Aircraft Pilot 1 - Rotary Wing

State of Montana•Helena, MT

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation's mission is to help ensure that Montana's land and water resources provide benefits for present and future generations. The DNRC believes employees are their most important asset. The DNRC empowers employees to exercise professional judgment in carrying out their duties. Employees are provided with the training and tools necessary to achieve the mission. Both team effort and individual employee expertise are supported and sustained. The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s Forestry and Trust Land Division recognizes that building a collaborative, professional, and inclusive work environment is critical to fulfilling our mission of managing, protecting, and promoting stewardship of Montana’s forests and lands for the benefit of current and future generations and our trust beneficiaries. We hold ourselves to these high standards as we are accountable to the people of Montana. We value and respect each other. We create collaborative work environments. We build and maintain strong relationships. We practice accountability. We celebrate our successes and take pride in our work. The Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) Fire Protection Bureau provides support and direction for all fire management programs and activities on over 50 million acres of state, federal, and private forest and non-forest lands in accordance with state laws, policies, and procedures. Specifically, the Fire Protection Bureau protects, sustains, and improves the natural resources on state and private lands for the benefit of all Montanans through aggressive wildfire prevention, protection, and prescribed fire activities. The Air Operations Section provides professional aviation support for all department functions and the Reclamation Division of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The DNRC maintains and operates three fixed-wing airplanes, two light helicopters, and five medium helicopters. The Section supplies the aerial water drops for initial attack on fires, troop movements, and the aerial observation platform needed to gather information and intelligence on developing wildland fires. This position is the Rotary Wing Pilot and is responsible for performing rotary wing mission flights piloting light and medium helicopters to support agency wildfire suppression and other resource management activities in accordance with departmental policies and applicable laws after evaluating mission requirements to plan for all aspects of operations and to ensure aircraft are prepared to carry out wildfire suppression and related activities safely and effectively. Duties also include coordinating mission preparation, administration, compliance and post-action documentation activities to ensure preparedness in carrying out rotary wing requirements in adherence to applicable state and federal regulations. The incumbent reports to the Air Operations Program Manager and does not supervise other Aviation Unit Staff.

Requirements

Graduation from a FAA approved or military flight school
Commercial instrument rating
Three years progressively responsible mission experience (including high-risk flying such as fire suppression)
FAA Commercial certificate with rotary wing and rotary wing instrument or ATP Rotary Wing
Current FAA Class 2 medical
1500 hours total pilot in command time rotary-wing aircraft
1500 hours Rotor Wing Turbine
100 hours night flying
100 hours category and class
200 hours extended cross-country
200 hours mountainous terrain
100 hours last twelve months
10 hours last 60 days
Must remain qualified in Bell Jet Ranger and Medium Bell MT205 helicopters
Eligible to work in the United States
Valid driver's license with less than 12 conviction points in the most recent completed 36 months

Nice To Haves

Special knowledge of Bell UH-1 and 206 series helicopters.

Responsibilities

Perform rotary wing mission flights piloting light and medium helicopters to support agency wildfire suppression and other resource management activities including operating support equipment, maintaining communication, performing air transport, providing reconnaissance and observation and ensuring proper pre- and post-flight procedures are followed in accordance with departmental policies and applicable state and federal laws.
Evaluate air operations mission requirements to plan for all aspects of operations and to ensure aircraft and crews are prepared to carry out wildfire suppression and related activities safely and effectively according to applicable laws and departmental policies.
Coordinate mission preparation, administration and compliance activities to ensure preparedness to carry out rotary wing requirements and ensure adherence to applicable state and federal regulations including maintaining proficiency in aircraft and related equipment; attending training and education; maintaining physiological preparedness; ensuring proper post-flight procedures are followed; and performing administrative tasks such as billing and mission/aircraft documentation.