The U.S. Forest Service is seeking experienced pilots to serve as aircraft commanders and technical advisors for aviation operations across various remote and challenging terrains. This continuous announcement seeks qualified individuals for potential vacancies located across multiple regions.
About the Role
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Piloting a variety of aircraft models at low altitudes and varying speeds over difficult terrain, including mountains, forests, and deserts, during both day and night conditions.
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Transporting passengers and cargo to diverse destinations.
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Serving as Pilot-In-Command (PIC) on single-engine land, light, and/or multi-engine aircraft.
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Providing technical advisement to management regarding single and/or multi-engine fixed-wing aircraft activities.
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Performing basic systems inspections on aircraft to ensure operational readiness.
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Acting as an Aviation Contracting Officer's Technical Expert for airplane contracts and contract pilots.
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Conducting aerial supervision, Leadplane operations, and delivering smokejumpers and paracargo.
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Gathering information, analyzing issues, and developing recommendations for complex organizational problems and policy implementation.
Requirements
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Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
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Males born after December 31, 1959, must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
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Must pass a background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
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Must have federal payments made by direct deposit.
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Must successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check.
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Must be at least 18 years of age.
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Position is subject to pre-employment and random drug testing.
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Willingness to live and work in remote, volatile, and unpredictable locations.
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Must be under age 40, or less than age 40 after subtracting months of Permanent Federal Service in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position, or be a veteran preference eligible older than age 40 requesting a waiver.
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Required to serve a 1-year probationary period.
Qualifications
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Possess an FAA Airplane Commercial Pilot Certificate with Instrument and Airplane Multi-Engine Land ratings OR a current and valid FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with Instrument and Airplane Multi-Engine Land rating.
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Possess a current FAA first or second-class medical certificate.
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Meet all necessary certificates, ratings, and flight hour requirements in the appropriate Category and Class (Airplane - Multi-Engine).
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GS-09 Minimum Flight Experience:
1,200 total flight hours in airplanes, including 250 hours as PIC, 100 hours in multi-engine airplanes, 50 hours of night flight, 50 hours of actual or simulated instrument time (minimum 5 hours actual in flight), and 100 hours in airplanes within the preceding 12 months.
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GS-11 and GS-12 Minimum Flight Experience:
1,500 total flight hours in airplanes, including 250 hours as PIC, 500 hours in multi-engine airplanes, 75 hours of night flight, 75 hours of actual or simulated instrument time (minimum 10 hours actual in flight), and 100 hours in airplanes within the preceding 12 months.
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All flight experience must be substantiated by complete, legible flight logs.
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GS-12 Only:
May be required to obtain and maintain a current FAA Certified Flight Instructor Certificate (Airplane) with Multi-Engine and Instrument Airplane Instruction ratings, or the military equivalent.