Dream job
helicopter pilot

Benjamin Zenhäusern, how does one come to be a helicopter pilot in the Swiss Alps?

Here in Upper Valais, where I was born and raised, you come into contact with helicopters at a very young age. Even as a child, I was always interested in flight – paragliders to start with, since I grew up in Fiesch and saw them flying around every day.

I knew early on that my biggest dream was to fly. I started paragliding at 16, which evolved into a fascination with helicopters.

The helicopter’s ability to hover and land in places that were otherwise inaccessible – I found that really cool. This interest grew into a desire to become a pilot myself.

The training is far from easy. You may not need a high level of education, but the requirements shouldn’t be underestimated. The path to becoming a pilot is intense and expensive. You really need to have staying power.

How did it feel the first time you took off from the ground?

I’ve always had a special affinity with flight. My first solo flight has really stayed with me. You’re really well prepared for it, but of course you still feel a bit nervous since you have neither your flight instructor nor dual controls available, meaning there are no safeguards to fall back on. I can still clearly remember the first time I flew a helicopter alone. It was in St. Gallen.

What are the three most important character traits that a helicopter pilot needs?

Definitely flexibility and commitment. After all, being a pilot isn’t a standard 9-to-5 job. You also need to be able to deal with pressure and always make the right decision in difficult situations. Pilots frequently find themselves in challenging situations, not least due to the weather. In difficult flying conditions, it’s important to keep calm.

Another key quality is patience – we need this for the aforementioned long journey before one can finally start working as a pilot. It takes years before you have your commercial pilot license in the bag, and even then you are not guaranteed to find a job – there aren’t that many helicopter companies in Switzerland.

Have you ever had to deal with turbulence or extreme weather conditions during a mission?

Yes, all the time. Rationality plays a key role in such situations, as does the way you deal with risks. Safety always comes first. As a pilot, the decision to fly is always yours to make. It’s important to always focus on your own safety and listen to your intuition, even if people are in danger and you want to help them. We always do our best. Self-reflection is also important. We should always examine our own behavior in order to improve.

What does flying mean to you and what do you enjoy the most when sitting in a helicopter?

I find the precision with which you can fly a helicopter incredibly impressive. I’m particularly attracted to transport aviation – a challenge that has no tolerance for mistakes and that I enjoy hugely. But ultimately, at Air Zermatt, we benefit most from the variety. It’s the good mix of sightseeing, transport and rescue flights that makes the job so interesting.

Finally, a simple question. If you weren’t a helicopter pilot, what would you be doing today?

Currently I find being a pilot very fulfilling and I couldn’t imagine doing any other job. But who knows what will happen ten years from now.

The closing remarks are all yours.

It’s important to be aware that the dream job of being a pilot also has its downsides. People are fascinated with flight, but it involves a lot of work, effort and a well-functioning team. Flexible working hours and long days are also part of the package. And, not least, the job is not without danger – an aspect that shouldn’t be underestimated.