Fire Pilot

Orange-County-Fire-Authority; Fullerton (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Orange County Fire Authority is currently accepting applications for the position of Fire Pilot. This recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancy as well as to establish an eligibility list for future vacancies.

Under general supervision, Fire Pilots are assigned to perform aerial fire suppression by piloting OCFA helicopters over all terrains during firefighting, crew transport, reconnaissance, and rescue operations; they maintain flight logs and perform minor repairs and inspections.

Qualifications

• 4,000 logged hours of helicopter PIC time
• 1,500 hours mountainous terrain in challenging conditions

Responsibilities

• Perform aerial fire suppression by piloting OCFA helicopters
• Conduct crew/equipment transport, reconnaissance and medical rescue
• Maintain flight logs and inspective records

Skills

Helicopter flight control systems

Interagency operations guidelines

FARs/AIM knowledge

Wildland fire behavior

Aerial fire suppression

External load operations

Night vision systems

Education

FAA Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate

FAA Medical Certificate Class 2 or 1

FAA Helicopter Instrument Rating

California Driver License

Tools

Fixed water tank

Hydraulic snorkel

External water bucket

Sling loads

Rescue hoist

Job description

This classification will receive the following base wage increases:

• 4.5% effective March 19, 2027
• 4.5% effective March 17, 2028
• 4.5% effective March 16, 2029
• 4.5% effective March 15, 2030
• 4.5% effective March 14, 2031

CLOSING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment with a first application review of Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply early in the recruitment process.

Recruitment and Selection Schedule of Events:

• First Application Review: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
• Oral Interview: Week of October 5, 2026
• Check Flight: TBD – Will depend on candidate and OCFA Aircraft availability
• Fire Chief's Interview: TBD – depends on completion of candidate’s Check Flight
• Hire Date: TBD

Dates listed above are subject to change based on the needs of the Authority.

THE POSITION

The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is currently accepting applications for the position of Fire Pilot. This recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancy as well as to establish an eligibility list for future vacancies.

Applicants are encouraged to review the entire recruitment announcement before applying to understand the minimum qualifications and to apply early in the process.

CLASS SUMMARY

Under general supervision, Fire Pilots are assigned the authority and responsibility to perform aerial fire suppression by piloting Orange County Fire Authority helicopters over all types of terrain during aerial firefighting, crew/equipment transport, reconnaissance, medical rescue, disaster mitigation and related activities; maintains pilot flight logs and records; performs minor repairs and inspections to Orange County Fire Authority helicopters, and performs other duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Fire Pilot is the first level in a two level helicopter pilot series. Incumbents serve as Pilot in Command (PlC) during a full range of helicopter missions including but not limited to missions related to fire suppression, are responsible for the safe overall operation of Orange County Fire Authority aircraft and have the final authority for all safety-of-flight aspects of the helicopter operations. The Fire Pilot is distinguished from the Chief Fire Pilot which performs lead journey-level pilot duties and is responsible for supervisory activities.

To view a full summary of the essential functions for this position, please use the link provided below.

Fire Pilot

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (position requirements at entry):

• Four thousand (4,000) logged hours of flying time in helicopters as Pilot-In-Command, including experience in power-off-auto rotational landings.
• Fifteen hundred (1,500) hours of this time must have been flown in mountainous terrain at altitudes over 4,000 feet on map survey work, power line patrol or construction work, fire control work, rescue operations work, or similar assignments requiring take-offs and landings with maximum loads on unimproved landing areas under adverse weather conditions.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS (position requirements at entry):

• Must possess and maintain a valid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with rotorcraft-helicopter rating
• Must possess and maintain a valid Class 2 or Class 1 FAA Medical Certificate
• Must possess and maintain a valid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Helicopter Instrument Rating
• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License is required at time of appointment

This classification is subject to enrollment in the California DMV Pull Notice Program, which periodically provides Risk Management with the incumbent's Driver License record and status.

HIGHLY DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Flight experience with Bell Medium Helicopter
• Flight experience with Sikorsky S70/UH60 Helicopter
• At least 500 hours of low-level flight such as powerline patrol, animal survey/capture, and vegetation management
• At least 50 hours of Night Vision Goggle flight
• At least 50 hours of instrument time.

