I'm afraid I don't have much to go on here-- most of the info is in the title of this question. The show I'm trying to identify was a medical/rescue type show that ran sometime in the 80's (I believe). The only thing I can recall is that there was a bearded helicopter pilot who was a regular character.

Can anyone help?

Is this your pilot Perry King - IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0455133/) if so it was Riptide