The Ventura County Sheriff's Office is seeking an experienced Helicopter Pilot for a rewarding career. Incumbents serve as Pilot in Command (PIC) during a full range of helicopter missions, are responsible for the safe overall operation of Ventura County Sheriff's Office aircraft, and have the final authority for all safety-of-flight aspects of the helicopter operations. In addition, pilots fly over all types of terrain during aerial firefighting, law enforcement, crew/equipment transport, reconnaissance, medical rescue, disaster mitigation and related activities; maintains pilot flight logs and records; performs minor repairs and inspections and performs other duties as required.SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: Incumbents often must work under adverse conditions and successfully respond to unexpected and occasionally life threatening events. Must also work rotating shifts which include stand-by, on-call status, willing/able to respond to emergencies after normal working hours and arrive at the hangar within thirty (30) minutes of initial notification.DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: This classification is distinguished from other classifications in the Deputy Sheriff series in that the incumbent's primary responsibility is to operate a helicopter in the performance of law enforcement, fire suppression duties, and rescue missions. This position is non-sworn.
Duties may include but are not limited to the following:
- Transports medical personnel to medical emergencies and injured patients to hospitals;
- Performs general law enforcement assignments for the protection of life and property, prevention and suppression of criminal law violators;
- Operates light, medium, and heavy size turbine powered helicopters over all types of terrain to assist in the suppression of wildland and other types of fires; may be involved in making water/foam drops in assigned fire suppression target areas, effecting rescues, and transporting firefighter crews and logistical materials to the fire line;
- Assists in training crews to operate safely in and around helicopters; use maps; operates fire and aviation radios; checks, cleans and maintains helicopters; and performs general housekeeping duties in the aviation unit;
- Maintains 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;
- May supervise and direct the work of personnel on the ground who are assisting in operations involving a helicopter;
- Operates 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;
- Reviews and maintains written and computerized flight logs and records;
- Performs minor maintenance of helicopters;
- Researches, develops and writes procedures for the Aviation Unit; and
- Performs other related duties as required.