First name: Lucas
Age: 29 years old
Hometown: Chambéry – Savoie (France)
Education: CPL
Helicopters: R22, R44, EC30
Training start date: January 2020
Hello everyone,
My name is Lucas, and for those of you who know me a little, you know just how much aviation and new technologies are an integral part of my life. After completing my pilot training at Helicraft in 2019, and worked for nearly a year as a Young Pilot, here I am now firmly settled in Quebec, and I continue to progress as a pilot, a profession that I’m so passionate so much.
In 2022, a new milestone in my career came along: I was hired by Héli Inter, a company that allowed me to get started my career in earnest my career and continue to gain ofs flight hours.
My role? “Goofer“.
The Goofer is kind of a jack-of-all-trades. We’re the company’s go-to people, just like an intern in any other company.
Duringtwo years spent on the ground, I’ve learned a great deal both professionally and personally. It has been a period–key time for me.
It might sound a bit unusual, but this position was the perfect opportunity to familiarize myself withAstar (the Canadian name for the Airbus H125 Helicopters), the helicopter that would quickly become my daily work tool.
During that time, I also took the initiative to apply for permanent residency in Quebec. It was a long process, but today I’m proud to say I succeeded. It gives me a real sense of stability and confidence in my future here in Canada.
But what really changed everything were my first flights and missions.
Once I had 500 hours under my belt, I was able towork for SOPFEU (Society for the Protection of Forests against Fire) and that had always been a dream of mine.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been fascinated by forest firefighting missions—the adrenaline it provides, the importance of this work, and the complexity of the operations. Being able to join this team and go out to fight fires deep in the heart of Quebec’s forests is truly what I came to this profession for. I can tell you that living this dream in real life, at the controls of a helicopter, is indescribable.
When I first started flying, every mission was a challenge, especially in unpredictable weather conditions and over often remote areas of Quebec. I’ve had the chance to work for clients as diverse asHydro-Québec, Tour Telecom , and many others, which keeps my work interesting and stimulating. However, it’s important to note that every mission, no matter what it is, gives me valuable experience.
We learn every day, taking on missions that are always a little more complex. At the beginning, every flight was an adventure. Handling the aircraft, flying solo in extreme conditions, and of course, meeting client expectations, all required me to step my comfort zone. But with time and experience, and thanks to excellent guidance at Héli Inter, I’ve learned to handle these stressful moments. This company offers exceptional support to pilots with limited flight hours (low times), which allowed me to progress quickly.
Today, in 2025, after just two years with the company, I have over 900 flight hours under my belt. It’s a journey I’m truly proud of, especially since I often think back to my early days, to that time when I had only a few hours in the logbooks and everything still seemed so out of reach. What’s great is that I had the chance to do my first “slings” and “bambi buckets” – maneuvers that I find incredibly rewarding and that have really strengthened my skills as a pilot.
Another significant aspect of my situation is my salary. Working six months a year, I earn an excellent salary, especially after all the time I spent in school and building up my initial hours which don’t pay much paid.. During the winter, I’m on furlough, but I remain available if needed, which allows me to enjoy my free time while staying focused on my career.
Life as a pilot also involves a unique work schedule. Assignments can take us far from home, and it’s not always possible to come back every night, which can make life as a couple a bit complicated. However, my fiancée and I have found a balance that’s worked for us for seven years now. We alternate between three-week work periods and two-week breaks, and it works very well for us. Of course, there are difficult times, but we adapt, and we know that this is a choice that allows us to experience this incredible adventure.
In short, my journey here in Quebec, at Héli Inter, and everything I’ve been able to accomplish since the start of my career is the result of hard work, a childhood dream, and an endless passion for aviation. Every day, I’m grateful for everything I’ve experienced so far and for all the people who have supported me,, especially Benjamin, my instructor when I was a student and then my Sales Manager when I was a young pilot, who believed in me from the very beginning.