Chief Pilot

HELISERVICE USA LLC; North Kingstown (RI); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

401(k) plan

PTO 15 days

Job summary

HeliService USA LLC is seeking a Chief Pilot to oversee standardization, training, and checking across all bases, ensuring FAA-approved standards are met while maintaining line pilot duties. The role requires a strong safety culture and leadership in a growing offshore wind/hoist operations portfolio.

The Chief Pilot will retain line pilot status on the AW169, lead the pilot workforce, and work under the Director of Operations to align SOPs, training, and operational plans with regulatory

Qualifications

• Commercial pilot certificate with rotorcraft–helicopter rating
• Rotorcraft–helicopter instrument rating
• PIC qualification for AW169 or HSUSA aircraft
• 3 years PIC experience in last 6 years (first Chief Pilot) or prior Chief Pilot experience

Responsibilities

• Support operational control under 14 CFR § 135.77 with FAA-approved specifications.
• Lead pilot standards across all bases and mission types.
• Maintain pilot training program including NVG, SPIFR, Line Training, Offshore IFR, CRM, TEM, Cargo Hook, HEC.
• Design and oversee scenario-based training for IFR/offshore and hoist operations.
• Mentor and calibrate other check pilots and instructors.
• Maintain training records per § 135.63.
• Lead recruitment and development of pilots.

Skills

Helicopter ops experience

PIC AW169 experience

IFR twin-engine piloting

Check pilot / flight instructor

FAA audits experience

HeliOffshore & IOGP knowledge

Just culture advocate

Job description

Salary Range: $145,000.00 To $200,000.00 Annually

Location

Quonset (North Kingstown), RI. Hybrid schedule with required company travel as needed.

Reporting To

Director of Operations

Pay Type & FLSA Status

Shift/Work Schedule

Given the nature of the Company's operations, this role requires ongoing availability and responsiveness. Work hours may vary significantly and may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and other non-standard hours as necessary to support the safe and effective operation of the business.

COMPANY & POSITION SUMMARY

Company Summary

HeliService USA is a veteran-owned and operated aviation company established in 2022, built on a foundation of discipline, expertise, and mission-driven performance. With more than half of its team comprised of military veterans, the company brings a high level of professionalism and operational excellence to every mission. Headquartered in North Kingstown (Quonset), Rhode Island, HeliService USA operates across multiple locations including Martha's Vineyard, MA; Beaumont, TX; Norfolk, VA; and Dayton, OH, supported by a growing workforce of over 100 professionals.

HSUSA is a rapidly expanding operator flying the Leonardo AW169 across a wide variety of demanding mission profiles, including, Offshore Response Rescue Services (RRS), Helicopter Air Ambulance (HAA), Helicopter Harbor Pilot Transfers by precision hoist, Wind Turbine Hoisting, and Offshore Crew Change. HSUSA is the nation's leader in offshore wind support as the first and only dedicated U.S. operator in the sector, a recognized leader in helicopter harbor pilot transfers, and the world leader in hoist volume, conducting more than 15,000 hoist evolutions annually.

Position Summary

The Chief Pilot is a required management official under 14 CFR § 119.69 and reports to the Director of Operations (DO). In support of the DO's exercise of operational control under 14 CFR § 135.77, the Chief Pilot holds direct responsibility for the standardization, currency, competency, and airmanship of HSUSA's pilot workforce across all bases and mission types. The Chief Pilot owns the flight operations standards, the pilot training, testing, and checking program, ensuring every pilot is trained and checked to HSUSA's FAA-approved standards and Operations Specifications ( OpSpecs ).

