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Airplane Pilot

Department of Agriculture
Forest Service
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Announcement has been extended until 12/9/2019.

These positions are located in Region 9, Deputy Regional Forester, Resource Recreation, Wilderness, Heritage, Ely, MN.

Primary duty of the position is to perform as pilot in command of light single engine aircraft DHC-2 Beaver configured for land or sea equipment performing wildfire suppression.

For additional information about the duties of this position, please contact Nick Hough at 414-208-7570 or email at George.n.hough@usda.gov

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
11/19/2019 to 12/09/2019
Salary
$62,236 to - $96,978 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 11 - 12
Location
2 vacancies in the following location:
Ely, MN
Telework eligible
Yes—as determined by the agency policy.
Travel Required
75% or less - Overnight travel will be required for fire suppression/fire related assignments, meetings, and training.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—Relocation expenses may be authorized
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-Time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
12
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Not Required
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
20-FIRE-DHA-R9-591611DH-AW
Control number
552015200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

Applications will be accepted from any U.S. citizen. Direct Hire Authority will be used to fill this position. Veterans Preference and traditional rating and ranking of applicants does not apply to this vacancy.

Duties

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  • Primary duty of the position is to perform as pilot in command of light single engine aircraft DHC-2 Beaver configured for land or sea equipment performing wildfire suppression which includes but is not limited to
  • low level air tanker drops on fires, air attack group supervisor over on-going fires, providing airborne fire intelligence and ground crew direction.
  • The work also involves operating light single engine aircraft configured with land, sea, or ski equipment under visual and instrument weather conditions, to perform secondary duties such as wildfire detection,
  • transportation of fire crews, to and from fires, aerial seeding, wildlife surveys, fish stocking, aerial photography, insect and disease surveys, providing air support for law enforcement, medical and injured person evacuation,
  • transportation of work crews and management personnel, maintaining currency, and being cognizant of aviation industry practices and methods.
  • The Eastern Region has a well-established and growing aviation program with a goal of providing safe and efficient aviation services to meet a wide variety of US Forest Service fire and conservation mission needs within the Eastern region.
  • Serves as pilot-in-command in a DHC-2 single engine land/water, in unfavorable terrain such as austere and back country forests, during daytime, involving water and frozen lake landings.
  • The purpose for these operations may cover but are not limited to, air transport of agency personnel and cargo, aerial supervision, aerial fire suppression and conservation work.
  • Performs preflight checks of aircraft and related equipment, plans extended flights by evaluating weather conditions at the point of departure, at points along the route, and at the destination.
  • Serves as a technical advisor to the Regional Aviation Officer, Regional Aviation Safety Officer and DHC-2 Supervisory Pilot.
  • As a subject matter expert of DHC-2 operations the coordination would involve single light fixed-wing aircraft activities (WCF and contract) used by the agency for project and fire management work.
  • Maintains currency and proficiency in assigned aircraft in order to perform missions as assigned. Maintains current and valid qualifications as a FAA Certified Flight Instructor in airplanes.
  • Services aircraft with fuel and oil maintains aircraft and maintains accurate flight and aircraft logs. Maintains pilot training documentation.
  • Gathers information, identifies and analyzes issues, and develops recommendations to resolve complex aviation organizational problems.
  • Coordinates and instructs a variety of aviation awareness and training programs, under classroom conditions, at the forest and regional level.
  • Provides technical advice regarding airplane contracts and contract pilots; serves as a technical leader, participates in aviation contract development.
  • Schedules and performs standard functional tests on DHC-2 aircraft to determine whether aircraft systems are operating correctly.
  • Performs wildfire suppression support as directed within training and physical capabilities and other duties as assigned.
  • Duties listed are at the full performance level.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • Must be a U.S. Citizen or National.
  • Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service or exempt.
  • Subject to satisfactory adjudication of background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
  • Successful completion of one-year probationary period, unless previously served.
  • Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
  • Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit E-Verify.
  • Must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Initial appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of training.
  • This is a Test Designated Position. You will be tested for illegal drugs prior to appointment and randomly thereafter. Appointment and continued employment is conditional on negative results.
  • There may be additional Conditions of Employment not listed here, however applicants will be notified of any specific requirements at the time of tentative job offer is made.

Qualifications

You must possess the Basic Requirements identified below under Selective Placement Factors to be considered eligible for this position.

Qualifying experience is defined as experience that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competnencies, 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.

Minimum eligibility requirements for this position are based on possession of the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certificates and/or appropriate military ratings, meeting the applicable flight hour requirements, and possession of the knowledge and skills required for the position, see How you Will Be Evaluated section.

