PILOT, FIRE SERVICES

Job Description:

PILOT, FIRE SERVICES

Description

Position/Program Information


FIRE DEPARTMENT

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT

We welcome applications from anyone.

FILING PERIOD

The application filing period will begin on Monday, August 10, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) - Continuous. We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

EXAM NUMBER
30211L

Essential Job Functions

• Operates twin-turbine-powered aircraft over mountainous or hilly terrain to give assistance to fire fighting activities below.
• Transports personnel and equipment in fire areas during fire suppression activities.
• Uses a variety of helicopter accessories in fire suppression work including aerial drops of fire retardants.
• Drops hose in fire areas.
• Patrols mountains to detect fires, lost or missing aircraft, missing persons, or for related purposes.
• Reseeds burnt-over areas from the air.
• Functions as a ground vehicle operator during required personnel manning changes at remote deployment sites.
• Attends in and out-of-state Department training and meetings requiring operating a Department vehicle, privately owned or rented vehicle.
• Operates Department refueling vehicle during normal operations.

Additional Job Functions :

• Conducts pre-flight and post-flight inspections in accordance with manufacturer and/or organization approved checklists.
• Conducts ground and in-flight tests.
• Performs single-pilot operations.
• Transports essential personnel and equipment.
• Communicates with Air Traffic Control.
• Communicates with supported ground units.
• Operates a variety of helicopter mission equipment.
• Completes appropriate FAA and Fire Department documentation.
• Participates in briefings.
• Participates in periodic and annual flight evaluations and ground crew training, mandated departmental continuing education, FAA medical recertification, and flight simulation training.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY
Four thousand (4,000) logged hours of flying time in helicopters as Pilot in command, excluding flight time logged while instructing to include experience in power-off-auto rotational landings. Fifteen hundred (1,500) hours of this time must have been flown to/from unimproved landing areas at altitudes over 4,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) while conducting map survey work, power line patrol, construction work, fire control work, rescue operations work, or similar assignments requiring take-off and landings at aircraft maximum loads on unimproved landing areas under adverse weather conditions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION :
REQUIRED CERTIFICATE(S) *
A valid Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate with a Rotorcraft-Helicopter Rating issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)* -OR- A valid Commercial Pilot certificate with a Rotorcraft-Helicopter Rating issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)*.

A current and valid First Class (1) -OR- Second Class (2) Aviation Medical certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)*.

A valid Commercial Pilot certificate with Helicopter Instrument Rating issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at the time of appointment.

*Applicants for this position are required to include a copy of all required certificate/license(s) at the time of filing.

If you are unable to attach the required documents to your online application you must e-mail them to [email protected] within five (5) calendar days from the date of application submission. Please include the exam number, and exam title in the subject line of your e-mail.

LICENSE :
A valid California Class C Driver License is required to perform job-related essential functions. Successful candidates for this position will be required to obtain a current California C Diver License upon appointment.

LICENSE INFORMATION :
Applicants for this position must provide a valid California driver's license at the time of appointment. Successful applicants for positions that require driving must obtain and present a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before final appointment. Applicants should not present a copy of their driving history until asked to do so by the hiring department. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether an applicant's driving history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job. License must not be currently suspended, restricted, or revoked.

If the applicant does not have a driving record from the State of California, the applicant may be required to provide his/her driving record from any other state/jurisdiction.

We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

PHYSICAL CLASS :
Physical Class 4 - Arduous: This class involves frequent heavy lifting over 25 pounds, often combined with bending, twisting, or working above ground on irregular surfaces. It includes those positions that occasionally demand extraordinary physical activity such as those in Safety positions.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT :
This exam will consist of THREE (3) parts:

PART I: A qualifying evaluation of training and experience based on application information and supplemental questionnaire responses.

Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on Part I in order to be invited to Part II.

PART II: A structured interview, weighted 30%, assessing Professional/Technical Expertise, Work Skills, and Interpersonal/Communication Skills.

Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on Part II in order to be invited to Part III.

PART III: A performance test administered during day and night hours, weighted 70%, assessing aircraft operations skills in a variety of environments and knowledge of Federal Aviation Regulations and air traffic rules.

Candidates must achieve a passing score of 70% or higher on each weighted part of the examination in order to be placed on the register list.

EMAIL NOTIFICATIONS :
We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. If you choose to unsubscribe or opt out from receiving our emails, it is possible to view notices by logging into governmentjobs.com and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant's responsibility to take steps to view correspondence, and we will not consider claims of missing notices to be a valid reason for re-scheduling an exam part. Register the below domains as approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail:

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

Domain: @fire.lacounty.gov

Domain: @hr.lacounty.gov

New email addresses need to be verified. This only needs to be done once per email address and can be done at any time by logging in to www.governmentjobs.com and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of the online application and to prevent incorrectly entered email addresses.

APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION :

We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person are not accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. This website can also be used to get application status updates.

Please fill out the application completely. Provide relevant job experience including employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.

ELIGIBILITY AND VACANCY INFORMATION :
Applicants who passed the assessment(s) are placed on a list for a period of 12 months. Applications will be processed as they are received and added to the list accordingly. We will use this list to fill vacancies in the Fire Department as they occur.

PASSING THIS EXAMINATION AND BEING PLACED ON THE REGISTER LIST DOES NOT GUARANTEE AN OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT.

AVAILABLE SHIFT :
Any Shift - Appointees must be willing to work any shift, including evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.

BACKGROUND CHECK AND MEDICAL EXAMINATION INFORMATION :
The County of Los Angeles is a Fair Chance employer. Except for a very limited number of positions, you will not be asked to provide information about a conviction history unless you receive a conditional offer of employment . The County will make an individualized assessment of whether your conviction history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job, and consider potential mitigating factors, including, but not limited to, evidence and extent of rehabilitation, recency of the offense(s), and age at the time of the offense(s). If asked to provide information about a conviction history, any convictions or court records that are exempted by a valid court order do not have to be disclosed.

Candidates who are extended a conditional offer of employment will be required to complete a criminal background check, including a fingerprint scan, followed by a medical examination. A candidate with a conviction history which has a direct and adverse relationship with the duties of the Pilot, Fire Services position may have his or her conditional offer of employment rescinded and be removed from the certification list pursuant to Civil Service Rule 6.04.

In addition, candidates must successfully complete a medical examination and be able to perform all of the essential functions of the Pilot, Fire Services classification. A candidate who does not successfully complete a medical examination or is unable to perform all of the essential functions of the Pilot, Fire Services classification may have his or her conditional offer of employment rescinded and be removed from the certification list pursuant to Civil Service Rule 6.04.

TESTING ACCOMMODATION :

If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, contact the Testing Accommodations Coordinator at [email protected] . Please note that you may be required to submit documentation from a qualified medical provider or other qualified professional to support your request for a testing accommodation.

Department Contact Name: Fire Examination Section
Department Contact Phone: (213) 466-5500
Department Contact Email: [email protected]
Teletype Phone: (800) 735-2929
Alternate Teletype Phone: (800) 897-0077
California Relay Services Phone: (800) 735-2922

For detailed information, please click here

Salary:

$120,888.00 - $162,914.16 Annually