UK Research and Inovation | Pilot

Purpose

The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) is a world-leading center for polar science and polar operations, addressing issues of global importance and helping society adapt to a changing world. The BAS Air Unit sits within the Polar Operations and Engineering directorate, who provide operational support for UK polar research. The operations team cover a wide range of activities from managing Arctic and Antarctic Research stations, operating polar ships and aircraft. Our expertise is in polar fieldwork planning, aircraft and ship operations, as well as developing engineering and technology solutions for science.

The Air Unit therefore requires exceptional pilots to work within a small team, flying DeHavilland Twin Otters in Antarctica and supporting science campaigns around the world. The right candidates are not just pilots, but people who would thrive working in diverse teams supporting the delivery of complex operations safely in some of the most extreme and challenging environments on Earth.

The role of an Air Unit pilot, supporting science in both Antarctica and across the world, involves considerable autonomy and a high level of leadership to ensure safe delivery. It is a physically and mentally demanding role, often working long hours and enduring unexpected nights camped out with the aircraft in field conditions.

The flying is very varied, dynamic and involves being deployed to Rothera, our Antarctic base, for periods of up to 6 months, between October and February each year. Our flying is predominantly oriented around delivering cargo and passengers into remote locations, where loading and unloading the aircraft is a manual activity, led by and involving the pilot. In addition, with a network of scientific instruments and fuel depots spread over western Antarctica, there is a considerable flying program to service these each year, often involving many hours of digging out fuel drums and instruments to raise them back to the surface after winter snow. Key to our success is maintaining operational professionalism and continued innovation in everything we do.

Our aircraft are maintained in Calgary in Canada, where we also undertake training flying and spend time in the DeHavilland Canada simulators. With Antarctic deployments and summer science campaigns, like the one we undertook in Brazil this year, it is not unusual for pilots to spend up to 8 months of the year outside of the UK; BAS Air Unit pilots are contracted for 221 working days and 144 days leave per annum.

Applicants must be mentally and physically robust with an inherent strong sense of adventure. For more information about the pilot role and living and working in Antarctica, please view the following resources:

• https://www.bas.ac.uk/about/about-bas/our-organisation/our-operational-teams/
• LinkedIn – Air Unit

Duties

You will be responsible for ensuring all flight operations are safe and efficient; planning of all flights; ensuring objectives and tasks detailed by the Chief Pilot/Deputy Chief Pilot are achieved.

1. Safe and efficient operation of the aircraft at all times.
2. For flight operations the pilot will ensure all safety and operational procedures are implemented in accordance with the BAS Air Operations Manual and all current/relevant airworthiness authority regulations.
3. The pilot will report progress, deficiencies and faults related to aircraft and flight operations to the Chief Pilot/Deputy Chief Pilot.
4. To keep current necessary licenses and approvals to fly BAS aircraft and to fly both within Antarctica and elsewhere on all assigned operational, flight testing and training missions.
5. To show due regard for co-workers and an appreciation of the close surrounding in which most of the working and off–duty time is spent when detached to remote locations.
6. To undertake other appropriate duties required by deployed Station or Line Management.

Time apportioned to these duties should reflect their priority. The following is a representative guide to the key work areas:

Flying 50%

Operational/Training Duties 30%

Secondary/Administrative Duties 10%

General Duties 10%

It is expected that the time apportionment will vary from year to year, to accommodate changing internal and external demands. However, some of the apportionment should be predictable and will be communicated during the annual pilot performance appraisal.

BAS chooses to apply commercial operational restrictions with respect to pilot's age. Therefore, we do not undertake single pilot operations with passengers after the age of 60. The retirement age is 65. Roles applicable within this restriction (as defined in the Air Operations Manual Part A) include:

• Single pilot non-operational flights
• Multi-pilot operational and non-operational flights
• Simulator and ground training instructing roles (where appropriate)

Additional administrative tasking should be expected in addition to flying tasks. There would not be an expectation of transferring to a solely office-based role, or undertaking tasks not appropriate to the skills and experience associated with the role of a pilot

Skills, Qualifications, and Experience

Essential

• UK CAA Part – FCL ATPL or ATPL (A) MCC Course (Multi-crew Co-operation) or Equivalent ICAO License and qualifications, will be considered on case by case based on relevant experience.
• Ability to work in a UK Government organisation
• Accrued 2,500 flying hrs
• Able to identify hazards and apply appropriate mitigations and safe systems of work
• Able to dynamically assess and manage risks in rapidly changing situations
• Good Microsoft product and computer literacy
• Problem solving abilities, both practical and theoretical
• Able to organise people and equipment
• Effective communication to team and base (sometimes remotely e.g., over HF radio)
• Able to make decisions in conjunction with other members of staff (both on site and remote) and autonomously as required
• Ability to work and lead as part of a small remote team for extended periods of time
• Due to the remote nature of our operations , you will need to pass and Antarctic medical assessment, which is more stringent than a CAA Class 1 medical, to demonstrate that you are medically fit to work in Antarctic conditions

Desirable

• Twin Otter type rating
• Accrued 1,500 hours in command
• Experience of both multi-crew and single operations
• Experience working autonomously in remote environments
• Expedition or outdoor recreation experience
• Experience responding to incidents and developing contingency plans in remote environments
• Experience using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and satellite imagery.
• Teaching Experience, particularly delivering outdoor skills training
• Ability to make appropriate decisions about safety in remote and potentially hazardous environments
• An understanding of group dynamics and conflict resolution
• Previous experience of physically demanding work

As a BAS employee, you’ll be eligible for the following benefits:

• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 2.5 privilege days
• Civil Service pension (with 26% or more employer contribution, depending on your band)
• 24 hours/365 days access to employee assistance programme (including support with physical, mental, social, health and financial issues)
• Flexible and family friendly working opportunities
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to discounted shopping on a range of retail, leisure, and lifestyle categories and much more

We will give full consideration to requests for flexible and part time working, such as reduced hours, compressed hours or job sharing. We also offer hybrid working and recognise the many benefits this brings. The nature of the role will determine if flexible and hybrid working options are possible.

The pay band minimum is the normal starting pay for those new to a role. In exceptional circumstances, when relevant skills and experience can be identified, a higher starting salary may be considered.