Regional Air Support Unit Seeks Qualified Helicopter Pilots

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Regional Air Support Unit Seeks Qualified Helicopter Pilots

The Position

Under the supervision of the Spokane Regional Air Support Unit (SRASU), a civilian volunteer pilot assists with a wide variety of law enforcement services and performs related duties as assigned.  This position primarily serves as a pilot in a Bell 505 and OH-58 helicopter, with the potential to eventually serve as a pilot in a Bell 205 A++, which conducts hoist rescues and fire suppression operations.   SRASU 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.
• Operate a helicopter into and out of sparsely populated terrain and regions, often under severe weather conditions; may perform one or more of the following:
  1. Answers radio calls for all types of public safety services. 
  2. Conduct airborne surveillance while in pursuit of fleeing suspects or searching for persons of interest; conduct night vision goggle operations as needed for law enforcement patrol.
• Provide fire suppression with a water bucket.
• Conduct hoist rescues during search and rescue operations.
• Report on wildfire conditions and assist with traffic and crowd control by providing aerial observation, support, and coordination for police and fire units; perform a variety of other flying assignments.
• Document and log the activities of the aviation unit; assist in ensuring the safety of flight operations and proper equipment maintenance in partnership 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 505, OH-58, and Bell 205 A++ experience preferred.  Experience flying with the aid of night vision goggles is 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.
  1. 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 and 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 goggles (NVG), hoist (if applicable), and other required 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 successfully pass the initial screening process will be scheduled for an interview with the unit supervisor and chief pilot.
2. Background Investigation: A thorough investigation of a 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 Lieutenant H. Whapeles ([email protected]). The resume should include a detailed listing of flight experience, including types of airframes and hours logged.

This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Regional Air Support Unit Seeks Qualified Helicopter Pilots" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7