Sheriff Aircraft Pilot - Bakersfield, California

Company/Organization: Kern County Sheriff's Office

Position: Pilot-Fixed Wing

Job Type: Permanent

Posted: 12/17/2025 9:08:33 PM

Description:

Under direction, operates a rotary-wing and/or fixed-wing aircraft in support of law enforcement operations, search-and-rescue operations, marijuana eradication, surveillance operations and surveillance operations. 

Aircraft pilots may fly in urban, desert, and mountainous environments in support of law enforcement operations; may be required to work shifts of varying durations and days as needed; may be required to instruct non-aviation personnel on the safety principles to be observed while working on or around aircraft.        

Duties

• Operates a medium-sized turbine-powered helicopter in urban, desert and mountainous environments in the performance of law-enforcement and rescue operations; including, but not limited to: land-based and swift-water hoist rescue operations, body recoveries, short-haul operations, fast-rope operations, unimproved landing-zone operations, and transport of personnel. Operations may be conducted in low-light environments utilizing Night Vision Goggles (NVG).
• Operates a light-observation turbine-powered helicopter in urban, desert and mountainous environments in the performance of law-enforcement and rescue operations; including, but not limited to: low-level law-enforcement patrol, search-and-rescue operations, vertical-reference operations, unimproved landing-zone operations, and transport of personnel. Operations may be conducted in low-light environments utilizing NVG.
• Operates a fixed-wing aircraft in urban, desert and mountainous environments in support of departmental needs, including, but not limited to: surveillance, prisoner transport, observer training, and transport of personnel and equipment. Operations may be conducted both locally and cross country in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) or Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC).  
• Operates aviation accessory equipment; including, but not limited to: rescue hoist; rescue equipment and devices; Night Vision Goggles; fast-rope assembly; short lines, long lines, cargo nets and remote hook for external loads; rappel and cargo let-down lines; Nightsun searchlight; aerial computer; video recorder; Forward
• Looking Infra-Red (FLIR); aviation radios; emergency services radios; lo-jack receiver.
• Performs reconnaissance and/or provides transportation of personnel in order to assist incident commander and/or ground crews in the coordination of law-enforcement activities and/or emergency resources during critical incidents and disaster management.
• Prepares weight and balance plans or load calculations for flight loads under standard and non-standard operating conditions.
• Ensures compliance with Federal and State regulations, and departmental policies and procedures.
• Attends training sessions and conducts training sessions with Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department and Allied Agency personnel.
• Instructs personnel on the safety principles to be observed when working on or around KCSO aircraft.
• Prepares and maintains aircraft flight logs and records for assigned aircraft.
• Researches, develops and writes policies and procedures for the: patrol, rescue and flight training programs.
• Develops, plans and conducts: patrol operations training, and rescue operations training.
• Maintains self and assigned aircraft in constant state of readiness for dispatch.
• Performs daily aircraft inspections and authorized preventive maintenance of departmental aircraft.            
• Interacts with maintenance personnel and performs post-maintenance inspections and test flights as required.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements:

• High School Diploma, G.E.D. or equivalent AND the following certifications/licenses: 
• Valid and current FAA Second Class Medical Certificate issued by an authorized medical examiner (AME).
• Valid California Motor Vehicle Driver’s License.

AND

Option I:  Required helicopter flight experience:

• FAA Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot with Rotorcraft-Helicopter rating.
• Minimum 2000 hours PIC Helicopter flight time
• Minimum 500 hours in medium (Type 2) turbine powered helicopters.
• Minimum 500 hours PIC in mountainous terrain, routinely making takeoffs and landings to unimproved landing areas at density altitudes exceeding 4500’ MSL.
• Night Vision Goggle endorsement with a minimum of 200 hours PIC flight time utilizing Night Vision Goggle devices.
• Minimum 500 hours PIC performing low-level missions in law-enforcement patrol, search and rescue, vertical reference operations over mountainous or forested areas, or comparable fire service or military operations.

Desired Helicopter Flight Experience 

• Certified Flight Instructor with Rotorcraft-Helicopter endorsement
• Night Vision Goggle Instructor endorsement
• Vertical reference and external load operations experience
• UH-1H or other similar Bell Helicopter 

OR

Option II: Required Fixed-Wing experience:

• FAA Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot with Airplane-Multi Engine Land (AMEL) rating.
• Airplane Instrument Rating. 
• Minimum 1500 hours PIC Airplane.
• Minimum 200 hours in PIC Category and Class (ASEL or AMEL).
• Minimum 100 hours of PIC night flight time.
• Minimum 75 hours of PIC flight time solely by reference to instruments (actual/simulated).

Desired Fixed-Wing Experience:

• Certified Flight Instructor Airplane
• Instrument Flight Instructor Airplane (CFII)
• Multi-Engine Instructor (MEI)

PHYSICAL STANDARDS:

• Physical Examination: In addition to requiring a Class II Medical Certificate, a rigid medical examination by the County Physician is required.  The examination includes spine and chest x-rays, blood chemistry and electro-cardiograph tests.  Weight must be proportionate to height and age.
• Vision: 20-100 uncorrected in each eye, corrected to 20-20, no color deficiency.   No permanent or progressive eye abnormalities.
• Hearing: No hearing deficiency.
• Character: Applicants must have a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness.  Felony law violations will be disqualifying, and, except for a limited number of traffic offenses, misdemeanor offenses may be disqualifying.     
• Knowledge of: Federal Aviation Administration regulations as contained in applicable parts of Section 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (FAA 14 CFR) and Aeronautical Information Manual; working knowledge of the Incident Command System (ICS); department operational policies and procedures; FAA, departmental and interagency radio procedures; mountainous terrain wind effects; fixed and rotary wing flight control systems and equipment.
• Ability to: perform essential functions in compliance with State and Federal laws, county ordinances and departmental procedures; accurately interpret flight operation manuals to determine appropriate flight operation characteristics, limitations and operation/performance capabilities of the aircraft; compute weight-and-balance/load calculations for a variety of standard and non-standard load conditions; properly and safely recover from inadvertent flight into instrument meteorological conditions; safely and correctly operate the aircraft in all terrain conditions including desert, mountain and urban areas, and at or near maximum gross weight; operate and maintain as a member of a team and independently at incidents of uncertain duration; effectively communicate with ground and other air resources on all types of incidents; operate complex aircraft navigational and communications equipment; prepare clear, accurate and concise reports related to air operations; adopt effective and timely courses of action when confronted with hazards or emergency situations; properly perform all emergency procedures associated with the aircraft and anticipate operational needs; work effectively with other agencies, co-workers and the public.

Supplemental

All Kern County employees are designated “Disaster Service Workers” through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec. 3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2-Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services.)  As Disaster Service Workers, all County employees are expected to remain at work, or to report for work as soon as practicable following a significant emergency or disaster.

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