Job Description
The Ventura County Sheriff's Office is seeking an experienced Helicopter Pilot for a rewarding career. Incumbents serve as Pilot in Command (PIC) during a full range of helicopter missions, are responsible for the safe overall operation of Ventura County Sheriff's Office aircraft, and have the final authority for all safety-of-flight aspects of the helicopter operations. In addition, pilots fly over all types of terrain during aerial firefighting, law enforcement, crew/equipment transport, reconnaissance, medical rescue, disaster mitigation and related activities; maintains pilot flight logs and records; performs minor repairs and inspections and performs other duties as required.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Incumbents often must work under adverse conditions and successfully respond to unexpected and occasionally life threatening events. Must also work rotating shifts which include stand-by, on-call status, willing/able to respond to emergencies after normal working hours and arrive at the hangar within thirty (30) minutes of initial notification.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: This classification is distinguished from other classifications in the Deputy Sheriff series in that the incumbent's primary responsibility is to operate a helicopter in the performance of law enforcement, fire suppression duties, and rescue missions. This position is non-sworn.
Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
- Transports medical personnel to medical emergencies and injured patients to hospitals;
- Performs general law enforcement assignments for the protection of life and property, prevention and suppression of criminal law violators;
- Operates light, medium, and heavy size turbine powered helicopters over all types of terrain to assist in the suppression of wildland and other types of fires; may be involved in making water/foam drops in assigned fire suppression target areas, effecting rescues, and transporting firefighter crews and logistical materials to the fire line;
- Assists in training crews to operate safely in and around helicopters; use maps; operates fire and aviation radios; checks, cleans and maintains helicopters; and performs general housekeeping duties in the aviation unit;
- Maintains self and helicopter in a constant state of readiness for dispatch to emergency and non-emergency alarms or to assigned locations for ready response standby;
- May supervise and direct the work of personnel on the ground who are assisting in operations involving a helicopter;
- Operates special helicopter accessory equipment, which may include: fixed water tank, hydraulic/electric snorkel, sling loads, rescue hoist, helitorch, video downlinking, mapping and forward looking infrared systems;
- Reviews and maintains written and computerized flight logs and records;
- Performs minor maintenance of helicopters;
- Researches, develops and writes procedures for the Aviation Unit; and
- Performs other related duties as required.
Job Requirements
EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE:
- 3,000 hours of helicopter flight time as pilot-in-command of which 1,000 hours shall include mountainous terrain utilizing unimproved landing areas at altitudes exceeding 4,000 feet MS. (Note: pilot in command is defined as actual time flying on controls), Hours completed as a flight instructor, co-pilot or second-in-command does not apply to 3,000 hours of helicopter flight time.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Possession of a valid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Commercial Airman's Certificate with rotorcraft-helicopter instrument rating or FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with rotorcraft-helicopter rating.
- Possession of a valid Class I or II Airman's Medical Certificate issued by an FAA authorized medical examiner, or military equivalent.
- MUST SUBMIT A VALID COPY (front & back) OF FAA Pilot Certificate, FAA Medical Certificate, or Military Equivalent WITH APPLICATION. You can either submit a scanned copy as an attachment for an on-line application or send an email to Melissa Kurtz at [email protected] .
- Possession of a valid California Driver's License OR ability to obtain within sixty (60) days of hire.
- Incumbents of this classification must be able to successfully complete all other sections of the Deputy Sheriff selection process to be eligible. This includes selected portions of Sheriff's and/or Fire Academy training (e.g., Defensive Driver Training, Wildland Fire Behavior, etc.)
- Have flown 50 hours of flight time as PIC of a rotorcraft-helicopter in the preceding 12 months.
- Must be able to work rotating shifts, stand-by, callbacks, and emergencies.
DESIRED:
- Possession of a FAA Flight Instructor Certificate for helicopters, or military equivalent.
- Knowledge of Incident Command System, local topography, and area weather conditions.
- Possession of a USDA/USDI Interagency or Cal Fire carded in aerial ignition.
- Employed for one (1) year as a helicopter pilot by a Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 135 Operator.
- Possession of a valid USDA/USDI Interagency or Cal Fire Pilot Qualifications Card for Type I, Type II and Type III helicopters with Reconnaissance and Survey, Mountainous Terrain, External Loads, Fire Suppression, and Water Dropping OR ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire.
- 500 hours in a Type I or Type II turbine powered helicopter.
- 250 hours performing low level missions in fire control and suppression, search and rescue over mountain or forested areas, EMS missions; or comparable military experience.
- 100 hours of night flying in a Type I, Type II and/or Type III turbine helicopter.
- 20 hours performing ANVIS/NVG low level missions in fire control and suppression, search and rescue over mountain or forested areas, EMS missions; or comparable military experience.
- Multi engine helicopter experience.
- Long Line/Vertical reference experience with USDA or equivalent fire card.
- Rappel or Short Haul experience.
- Initial Attack Fire experience.
- Exclusive use contract experience.
Job Tags
Full time, Contract work, Work at office, Local area, Night shift, Rotating shift