KNOWLEDGE (position requirements at entry):

Knowledge of:

• Helicopter flight control systems and equipment; Interagency Helicopter Operations Guidelines; Federal Aviation Regulations and the Aeronautical Information Manual
• Wildland fire behavior and fire weather
• Aerial fire suppression
• External load operations
• Night vision systems

SKILLS (position requirements at entry):

Skill in:

• Operating medium size turbine powered helicopters over all types of terrain
• Operating special helicopter accessory equipment, including fixed water tank, hydraulic snorkel, external water bucket, sling loads, and rescue hoist
• Reviewing and maintaining written and computerized flight logs and records
• Analyzing fire and other emergency situations accurately and taking effective action
• Reading, speaking, and understanding the English language
• Communicating effectively in writing
• Preparing and making clear and concise oral presentations
• Reading, understanding, interpreting, and applying Authority policies, rules, laws and ordinances
• Establishing and maintaining harmonious and effective working relationships with superiors, subordinates, and other employees in emergency and non-emergency situations
• Carrying out a conditioning program to maintain good fitness
• Performing Fire suppression via utilization of aircraft

ONLINE APPLICATION

The Human Resources Department reviews all initial application materials to identify qualified applicants. The OCFA reserves the right to refer only the better qualified applicants if the number of applicants is high. If the number of applicants is high, the review process may include a secondary screening (by a panel of job knowledge experts) of the applications and/or supplemental questionnaires in which the better qualified applicants are referred to the next phase of the recruitment process. Because recruitment processes vary, applicants are advised to thoroughly review the job announcement before submitting their online application materials.

PANEL ORAL INTERVIEW

The minimum passing score is 80%. The panel interview will have a weight of 100% of the candidate's overall score. Candidates will be required to present proof of all certification requirements.

FIRE PILOT CHECK FLIGHT EXAMINATION

Candidates who successfully complete the oral interview will be invited to participate in the Fire Pilot Check Flight will be administered to candidates who successfully pass the panel interview. The Fire Pilot Check Flight is a pass/fail event.

CHIEF'S INTERVIEW

Candidates who successfully complete the Chief's interview may be invited to begin the pre-employment background process.

Human Resources will notify qualified candidates by EMAIL of the scheduled dates, times, and locations for the events listed above.

ELIGIBLE LIST

Placement on the eligible list will be established based on a successful completion of the selection process listed above. The eligibility list will remain in effect for a period of one (1) year from the date of establishment or until all the names on the list are exhausted. The eligibility list may be extended or abolished at the discretion of the Assistant Chief, Human Resources.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Ability to pass a medical examination for public safety personnel whose duties demand good fitness, strength, agility and vision; operate both as a member of a team and independently at incidents of uncertain duration; wear required safety gear including but not limited to flight helmet, Nomex flight suit and personal flotation device in the course of performing duties; lift or carry a minimum of 45 pounds; pull, push and reach above the shoulder, stand; sit; stoop, kneel, repeatedly bend, crawl; walk; talk or hear; use hands or fingers, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; be exposed to trauma victims; operate motorized equipment, hoses, pumps, fire appliances and fittings, office equipment, radios and other communications devices; operate in environments of high noise, outside weather conditions, near moving mechanical parts; in confined spaces; perform physically demanding work in hot, humid atmospheres while wearing equipment that significantly impairs body-cooling mechanisms; perform a variety of tasks on slippery, wet surfaces; exposure to dust, products of combustion, risk of electrical shock or vibration.

Specific Vision Abilities:

Binocular close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

NOTE: The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the needs of the department.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) ACCOMMODATION

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, anyone who needs an ADA accommodation for the purposes of employment testing should contact the assigned recruiter, Duke Steppe, Human Resources Manager at [phone] or via email at [e-mail] no later than 72 hours prior to any portion of the examination process.

WITHDRAWING FROM RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Whenever an applicant chooses to withdraw from a recruitment process, he/she is required to submit an email notification to Duke Steppe, Human Resources Manager at [e-mail] requesting a withdrawal from the process. The email to the recruiter must include the applicant's current phone number.

QUESTIONS

All questions regarding this position should be directed to Duke Steppe, Human Resources Manager at [phone] or via email at [e-mail].

NOTE

The provisions of this publication do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision in this publication may be modified or revoked without notice.