Spokane County Times

OPEN APPLICATION: CIVILIAN VOLUNTEER POLICE HELICOPTER PILOT

The Position

Under general supervision, serves as a pilot in the Spokane Regional Air Support Unit to perform a wide variety of police services and performs related duties as assigned.  This position primarily serves as a pilot in a Bell OH-58 helicopter, with the potential to eventually serve as a pilot in a Bell UH-1H Super Huey conducting hoist rescues, as well as fire suppression operations.  This unit is based at Felts Field in Spokane, Washington.

Essential Functions

The essential functions include, but are not limited to:

• Serves in the Spokane Regional Air Support Unit as a pilot for the primary purpose of flying the agency’s helicopters to provide for the safety and welfare of citizens and employees within the region

• Operates a helicopter into and out of sparsely populated terrain and regions under often severe weather conditions; may perform one or more of the following:

o Answers radio calls for all types of police services 

o Conducts covert airborne surveillance while in pursuit of fleeing suspects or when searching for persons of interest; conducts night vision goggle operations as needed for law enforcement patrol;

• Provides fire suppression with water bucket

• Conducts hoist rescues during search and rescue operations

• Reports on wildfire conditions and assists with traffic and crowd control; provides aerial observation, support, and coordination for police and fire units; performs a variety of flying assignments;

• Documents and logs the activities of the aviation unit; assists in ensuring the safety of flight operations and equipment with maintenance staff;

• Works days, nights, or holidays, and in adverse weather conditions;

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Equivalent to the completion of high school

AND

Experience: 1,000 logged hours of Rotorcraft/Helicopter Pilot in Command Time (500 hours PIC must be in a turbine-powered helicopter). Bell OH-58 and Bell UH-1H experience preferred.  Experience flying with the aid of night-vision goggles also preferred, as well as experience conducting hoist/long line operations.

AND

License or Certificate: Possession of a valid driver's license with a satisfactory driving record is a condition of initial and continued employment.

AND

Possession of an FAA Class II Medical Certificate.

AND

Possession of an FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with a rotorcraft/helicopter rating.

Ability to:

• Operate helicopters in mountainous terrain;

• Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Conditions of being a civilian volunteer helicopter pilot:

• Be available for a minimum of 60 percent of call-out requests

o If a pilot is unavailable to respond to a call out request due to conflicts with the crew rest policy, that will be considered an excused absence and will not be factored into their availability request

• Be available for a minimum of two evening patrol flights per month

• Respond to call out requests advising their availability status within five minutes of receiving notification 

• Pilots must attend the annual safety stand-down day, or receive prior approval from the unit supervisor to not attend

• Attend a minimum of two monthly unit meetings annually

• Agree to be available to fly on either the Fourth of July or New Year’s Eve.  

• Maintain a current FAA Commercial Pilot certificate, as well as a valid 2nd class medical certificate

• Track currency requirements and notify the unit supervisor within 30 days of any potential upcoming lapses. This includes daytime, nighttime, night vision goggle (NVG), hoist (if applicable), and annual qualifications. 

• Attend specialized contract vendor training as required

• This position generally consists of a commitment of about 10-15 hours per month to the program

The selection process will include the following:

1. Oral Board Interview: Applicants who are successful at passing the initial screening process will be scheduled for an interview with the unit supervisor and chief pilot.

2. Background Investigation: A thorough investigation of personal history, including but not limited to work history, education, military, arrest record, etc., will be conducted on candidates. 

Applicants are asked to submit a resume to Sergeant Brandon Armstrong (bjarmstrong@spokanecounty.org) The resume should include a detailed listing of flight experience, including types of airframes and hours logged.

Original source can be found here.