Sheriff's Helicopter Pilot

About This Role

This non-sworn position involves serving as Pilot in Command for the Ventura County Sheriff's Office, operating helicopters across diverse terrains for various critical missions. The role suits an experienced helicopter pilot responsible for safe overall operation during aerial firefighting, law enforcement, medical rescue, disaster mitigation, and related activities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Pilot in Command (PIC) during a full range of helicopter missions
• Ensure safe overall operation of Ventura County Sheriff's Office aircraft
• Have final authority for all safety-of-flight aspects of helicopter operations
• Fly over all types of terrain during aerial firefighting, law enforcement, crew/equipment transport, reconnaissance, medical rescue, disaster mitigation, and related activities
• Maintain pilot flight logs and records
• Perform minor repairs and inspections
• Transport medical personnel to medical emergencies and injured patients to hospitals
• Perform general law enforcement assignments for the protection of life and property, prevention and suppression of criminal law violators
• Operate light, medium, and heavy size turbine-powered helicopters to assist in the suppression of wildland and other types of fires
• Make water/foam drops in assigned fire suppression target areas
• Effect rescues
• Transport firefighter crews and logistical materials to the fire line
• Assist in training crews to operate safely in and around helicopters
• Use maps
• Operate fire and aviation radios
• Check, clean, and maintain helicopters
• Perform general housekeeping duties in the aviation unit
• Maintain self and helicopter in a constant state of readiness for dispatch to emergency and non-emergency alarms or to assigned locations for ready response standby
• Supervise and direct the work of personnel on the ground who are assisting in operations involving a helicopter
• Operate special helicopter accessory equipment, which may include: fixed water tank, hydraulic/electric snorkel, sling loads, rescue hoist, helitorch, video downlinking, mapping, and forward-looking infrared systems
• Review and maintain written and computerized flight logs and records
• Perform minor maintenance of helicopters
• Research, develop, and write procedures for the Aviation Unit

Requirements

• Experience as a Helicopter Pilot
• Ability to work under adverse conditions
• Ability to successfully respond to unexpected and occasionally life-threatening events
• Willingness and ability to work rotating shifts, including stand-by and on-call status