Helicopter Pilot – Sworn/Civilian – Part-time

Helicopter Pilot – Sworn/Civilian – Part-time

Posting Closes: February 26, 2025

Starting Pay: $45.00 hourly

General Description:

This position is within the Volusia Sheriff’s Office (VSO) Aviation Unit “Air One,” which operates three Bell 407 helicopters out of the Special Servies Section in DeLand. Air One operates twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week in support of VSO missions. In addition to law enforcement missions, Air One helicopters also conduct medical evacuations (medevac), search and rescue (SAR), fire suppression and monitoring, and special missions in support of specialty units to include SWAT. Pilots are not only an eye in the sky to locate criminals, Air One aircrews are also frequently employed to locate missing children, runaways, suicidal persons, and adults suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Note: This posting is for a part-time, no benefits position with the requirement to work one (1) prescheduled 12-hour shift per month. Additional hours will be scheduled on an as-needed basis. Shifts for Air One are a 12-hour shift (0530-1730 or 1730-0530). This position could be to fill vacancies on both days and nights.

Minimum Qualifications:

• At least nineteen (19) years of age. (SWORN)
• A citizen of the United States. (SWORN)
• Graduation from high school or possession of a GED.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida’s driver's license.
• Must successfully complete VSO’s New Deputy Training Program (NDT) before acting in a law enforcement capacity. (SWORN)
• Completion of the Minimum Standards Course required by the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission for police officers. (SWORN)
• Must hold a valid FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with a Rotorcraft Category and Helicopter Class Rating at the Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot level.
  • If a Commercial Pilot Certificate is held, the Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating must not be limited to Visual Flight Rules (VFR); as well as a valid, FAA First- or Second-Class Medical Certificate, for exercising the privileges of a Commercial Pilot Certificate.
• Must have 1,000 hours of flight time as a pilot in Rotorcraft-Helicopters including:
  • 100 hours of Cross-County flight time with at least 25 hours being at night.
  • 100 hours of Turbine Helicopter time.
• Must be able to pass the FAA – Part 135 Check Ride within ninety (90) days of hire.
• Must reside/relocate in or within thirty (30) air miles of Volusia County within six (6) months of hire.
• A comparable amount of education and experience may be substituted for the minimum requirements.

Background Screening: This position will require an extensive background investigation and drug screening.

TOBACCO POLICY: It is this organization’s policy that individuals hired into special risk positions may not use any form of tobacco at any time, whether on or off duty, as a condition of employment. Candidates must be nicotine-free by the time of pre-employment physical/drug examination, including nicotine-containing products used in tobacco replacement therapies. (SWORN)

Essential Functions:

• Activities include but are not limited to surveillance, searches, crime detection, prevention, photo missions, and search and rescue missions.
• Provides transport of personnel in support of natural disasters.
• Provides medical transport for accidents, interfacility transfers, and other traumatic events.
• Provides surveillance and support for wildfires, including water bucket operations.
• Assists other municipalities, law enforcement and government agencies.
• Oversees aircraft ground handling operations.
• Testifies in court relative to law enforcement missions.
• Assists law enforcement in specialized and select law enforcement operations and maintains confidentiality regarding sensitive agency related matters.
• Conducts pre- and post-flight inspections.
• Performs function check of ancillary equipment.
• Ensures aircraft meets the FAA regulatory requirements.
• Maintains cleanliness of the aircraft and workspaces.
• Oversees aircraft servicing and handling operations.
• Performs safety inspection of aircraft and related instruments and equipment.
• Communicates with department personnel and other agencies within the scope and depth of their assignment.
• Attends work on a regular and consistent basis.
• Must adhere to Federal, State, County, and local ordinances.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Status: Civilian/Sworn

Blood and Viral Pathogen Risk: Minimal Risk/Foreseeable Risk

Environmental Conditions:

• Must be able to work under stressful conditions.
• Must be able to relocate to other county locations based upon operational needs.
• Must be able to remain available to work when a public emergency or disaster occurs.

Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to speak clearly in an unencumbered manner and comprehend.
• Ability to concentrate under stress.
• Ability to coordinate several activities at the same time under intense stress.
• Ability to respond quickly with little notice in the event of an emergency, disaster, or unexpected staff shortage.
• Ability to comprehend professional and technical manuals, instructions, journals, legal documents, maps, and layouts.
• Ability to relay details and information.
• Ability to pass acceptance check flights.
• Ability to successfully complete initial and recurrent training as required by the FAA and section.
• Ability to pass airman competency and proficiency checks as required by the FAA and section.
• Ability to make independent decisions with minimal guidance from a supervisor.
• Ability to speak, read, and write English.
• Ability to interact effectively with others.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with a wide variety of people under stressful conditions.
• Ability to react quickly, calmly and with good judgment during emergency and non-emergency situations.
• Ability to operate specialized equipment.
• Ability to type efficiently and accurately.
• Analytical skills.
• Computer skills.
• Organizational skills.
• Observational skills.
• Tactical communication skills.
• Record keeping skills.
• Multitasking.

Required Knowledge:

• VSO General Orders and procedures.
• FAA regulations and controls.
• FAA operation of helicopters.
• Volusia County geography including both incorporated and unincorporated areas.
• Other agencies.
• Radio codes, signals, and identifications.
• Federal and State legislation.
• First aid methods and general emergency methods.
• Criminal Justice System. (SWORN)
• Building/area search techniques.
• Mobile field force system.
• Defensive techniques. (SWORN)
• Reference data.
• Support units available.
• Community services.
• Florida State Statutes. (SWORN)
• Local laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations effective in the county.
• Case Reporting Manual.
• Manufacture’s standards.

Physical Requirements:

• Run a minimum of fifty (50) yards. (SWORN)
• Climb a minimum of six (6) feet. (SWORN)
• Jump a minimum of six (6) feet. (SWORN)
• Drag, lift, carry a minimum of 150 pounds. (SWORN)
• Crawl a minimum of ten (10) yards. (SWORN)
• Swim a minimum of fifty (50) yards with a flotation device. (SWORN)
• Operate emergency vehicles. (SWORN)
• Traverse all types of terrain, i.e. urban, woods, swamp, hills.
• Use restraints, i.e. handcuffs, hobble. (SWORN)
• Effectuate an arrest with or without resistance. (SWORN)
• Work a 12-hour shift on both days and nights.
• Sit for long periods of time.
• Bend, crouch, reach, see, hear, smell, pull, push, stand, kneel, handle, stoop, balance, talk, feel.
• Manual dexterity.
• Ambulate independently.
• Visual acuity of 20/30 vision standard in each eye; if corrective lenses must be used to satisfy 20/30 vision standard, uncorrected vision should be no worse than 20/100 in each eye.
• Pass hearing test with less than forty (40) decibels in each ear under frequencies of 2000Hz, 3000Hz, and 4000Hz.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V