Qualification Requirements:

GS-11: Must meet all the following flight requirements and all minimum hours must be in Category (Airplane). Possess minimum flight time of 1500 hours with 500 hours as Pilot-In-Command (PIC); Possess minimum PIC flight time of 50 hours performing Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight; possess minimum PIC flight time of 100 hours performing Night Flight; and possess minimum PIC flight time of 100 hours in the preceding 12 months.

GS-12: Must meet all the following flight requirements and all minimum hours must be in Category (Airplane): Possess minimum flight time of 1500 hours with 1200 hours as Pilot-In-Command (PIC); possess minimum PIC time of 200 hours in Category and Class to be flown (Airplane-Single Engine Seaplane/Floatplane); possess minimum PIC time of 500 hours performing Cross Country flight; possess minimum PIC time of 200 hours performing low-level operations in mountainous terrain (flight at 2500 AGL and below terrain identified as mountainous in 14 CFR 95.11, and as depicted in the Aeronautical information Manual figure 5-6-3); possess minimum PIC flight time of 75 hours of actual or simulated Instrument time with 50 hours in flight; possess minimum PIC time of 100 hours performing Night Flight; possess minimum PIC time in Category of 100 hours (preceding 12 months) and 10 hours (preceding 60 days).

SELECTIVE PLACEMENT FACTORS:

Primary firefighter positions include the following age requirements: Under age 37 -OR- less than age 37 after
subtracting the months of Federal Service worked in a primary or secondary firefighter/law enforcement position -OR a veteran preference eligible, older than age 37 and is requesting a waiver to the maximum age requirement.

For All Grade Levels:

Must possess a Current and Valid FAA Airplane Commercial Pilot Certficiate with Single-Engine or Sea Instrument Rating or an FAA Airline Transport Pilot Certificate, with Single-Engine Land, Sea Rating.

Must possess proof of a tail wheel endorsement post April 15, 1991. Pre April 15, 1991 proof of PIC Tail Wheel time will be required via log book entry, as appropriate to the position held.

Must possess a Current and Valid FAA first or second-class medical certificate.

GS-12 only: Must possess a Current and Valid FAA Certified Flight Instructor Certificate, for Single-Engine Land or Sea Rating.

In order to be considered for this position, you must attach a copy of complete and legible documentation (i.e. flight logs, etc.) for certification that all minimum flight hours and requirements have been met for consideration at the appropriate grade level for which applying, and that flight hours are in the appropriate Category and Class (Airplane-Multi-engine) as required. Failure to address and provide supporting documentation for any one of the required flight hours will result in disqualification.

In order to qualify, you must meet the eligibility and qualifications requirements as defined below by the closing date of the announcement. (http://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/eligibility/difference-from-qualifications/) (http://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/eligibility/difference-from-qualifications/)

For more information on the qualifications for this position, visit the Office of Personnel Management's General
Schedule Qualification Standards. (https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=List-by-Occupational-Series)

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.

Selectee will be responsible for tax obligations related to payments for moving expenses - 2017 Tax Cuts and Job Act, Public Law 115-97. Questions should be directed to the Travel Help Desk, 877-372-7248, Option 1, or email asc_tos@fs.fed.us.

FIREFIGHTER RETIREMENT COVERAGE: This is a primary/rigorous position covered under the special retirement provisions of 5 USC 8336(c) for the Civil Service Retirement System and of 5 USC 8412(d) for the Federal Employees Retirement System.

Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP), Reemployment Priority List (RPL), or Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP): To exercise selection priority for this vacancy, CTAP/RPL/ICTAP candidates must meet the basic eligibility requirements and all selective factors.

If you are selected for a position with further promotion potential, you will be placed under a career development plan, and may be non-competitively promoted if you successfully complete the requirements and if recommended by management. However, promotion is not guaranteed.

This is a bargaining unit designated position.

Government housing is not available.

Forest Service daycare facilities are not available.

This position is eligible for adhoc/situational telework only.

How you will be evaluated

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

This is a Direct-Hire Authority position, all applicants who meet the minimum qualifications, to include any selective placement factor(s), if applicable, will be referred to the selecting official. Before a certificate is issued to the selecting official, the resume is reviewed to ensure that you meet all the qualification requirements. A rating will not be used; veteran's preference does not apply due to the existence of the Direct Hire authority for this position.

Note: If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, you may be found ineligible. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating. Providing inaccurate information on Federal documents could be grounds for non-selection or disciplinary action up to including removal from the Federal service.

To view the application form, visit: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/10654932

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