, S-76C++, Bell 407 and Bell 206 L4) |
| Published pilot minimums | Helicopter Pilot – Gulf of America posting: commercial rotorcraft-helicopter with instrument rating, current FAA Class 2 medical, 1,500 hours helicopter PIC, drug screen and background check. Preferred: 1 year or 200 hours in the Gulf, Bell 206/407 or S-76 Part 135 experience, Garmin 420–750 GPS experience. |
| Published pay | Base "commensurate with experience" (not published). Posted extras: workover at 1.5× the daily rate, $75 offshore bonus per night spent offshore, $60 per diem per day, $10 per flight hour for all hours flown; Simple IRA with 3% match. |
| Hiring status | Helicopter Pilot – Gulf of America, Abbeville, LA, permanent (JSFirm job 134340, updated Oct 23, 2026); 14 days on/14 days off, live anywhere in the U.S., relocation not required, company housing on duty |
| Texas presence | Headquartered in Santa Fe (Galveston County); the open pilot role is based in Abbeville, LA, but the posting says you can live anywhere in the U.S. All Texas listings |
| Careers | www.jsfirm.com/jobs?company=Westwind&submitted=1 |
Founded in 1989 in Gold River, California; acquired by Bob McCoy in 2008 and moved to South Texas for Gulf oil and gas work, per Westwind. Also flies powerline and pipeline inspection, lightering support and wildlife control. Westwind's careers page sends applicants to JSFirm.
Source / last checked: westwindhelicopters.com/helicopter-careers-santa-fe/, www.jsfirm.com/jobs/134340, westwindhelicopters.com/locations/, westwindhelicopters.com/helicopter-company-info-santa-fe/, westwindhelicopters.com/helicopter-specifications-santa-fe/ · checked Nov 5, 2026. Fields marked "Not published" were not stated on the official source when we checked. Always confirm on the operator's site before applying.
FAQ
What are Westwind Helicopters's pilot minimums?
Helicopter Pilot – Gulf of America posting: commercial rotorcraft-helicopter with instrument rating, current FAA Class 2 medical, 1,500 hours helicopter PIC, drug screen and background check. Preferred: 1 year or 200 hours in the Gulf, Bell 206/407 or S-76 Part 135 experience, Garmin 420–750 GPS experience.
How much does Westwind Helicopters pay pilots?
Base "commensurate with experience" (not published). Posted extras: workover at 1.5× the daily rate, $75 offshore bonus per night spent offshore, $60 per diem per day, $10 per flight hour for all hours flown; Simple IRA with 3% match.
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