Highway Patrol Pilot I

Class Concept

Employees pilot single engine, rotary wing aircraft in support of law enforcement, or may serve as a copilot and assist the Pilot in command in evaluating mission requests, flying missions, and making recommendations for aircraft and equipment. Employees fly multiple missions such as: marijuana identification and eradication, drug enforcement, aerial crime scene surveillance, searches for missing persons and suspects, and may have night flights. Employees conduct pre-flight and post-flight inspections of aircraft and note all discrepancies in the maintenance log, and maintain all other necessary logs and reports related to their flights. Work includes planning flights considering weather, navigational aids, routing, altitudes, alternative routes and destinations, loading and weight distribution, fuel requirements, and the filing of flight plans as necessary. Employees are responsible for conducting performance checks of aircraft systems, computation of loading and weight distribution, taking into consideration equipment and fuel. Analysis is performed on the aircraft and weather conditions which may result in adjustments to routes or flight cancellations. Employees train to assume pilot-in-command status.

Recruitment Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Working knowledge of flight planning, meteorology and aircraft maintenance requirements.
• Thorough knowledge of North Carolina State Highway Patrol policies and procedures, laws of arrest, search and seizure.
• Thorough knowledge of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and regulations.
• Thorough knowledge of air navigation and of single engine aircraft capabilities and performances.
• Thorough knowledge of all appropriate laws and regulations related to law enforcement duties.
• Ability to pilot single engine rotary wing aircraft in all weather conditions.
• Ability to communicate effectively and to establish and maintain pleasant working relationships.

Minimum Education and Experience

High school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma and two years of experience in law enforcement work related to the area of assignment and 250 hours of flight time in a closely related type of aircraft and/or type of mission; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Special Requirements

Certification as a Law Enforcement Officer in accordance with the provisions of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission. Certification as a FAA commercial pilot in rotorcraft and possession of an FAA Class II Medical Certificate: Also required are ratings in instrument flying and others as designated. This position must possess a minimum of a private Fixed wing and/or Rotorcraft Rating and a Class II Flight Physical.