Chief Pilot

Akima, LLC•Albuquerque, NM

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Rotary Wing Chief Pilot is a senior aviation leadership role responsible for overseeing the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of rotary-wing aircraft. The position combines operational oversight, regulatory compliance, crew management, and safety leadership. The Chief Pilot leads all flight operations conducted under the contract, supervising the pilots and flight engineers who perform Functional Check Flights (FCFs) and ferry flights for the UH-1N and HH-60W aircraft. This position establishes and enforces flight standards, crew qualification and currency programs, mission planning procedures, and risk management practices in accordance with applicable Air Force instructions (e.g., AFMAN 11-2H-60, AFI 11-202V3), FAA regulations, and contract requirements. The Chief Pilot personally performs FCF, MTF, and ferry duties as required, serving as a working supervisor and the technical authority on functional check flight procedures, post-maintenance flight clearance, and aircrew coordination with maintenance. They also serve as the primary flight operations interface with the GFR, customer flight leadership, and the Director of Maintenance to ensure seamless coordination between flight and maintenance activities.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED required.
Minimum 3,000 total rotary-wing flight hours.
Minimum 1,000 Pilot-in-Command (PIC) hours.
Minimum 500 hours in UH-1N, UH-60, HH-60, or equivalent military helicopter.
Minimum 300 hours performing Maintenance Test Flights (MTF) or Functional Check Flights (FCF).
Minimum 200 hours Night Vision Goggle (NVG).
Instrument qualified.
Aircraft Commander qualified.
Must have successfully completed one of the following: USAF Functional Check Flight Certification, Army Maintenance Test Pilot Course, Navy Functional Check Flight Program, or Equivalent military Maintenance Test Pilot qualification.
Requires graduation from a recognized military Maintenance Test Pilot or Functional Check Flight program for comparable rotary-wing maintenance test pilot positions.
FAA Commercial Rotorcraft-Helicopter Certificate.
Instrument Rating.
Current FAA Second Class Medical Certificate (or ability to obtain).
Current Flight Physical.
Minimum 10 years military rotary-wing aviation experience including experience as one or more of the following: Chief Pilot, Maintenance Test Pilot, Functional Check Pilot, Evaluator Pilot, Instructor Pilot, Flight Commander, Director of Operations, Standardization Pilot.
Minimum 3 years supervisory experience leading military or contractor flight operations.
Extensive knowledge of: Functional Check Flight procedures, Maintenance Test Flight procedures, Aircraft systems troubleshooting, Airworthiness certification, Risk Management (ORM), Crew Resource Management (CRM), Technical Orders, Aircraft Forms documentation, Weight and Balance, Flight planning, Aircraft limitations, Emergency procedures, Quality Assurance programs, Maintenance documentation systems.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's Degree in Aviation, Aeronautics, Engineering, or related field.

Responsibilities

Direct all Maintenance Test Flight operations.
Supervise assigned Maintenance Test Pilots.
Develop annual standardization training.
Conduct pilot evaluations and check rides.
Review all Functional Check Flight documentation.
Ensure compliance with Air Force Technical Orders.
Ensure compliance with applicable flight manuals.
Coordinate aircraft acceptance and return-to-service flights.
Review aircraft discrepancies requiring test flight validation.
Advise Maintenance Operations on aircraft airworthiness.
Conduct high-risk and complex Functional Check Flights.
Perform acceptance flights following depot-level maintenance or major modifications.
Review flight data and maintenance trends.
Participate in Mishap Prevention and Operational Risk Management programs.
Develop local flight operating procedures.
Serve as liaison between Government Flight Operations and contractor maintenance leadership.
Participate in Quality Assurance investigations involving aircraft flight characteristics.
Mentor and train newly assigned Test Pilots.
Maintain pilot currency and qualifications.