This is a working leadership role. The Chief Pilot will personally hold and maintain FAA approval as a company check pilot and flight instructor on the AW169 and remain a current line pilot, leading standardization from the front line. Above all, the Chief Pilot sets the tone for a strong, just safety culture in which the safety of the operation is the number one priority, and in which crews are trusted, supported, and empowered to make good decisions and to report hazards without fear of reprisal.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS, SYSTEMS

The Chief Pilot will be a direct employee, will meet all qualifications required by 14 CFR § 119.71(d), and a resume will be kept on file with the FSDO (Flight Standards District Office). HSUSA conducts operations for which the pilot in command is required to hold at least a commercial pilot certificate; accordingly, Chief Pilot qualification is governed by § 119.71(d). Under 14 CFR § 119.71(d), a person must:

• Certificate — Hold at least a commercial pilot certificate with appropriate ratings (rotorcraft–helicopter); and
• Instrument rating — Because an instrument rating is required for HSUSA pilots in command, also hold a rotorcraft–helicopter instrument rating; and
• PIC qualification — Be qualified to serve as pilot in command in at least one aircraft used in HSUSA's operation (the Leonardo AW169); and
• In addition, either:
• As a person becoming a Chief Pilot for the first time ever, have at least 3 years of experience within the past 6 years as pilot in command of an aircraft operated under Part 121 or Part 135; or
• As a person with previous Chief Pilot experience, have at least 3 years of experience as pilot in command of an aircraft operated under Part 121 or Part 135.

Note: Under 14 CFR § 119.71(f), the company may request FAA approval of a deviation for a candidate who does not meet the exact airmen or experience requirements but has comparable experience and can effectively perform the role. The Administrator may terminate a grant of deviation authority at any time.

Additional FAA Qualifications Check Pilot & Flight Instructor

This position requires the incumbent to serve as a company check pilot and flight instructor on the AW169. Beyond the § 119.71(d) management qualifications above, the Chief Pilot must qualify for, obtain, and continuously maintain:

• Check pilot — Qualification and Administrator (POI) approval under 14 CFR §§ 135.337 and 135.339 for the AW169, including satisfactory completion of the applicable check pilot training.
• Flight instructor — Qualification and approval under 14 CFR §§ 135.338 and 135.340 for the AW169, including satisfactory completion of the applicable instructor training.
• Recency & line currency — Recency of experience and line currency under 14 CFR § 135.247 sufficient to exercise check pilot (aircraft) and flight instructor (aircraft) privileges.
• Medical — A Class I medical certificate .

Systems

Proficiency with, or ability to quickly learn, HSUSA's operational and training-tracking systems, electronic flight bag (EFB) tools, the Communications Center workflow, and the company SMS/ flight-data (HFDM) reporting environment.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE & ATTRIBUTES

• 10 years of helicopter operational experience.
• Significant pilot-in-command time in the AW169 or a comparable twin-engine IFR helicopter.
• Experience in one or more of HSUSA's core mission sets: HAA, offshore/Hoist Operations/Offshore support (Along With Offshore IFR), external load (Part 133), NVG, and/or SAR-style operations.
• Prior experience as a Part 135 check pilot and/or flight instructor and building or revising training curricula.
• Working knowledge of HeliOffshore and IOGP standards.
• Experience with FAA and/or customer audits.
• Strong standardization discipline and a demonstrated commitment to just culture and non-punitive safety reporting.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Direct employee of HeliService USA; resume maintained on file with the FAA FSDO.
• Authorization to work in the U.S.; ability to travel to company bases; background / DOT requirements as applicable.
• Ability to obtain and maintain FAA check pilot and flight instructor approvals and the required medical certification.

RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES

Operational Control Support & Regulatory Compliance

• Support the DO's exercise of operational control under § 135.77 by ensuring pilots and flight operations conform to HSUSA's FAA-authorized OpSpecs , FAA-approved manuals, deviations, and exemptions.
• Serve as the company's principal pilot-standards authority across all bases and mission types.
• Work directly with the Director of Operations to maintain the flight-operations content of the training manual and pilot-facing SOPs in current, compliant condition, and ensure pilots can access and understand applicable requirements.
• Serve as a primary company point of contact to the Principal Operations Inspector (POI) on pilot qualification, training, and checking matters.
• Any additional duties assigned by the Director of Operations .
• Work alongside the Director of Operations to establish, publish, and enforce standardized procedures, callouts, and mission profiles across all bases, mission types, and crews.
• Draft, review, and refine SOPs and mission-specific procedures (offshore IFR/HEDA, hoist/HEC, NVG, Part 133 external load, HAA, RRS), maintaining alignment with the company manuals.
• Ensure procedures are clear, enforceable, and practically usable by line pilots.

