Sheriff’s Helicopter Pilot

Salary : $118,381.45 – $143,906.92 Annually

Location : Santa Rosa, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: 23/06-0701-OC

Department: Sheriff’s Office (SHF)

Opening Date: 06/01/2023

Closing Date: Continuous

Position Information

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter Unit is Now Hiring
Starting Salary up to $68.95/hour ($143,906/year), a cash allowance of $600/month, and a competitive total compensation package!*

Precision Reference Vertical “Long-line” Pilot-In-Command Experience Required.

Our helicopter, Henry 1, is a Bell 407GXP. A highly maneuverable, four bladed, single turbine engine manufactured by Bell Helicopter, out of Fort Worth, Texas. Henry 1 is equipped with upgraded avionics (Garmin G1000), new law enforcement mission equipment, can be flown with a single pilot, and is configured for up to five passengers or during emergency medical calls (three crew members and a patient).

What We Offer

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $850 and ongoing education/training opportunities
Stand-by pay of $6.82 per hour
Differential pay for evening and night shifts
Overtime pay
Pilots FAA certified as a trainer receive additional premium pay for hours spent training other pilots
County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment

*Salary is negotiable. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can found in the .

Working closely with unit crew members to complete unit missions (law enforcement, search and rescue, medical evacuations, and fire suppression operations), the Sheriff’s Helicopter Pilot pilots the aircraft in safe manner consistent with Sheriff’s Office policy and law. To complete these missions, shifts may include weekends and holidays. Additional responsibilities include:

Identifying aircraft maintenance needs and collaborating with maintenance provider
Maintaining pilot currency with regards to FAA and Sheriff’s Office policies
Participating in regular on-duty trainings with crew to ensure competency

Henry 1 and the crew are based out of the Charles M. Schultz (Sonoma County) Airport in Santa Rosa, and work a 7 on 7 off schedule, are compensated for stand-by and overtime hours, and on-call during their work week when not at the hangar.

As a technical, non-peace officer position in the Sheriff’s Office the Pilot reports to, and is responsible for assisting, the Sergeant in charge of the Helicopter Unit. The unit consists of a Sergeant (Supervisor), tactical flight officers (Deputies), two helicopter pilots, and several extra-help paramedics. Additional pilots and paramedics may be hired on an extra-help basis to augment the crew.

The ideal candidate will be a strong leader and communicator, who can mentor crew members and brings:

A strong desire to learn and be passionate about the unit’s mission
Familiarity with Crew Resource Management and how it is implemented in daily crew operations
Extensive rotary wing aviation experience with regards to law enforcement and search and rescue operations
Exceptional vertical reference long line experience**
Experience in Night Vision Goggle (NVG) operations and FAA NVG endorsement
A strong desire to stay connected in the aviation industry by keeping abreast of latest safety occurrences of similar aircraft, best industry safety practices, and fly neighborly techniques
In-depth knowledge of aircraft maintenance
Problem-solving and critical thinking skills to safely complete challenging missions
Public speaking skills as unit regularly participates in community engagement
The ability to work cooperatively on small teams to achieve missions

NOTE: As part of the Sheriff’s Office selection process, the most qualified candidates will be required to perform a flight proficiency test.

** The Sheriff’s Office defines vertical reference as follows: The use of a belly mounted cargo hook to carry loads on a 100+ foot long sling, with you, the pilot, being fully responsible for the safe and accurate placement of the load while looking straight down below the helicopter at the load, and placing it in, often times, precise positions without any assistance from another member of your crew. Please note that the skills required to perform vertical reference/long-line is very different than hoist operations.

Please visit the Sheriff’s Office website and join our work family of over 650 employees. Visit the Helicopter Unit’s to learn more about the efforts to aid in protecting and securing the half-million residents within the 1,768 square miles of Sonoma County.

We Want to Hear from You!
Would you like to learn more about joining the Sheriff’s Office? Visit our Personnel Bureau or contact us and speak to the Sheriff’s recruiting team at 707.565.2779 or email .
This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list. The Civil Service title for this position is Helicopter Pilot.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Any combination of education, training, and experience that clearly demonstrates possession of the knowledge and abilities for the position. Normally, this would include graduation from high school or an acceptable equivalent certificate, and 2,000 hours of turbine helicopter Pilot-in-Command time, which includes 300 hours of mountain flying, 100 hours of night flying, and 200 hours of precision vertical reference long line flying.

License and Certificate: Possession of a valid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Commercial Airman Certificate with rotorcraft-helicopter rating or a valid FAA Airline Transport Pilot’s Certificate with a rotorcraft-helicopter rating; possession of a valid and current Class II Airman’s Medical Certificate issued by an FAA authorized medical examiner; possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Other Requirements: Applicants must successfully complete a thorough background investigation prior to appointment including a polygraph test; emergency operations may require working 16 hour shifts under difficult conditions such as fire and floods.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Considerable knowledge of: safe helicopter operating procedures; Department of Transportation, FAA, and other regulations governing civil aircraft movements; flight control systems and equipment; mountain helicopter flying; precision vertical reference long-line flying; minor maintenance and repair of helicopters; basic math to compute hauling weights; basic recordkeeping practices; terrain, weather, and flying conditions in California.

