Airplane Pilot

Summary

This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Operations Division-Aviation Division

This position(s) primary purpose is to provide aviation support to operational and intelligence elements within DEA and the law enforcement community to detect, locate, identify, and assess illicit narcotics-related trafficking activities.

Duties

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As an Airplane Pilot, your typical work assignments may include:

• Serves as a skilled pilot who operates multi-engine fixed-wing airplanes for the purpose of transporting cargo, equipment, sensitive equipment, and/or personnel.
• Transports DEA Special Agents involved in air/ground surveillance, air photography, fugitive transport, undercover role enhancement, airborne reconnaissance, emergency evacuation of personnel, airborne electronic tracking, sensitive cargo transport, transportation of personnel, specialized missions, marijuana eradication, and prisoner transport.
• Provides expert aviation advice to DEA management and operational personnel regarding aircraft capabilities, limitations, and safety considerations.
• Performs full pre-flight, in-flight, and post-flight responsibilities, including aircraft inspections, fuel planning, weight and balance calculations, equipment, navigational systems, risk assessments and obtains the proper clearances to begin the flight.
• Performs pre-operational planning of enforcement operations to best leverage aviation support before, during, and after an enforcement operation.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation. Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• Incumbent is subject to random drug testing.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http://www.sss.gov/).
• Selectee will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period (OR 1-year OR 2-year trial period, as appropriate) during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• DEA Pilots must undergo an annual flight physical performed by a Designated Medical Examiner in compliance with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.
• Pilot must complete an annual DEA standardization check-ride as specified in the Aviation Operations Manual (AOM).
• DEA Pilots require certain certificates which candidates must pass written and practical tests administered by the FAA.
• Applicant must possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator's license while employed in the position and will be required to operate the motor vehicle in accordance with applicable OPM regulations and related requirements of DOJ/DEA.
• Successful completion of a flight assessment with a DEA Instructor or Standardization Pilot.

Qualifications

For more information on eligibility requirements see: DEA Employment Eligibility

Individual Occupational Requirements:

Candidates must demonstrate possession of the knowledge and skills required for the work by meeting certain minimum flight hour requirements, including recency of flight experience. The categories in which candidates are required to demonstrate proficiency relate to (1) the general knowledge and skills to pilot the aircraft, and (2) the specific knowledge and skills related to the particular position being filled. Only that flight experience that is directly related to the work of the position is required for purposes of establishing minimum eligibility.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements: Minimum eligibility requirements for positions in this occupation 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 positions.

Certificates and Ratings: Candidates must hold a current Commercial Pilot Certificate or the appropriate military rating; including commercial licenses for single and multi-engine fixed-wing aircraft with an instrument rating. (Candidates establishing eligibility based on military flight experience must provide official orders, forms, or logbooks showing their status as a rated military pilot, flight instructor, or flight examiner, as appropriate. Other certificates that meet or exceed the requirements of the Commercial Pilot Certificate are also acceptable, e.g., an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate.)

Flight Hours: Applicants must meet the following minimum flight hour requirements:

• Total Flight Time - 1500 hours.
  
  • Flight time as a pilot-in-command or copilot in aircraft of any weight or category is creditable for this requirement. For in-service placement actions, up to one-fourth of the total flight hours may be waived for candidates who have demonstrated possession of the knowledge and skills needed to perform the work, provided: 1) applicant holds the required certificates and ratings; 2) applicant has acquired the pilot-in-command hours and flight hours in other categories essential to performance of the work; 3) applicant meets the requirements in terms of level and quality of experience; and 4) applicant's flying history indicates they are qualified for the position.
• Pilot-In-Command 250 hours.
  
  • Only flight hours acquired as pilot-in-command are creditable.
• Night Flying 75 hours.
  
  • For inservice placement actions at the GS-11 level and above, 25 hours may be waived if the candidate demonstrates the ability to perform the work.
• Flying Time, Last 12 Months 100 hours.
  
  • For inservice placement actions, up to one-half of the flight hours may be waived provided the individual's total background reflects the ability to perform the duties of the position safely.
• Multi-engine Airplane 500 hours.
  
  • When the position requires operation of heavy multi-engine airplanes (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, except as indicated below. Up to 250 hours flying time acquired in heavy helicopters (gross takeoff weight in excess of 12,500 pounds) may be substituted.
• Instrument 75 hours.
  
  • At least 10 of the required hours must have been logged in actual instrument weather. The balance may have been acquired in a flight simulator or as other types of instrument flight time, e.g., hood instrument.

Medical Requirements: Candidates for all pilot positions must possess a current first or second-class medical certificate in accordance with FAA regulations. Medical certification must be dated within the previous 12 months.

Flight Assessment: Successful completion of a flight assessment with a DEA Instructor or Standardization Pilot. The flight assessment will be completed in Fort Worth, Texas, the location of the posted vacancy, or in the geographic location of the applicant, as determined by DEA.

AND

Selective Placement Factor (SPF): To qualify for this position, applicants must possess a Commercial Pilot Certificate or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP) and either a valid First or Second-Class Medical Certificate.

AND

In addition to the minimum eligibility requirements, Applicants must meet all of the required qualification requirements described below by the closing of this announcement.

GS-13: Have at least one full year of qualifying specialized experience that is at least equivalent in difficulty and complexity to work performed at the GS-12 grade level. Specialized 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 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.

Qualifying specialized experience must demonstrate performing the following task as part of your regular duties: 1) operating multi-engine fixed-wing airplanes, such as Beechcraft King Air 350s and ATR-42/500 over long distances to a wide variety of locations within the United States and internationally; AND at least ONE of the following additional duties as follows: 2) formulating a flight plan through the study of maps and charts to determine routing, intermediate stops, alternate destinations, fuel requirements, estimated flying time, and if required, files the airplane flight plan; 3) adhering to flight procedures and parameters specified in the airplane flight manual; or, 4) conducting detailed post-flight inspections to identify mechanical discrepancies, abnormal systems performance, or damage incurred during flight operations.

Additional information on the position qualification requirements are located in the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Qualifications Standards Handbook.

Education

Education requirements do not apply to this vacancy announcement.

Additional information

Hazards of Position: Situations that are substantially hazardous in themselves include: using night vision goggles in high- or low-speed flight at very low altitudes, operation of the aircraft in a manner not recommended by the flight manual (e.g., piloting airplanes at very low speeds and altitudes or, in the case of helicopters, flying outside of the recommended height/velocity profile), or performing assignments that require waiver of safety standards and regulations, such as using aircraft to conduct surveillance of other aircraft.

For reasonable accommodation at the Drug Enforcement Administration, please contact the Human Resources office listed in this announcement.

Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.

Multiple positions may be filled from this announcement. If eligible, applicants to this announcement may be referred to similar positions in any Division/Office listed in this announcement. Telework eligibility and security clearance requirements may vary for such similar positions.

Recruitment and/or Relocation Incentives may be considered and approved under conditions specified provided the agency has determined that the position is likely to be difficult to fill in the absence of an incentive and funding for such an incentive is available.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period OR 1-year or 2-year trial period, during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period OR trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.