Training, Testing & Checking

• Own and continuously improve the pilot training program: initial, transition, upgrade, differences, and recurrent training. Along with individual trainings such as: NVG, SPIFR, Line Training, Offshore IFR, CRM, TEM, Cargo Hook, and HEC.
• Design and oversee scenario-based training for IFR/offshore, NVG, hoist/HEC, external load, and HAA operations.
• Work with HSUSA’s Director of Training to ensure required testing and checking is scheduled and completed.
• Identify training gaps from HFDM trends, safety reports, and check results, and build targeted recurrent training.
• Coordinate outsourced/simulator training (e.g., Part 142 providers) and ensure alignment with company needs.
• Personally conduct pilot training, testing, and checking on the AW169 as an approved check pilot and flight instructor, within the limits of FAA approvals and independence requirements.
• Mentor, standardize, and calibrate other company check pilots and instructors to ensure consistent, repeatable standards.
• Maintain accurate crewmember training and qualification records in accordance with § 135.63.

Safety & Safety Culture

• Build and sustain a proactive, just safety culture in which the safety of the operation is always the first priority and crews are trusted, supported, and free to raise concerns without fear of reprisal.
• Reinforce anti‑pressure, go/no‑go decision‑making and crew resource management (CRM) across all mission types.
• Work closely with the Safety Manager and the SMS, contributing to hazard identification, risk assessment, event review, and root‑cause analysis.

Leadership & Team

• Work with the DO to recruit, hire, onboard, and retain qualified pilots to meet operational and customer demand.
• Lead and develop the pilot workforce.
• Provide clear performance expectations and feedback, and deliver corrective standardization when required.

Line Flying & Currency

• Maintain personal line currency and mission qualification on the AW169 sufficient to lead standardization from the front lines and to exercise check pilot and instructor privileges.
• Fly line and mission sorties as operationally appropriate, without compromising management, training, and oversight responsibilities. Will be required to fly a minimum of 6 shifts a month (Training/Line/Ground Training).

Manuals, Publications & Documentation

• Work with the Director of Operations to maintain assigned Operations Manuals and mission manuals in current condition and accessible to pilots, coordinating changes with the DO and POI.
• Ensure flight publications and pilot-facing references are received on time, distributed to the bases, and carried in each aircraft as required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & DEMANDS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Modality: May work a hybrid work schedule with required company travel as operational needs demand.

• Exposure to high noise levels from aircraft operations.
• Proximity to moving aircraft, ground support equipment, and vehicles.
• Potential exposure to aviation fuel, fumes, oils, and other chemicals.
• Slip, trip, and fall hazards within hangar and ramp areas.
• Prolonged periods of sitting and computer use, including repetitive‑motion tasks.

Physical Demands: Sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, reaching, pushing, and pulling, keyboarding, and speaking. Additional physical demands may be required as these are a general description.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS / DISCLAIMERS

Job Description Disclaimer: This job description is a general description of essential job functions. It is not intended as an employment contract, nor is it intended to describe all duties someone in this position may perform. All employees are expected to perform tasks as assigned by supervisory personnel, regardless of job title or routine job duties.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: HeliService USA LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Work Authorization/Sponsorship: Applicants must be legally authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. Currently, we are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of any employment Visa.

Benefits: This position is eligible for comprehensive benefits, including group medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as voluntary coverage options such as life, short‑term disability, accident, and cancer insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the company's 401(k) plan following the standard waiting period ( effective the first of the month after hire ). Paid time off (PTO) for 5/2 schedule employees is 15 days annually, accrued throughout the year, and prorated during the first calendar year based on date of hire.