Clarification from the agency

Current Federal employees with competitive status; Former Federal employees with reinstatement eligibility; CTAP/ICTAP eligibles; Veterans with VOW, VEOA, or 30% disability; Military Spouses; Individuals with Disabilities Schedule A; Peace Corps, Vista (AmeriCorps) eligibles; Those eligible under an OPM interchange agreement or other special appointing authority.

As an Airplane Pilot, you will:

• Serve as a highly knowledgeable expert Airplane Pilot alternating between second-in-command and pilot-in-command on BPA Commuter Category (>12,500 pounds) turbine-powered, multi-engine, fixed-wing aircraft, transporting personnel and BPA officials for mission and other official travel purposes throughout the Northwest region and Canada.

• Pilot heavy multi-engine land airplanes in mountainous terrain while experiencing a variety of hazardous weather conditions encountered in the Northwest. 

• Operate heavy (>12,500 pounds) airplanes into and out of small, uncontrolled airports with non-precision IFR or VFR-only approaches.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.

Special Salary rate: The salary is based on a Special Rate Table, Number 0764.

Hiring incentives may be authorized for a highly qualified candidate based on budget availability and in accordance with federal regulations.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: 

• All males born after December 31st 1959 must abide by laws regarding Selective Service registration. To learn more about this law, visit the Selective Service web page, Who Must Register. If you are not registered and don't have an approved exemption, you will not be eligible for employment with the Federal government.
• When you apply you will be asked a series of questions to determine your eligibility for employment and your qualification for this position specifically. You must answer all of these questions completely and truthfully.
• A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check.
• This position requires an initial drug test prior to appointment and random drug or drug and alcohol testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug or drug and alcohol tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment.
• Obtain (prior to the closing date of this announcement) and maintain an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Airplane Multiengine Land certificate with appropriate ratings.
• Maintain qualification and proficiency under Part 91 as a Pilot-In-Command in at least one aircraft (airplane or helicopter) operated by BPA’s Aircraft Services; and perform duties as Pilot-In-Command and Second-In-Command in BPA airplanes or helicopters.
• Obtain (prior to the closing date of this announcement) and maintain a first-class medical certificate in accordance with FAA regulations.
• Must be able to pass an EKG (electrocardiogram) before entry into the position and annually there after.

Qualifications

Bonneville Power Administration applies 14 CFR Part 91 non-commercial regulations to the operation of BPA aircraft. Airplanes are maintained and operated; and pilots are trained in accordance with FAA regulation Part 91 and DOE approved Aviation Implementation Plan (AIP). Helicopters are additionally operated under FAA regulation Part 133 Rotorcraft External Load Operations.

In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirements for positions in the 2181 series, you must also meet a selective placement factor (screen-out); both requirements will be used to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for this position. The selective placement factor for this position is a current Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Airplane Multiengine Land certificate. Applicants who do not meet both the individual occupational requirements and selective placement factor by the closing date will be found ineligible. You MUST provide a copy of your current ATP certificate, medical certificate and sufficient documentation (e.g., copy of Log Book) to show proof you meet all of the requirements stated below. Failure to provide supporting documentation by the closing date may result in disqualification; your application will be marked incomplete.

Preferred experience with large airplanes, e.g., Hawker Beechcraft B300 or B1900 and helicopters Bell BH206L4 or BH407. Additionally, an ideal candidate will have a Commercial Pilot Certificate with Rotorcraft Helicopter rating and Instrument Helicopter rating.

The individual occupational requirements and selective placement factor for this position are as follows:  

1. A current airline transport pilot certificate (ATP) Airplane Multiengine Land with an English language proficiency endorsement;
2. 1,500 hours of total flight time Flight time as pilot-in-command or copilot in aircraft of any weight or category, up to one-fourth of the total flight hours may by waived for current federal employees who have demonstrated possession of the knowledge and skills needed to perform the work, provided:
   1. You hold the certificates and ratings required;
   2. You have acquired the pilot-in-command hours and flight hours in other categories essential to performance of the work;
   3. You meet the requirements in terms of level and quality of experience; and
   4. Your flying history indicates you are qualified for the position.
3. 250 flight hours as Pilot-In-Command;
4. 75 hours night flying time; up to 25 hours may be waived for current federal employees if the individual demonstrates the ability to perform the work;
5. Recent flying time of at least 100 hours in the last 12 months for competitive appointments; up to one-half of the flight hours may be waived for current federal employees provided the individual's total background reflects the ability to perform the duties of the position safely; and
6. Heavy multi-engine airplane flying time of at least 500 hours (i.e., gross takeoff weight in excess of 12,500 pounds); at least 50 percent of the flight hours must have been in such heavy airplanes (up to 250 hours flying time acquired in heavy helicopters, gross takeoff weight in excess of 12,500 pounds may be substituted);
7. 75 instrument flight hours, at least 10 of which were logged in actual instrument weather (the balance may have been acquired in a flight simulator or as other types of instrument flight time); and
8. A current first-class medical certificate in accordance with FAA regulations.

Your application and resume should demonstrate that you possess the following knowledge, skills, abilities and competencies (KSACs). Do not provide a separate narrative written statement. Rather, you must describe in your application how your past work experience demonstrates that you possess the KSAs identified below. Cite specific examples of employment or experience contained in your resume and describe how this experience has prepared you to successfully perform the duties of this position.

1. Planning and Evaluating - Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes.
2. Oral Communication - Expresses information to individuals or groups effectively, taking into account the audience and nature of the information; makes clear and convincing oral presentations; listens to others, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately.
3. Technical Competence - Uses knowledge that is acquired through formal training or extensive on-the-job experience to perform one's job; works with, understands, and evaluates technical information related to the job; advises others on technical issues.
4. Technical Documentation - Knowledge of procedures for developing technical and operational support documentation.
5. Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including costs and limits.

"Experience" refers to paid and unpaid experience. Examples of qualifying unpaid experience may include: volunteer work done through National Service programs (such as Peace Corps and AmeriCorps); as well as work for other community-based philanthropic and social organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills; and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Time-in-Grade: Current Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement to receive consideration.

CTAP/ICTAP candidates: To be considered "well qualified" you must meet all of the requirements as described in this section.

You must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The Department of Energy uses an application tracking system to evaluate the responses you provide in the applicant assessment questionnaire to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications necessary for this position. Then, the HR Office and/or Subject Matter Expert (SME) will conduct a quality review of your application and supporting documentation to determine if your qualifications meet the criteria for referral to the selecting official.

We will also verify that you are eligible for Merit Promotion positions by reviewing your previous Federal employment to ensure you meet Time-in-Grade requirements. If you are eligible to apply to Merit Promotion announcements based on Veteran or other non-competitive statuses, we will verify your supporting documentation prior to referral. 

In the merit promotion selection process, due weight will be given to incentive awards and performance appraisals. Current federal employees must have at least a fully successful or equivalent performance rating to receive consideration for this position.

If you are eligible for career transition assistance plans such as ICTAP or CTAP, you must meet the definition of "well qualified" which is defined as having a score of 85 or better.

If your resume is incomplete or does not support the responses you provided in your online questionnaire, or if you fail to submit all required documentation before the vacancy closes, you may be rated 'ineligible', 'not qualified', or your score may be adjusted accordingly.