Helicopter Pilot

Duties and Responsibilities

• Operates agency helicopter during law enforcement, emergency response, and public safety missions.
• Conducts pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight procedures in accordance with FAA regulations and agency policy.
• Maintains operational readiness of assigned aircraft, avionics systems, mission equipment, cameras, radios, and support equipment.
• Captures airborne patrol and rapid-response aviation missions in support of countywide law enforcement operations.
• Collaborates with Communications personnel, incident commanders, patrol supervisors, and mutual aid agencies to coordinate flight operations.
• Operates aircraft in compliance with FAA regulations, air traffic control instructions, and agency flight procedures.
• Monitors weather conditions, airspace restrictions, NOTAMs, TFRs, and operational hazards.
• Conducts aerial surveillance, thermal imaging operations, search missions, perimeter containment, pursuit monitoring, and tactical support missions.
• Operates aviation navigation systems, airborne camera systems, moving map displays, mission planning systems, and communications equipment.
• Supports search and rescue operations involving missing persons, fleeing suspects, maritime incidents, and natural disaster events.
• Supports crime scene documentation and aerial photography missions.
• Affords assistance in large-scale event security operations and emergency management missions.
• Responds rapidly during critical incidents including barricaded subjects, active threats, manhunts, and natural disasters.
• Participates in safety meetings, operational briefings, and after-action reviews.
• Maintains required certifications, qualifications, and training standards.
• Maintains mission logs, maintenance records, and operational documentation.
• Ensures confidentiality of sensitive law enforcement information.
• Assists with equipment inventories, maintenance tracking, and operational readiness inspections.

Minimum Selection Criteria

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Must possess and maintain throughout employment, a valid Florida driver license without any restrictions affecting job performance.
• FAA Commercial Rotorcraft Certificate and Instrument Rating.
• FAA Second Class Medical Certificate at minimum; First Class preferred.
• Minimum five hundred (500) flight hours as a pilot-in-command rotorcraft-helicopter; 1,000 hours preferred.
• One hundred (100) hours rotorcraft-helicopter night flight time preferred.
• Prior Law Enforcement experience preferred.

Special Selection Criteria

• Required to complete a Bell 505 initial training course (flight and ground), Mission Training checkout, Emergency Egress familiarization.
• Must be able to function in all-weather / environmental conditions, be exposed to noise, fumes and the physiological effects of flight.
• Prior rotary-wing aviation experience in law enforcement, military, EMS, or public safety aviation.
• Must be able to swim and tread water while wearing flight gear.
• Must be able to climb up and down on aircraft during preflight to a height of approximately 12 feet.
• Must be able to position aircraft (with assistance from others) with the use of ground handling equipment.
• Has excellent written communications skills, ability to accurately complete detailed reports and correctly maintain logs and activity reports.
• Demonstrates good oral communication skills with a high proficiency in radio procedures during high stressful situations.
• This position requires rotating shifts, nights, weekends, holidays and work schedule changes at short notice.
• CFI and CFII Rotorcraft-Helicopter rated preferred; prior law enforcement helicopter experience preferred.
• Trained and qualified in the use of Aviator’s Night Vision Imaging System preferred.