Ability to:
Safely operate aircraft; perform the duties of a helicopter Pilot-in-Command under the direction of the Sheriff or his authorized representative; safely and expeditiously perform aerial rescues utilizing precision vertical reference long line techniques with external loads; safely operate the helicopter during hours of darkness, with and without the use of night vision goggles, including approaches to a landing and departures from off-airport locations; conduct water retardant bucket operations; learn local geography; maintain accurate records; review records and assess aircraft needs; learn and follow departmental practices and policies; work effectively and efficiently with departmental personnel and other external contacts; exercise good judgment in emergency and stressful situations; communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing; work in hazardous, and stressful conditions; continue to learn new techniques; wear protective clothing and equipment; meet physical fitness requirements to maintain FAA license and perform the essential functions of the position; meet and maintain pilot weight limitations not to exceed 230 pounds, or as otherwise directed by the Department, to ensure compliance with aircraft maximum weight restrictions; work any shift including days, evening, nights, weekends, and holidays; be on stand-by during off-duty hours as assigned and report to duty within 30 minutes, or as otherwise directed by the Department; refrain from activities which might impair the ability to perform assigned duties while on duty or on stand by.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.

Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state “See Resume” or “See Application” may be considered insufficient.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination(weight 100%).Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.

BACKGROUND PROCESS

Being part of the Sheriff’s Office and being expected to keep the public safe requires a thorough background investigation process. This process includes an assessment of prior work history, verifying educational experiences, court reports, public records searches, understanding past patterns relating to drug usage, financial patterns, etc. This entails gathering a significant amount of information from job candidates and speaking to former employers, friends, family members, etc. Polygraphs, drug tests, and medical and physical examinations are also part of this process. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment. This process can take anywhere from 3-5 months. Many factors are taken into consideration and one should not assume a credit issue or prior drug use is automatically disqualifying. Candidates will be given the opportunity to present mitigating information they feel should be considered. You are encouraged to be as responsive as possible while this process is taking place to help expedite the timeline, and we encourage you to stay patient and interested in this great career opportunity while this process is taking place.

You may also review the to determine the requirements for this position.

Please read the for further information.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications are accepted online at Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: AK

HR Technician: KK

IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution towards the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit. For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU). A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.

Cash Allowance: A cash allowance of approximately $600 per month, in addition to monthly salary.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to or, contact the Human Resources’ Risk Management-Benefits Office at or

*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

How did you first learn about this opportunity?

Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG)
http://www.aviationcareer.com
CalJobs
Careers in Government
College or University
Craigslist
DiversityJobs
Employee of Sonoma County
Facebook
Glassdoor
GovernmentJobs.com
Handshake
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Sonoma County
Indeed
Instagram
Job Fair
www.justhelicopters.com
La Voz
Latino Service Providers
LinkedIn
Los Cien
Minority Organization or Group
rotor.org
sonoma-county.org/www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org
Sonoma County Human Resources Office
Sonoma County Job Line
Start Here!
Twitter
Veterans Services Office
Women’s Organization or Group
Workplace Diversity
Other Internet Site
Other Publication

Please indicate if you would also be interested in future part-time or extra-help (temporary, intermittent, or seasonal employment) positions should they become available. Check all that apply.

I would also like to be considered for future part-time positions
I would also like to be considered for future extra-help positions
I am only interested in full-time positions

Have you reviewed and do you understand the Sheriff’s Office Drug Guidelines? (Please note, if you do not have Internet access, you can request the drug standards packet from the Human Resources reception desk.)

Are you willing to undergo a thorough background investigation, which may include a review of criminal employment, education, driving, and credit records, and an inquiry into your personal and social history, including any use of drugs and/or alcohol?

Are you willing to undergo polygraph, psychological, physical abilities, and medical examinations?

Are you willing to work any shift assignments, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays?

Are you willing to be on stand-by during off-duty hours as assigned, and report within 30 minutes, or as otherwise directed by the Sheriff’s Office?

Are you willing to refrain from activities which might impair your ability to perform assigned duties while on duty or on stand-by?

Are you willing to work on emergency operations which may require working 16 hour shifts under difficult conditions such as fire and floods?

Do you possess a valid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) commercial Airman Certificate with rotorcraft-helicopter rating OR a valid FAA Airline Transport Pilot’s Certificate with a rotorcraft-helicopter rating?

If you are selected to continue further in the process, you will be required to provide a copy of your certificate and rating to the Sheriff’s Office.

Do you possess a valid and current Class II Airman’s Medical Certificate issued by an FAA authorized examiner?

If you are selected to continue further in the process, you will be required to provide a copy of your certificate to the Sheriff’s Office.

Do you possess 2,000 hours of turbine helicopter Pilot-In-Command (PIC) time?

Do you possess 300 hours of mountain flying PIC time?

Do you possess 100 hours of night flying PIC time?

Do you possess 200 hours of precision vertical reference long line flying PIC?

The Sheriff’s Office defines vertical reference as: The use of a belly mounted cargo hook to carry loads on a 100+ foot long sling, with you, the pilot, being fully responsible for the safe and accurate placement of the load while looking straight down below the helicopter at the load, and placing it in, often times, precise positions without any assistance from another member of your crew. Please note that the skills required to perform vertical reference/long-line is very different than hoist operations.

Please list your total hours of:

A. Turbine helicopter PIC time

B. Mountain flying PIC time

C. Night flying PIC time

D. Precision vertical reference long line flying PIC time

Please detail your experience with the following:

Crew Resource Management
Emergency Medical Service
External load and live load operations
Firefighting (Bambi bucket)
Flying Bell 206 series as PIC (plus hours in each)
Flying Bell 407 as PIC (plus hours in each)
Instrument Flight Rating (IFR)
Law Enforcement
Search and Rescue Night Vision Goggles (NVG)

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