“Thanks for selecting PJ Helicopters to take part in the career path program of Aviation Futures. We look forward to participating in the program which I feel will greatly enhance our ability to hire only the best to become a part of our aviation team at PJ Helicopters. As the Director of Training at our company, your program will greatly reduce our training workload and be of a great economic benefit as well.”
As for followup information in participating in your program, we will guarantee that Aviation Future helicopter pilots will be interviewed and placed at the top of the list for consideration of employment. As we are, according to your program guidelines, a Tier 4 employment resource, we have very strict and demanding guidelines and preferences for hiring consideration. As you are aware, we are considered a precision longline and fire oriented utility company demanding the best and most qualified pilots we can find. We currently operate 33 helicopters and 10 fixed-wing aircraft. Below is a list of qualifications that we specifically look for in our hiring process, which is dictated by our Insurance Company, U.S Forest Service, Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, Pacific Gas and Electric Company as well as a host of other utility wire contractors.
- Preferable 1500 hours PIC helicopter time, or as close to that total PIC time as possible. SIC time doesn’t count for much here, other than overall experience in flying fires. Logged time must be verified and all hours subject to scrutiny.
- Total PIC time accumulated in a Bell 407 and/or a B206 (particular series not critical). Any UH1H time and MD500 time is also a plus. Type of flying in these machines will be examined to determine if any utility flying is noted. Example: U.S. Forest Service requires 100 hrs in weight class, 100 hrs in turbine, and 50 hrs in Make and Model, as well as 200 hrs flying in mountainous terrain identified in 14 CFR 95 Subpart B.
- Any previous FAR 135 flying by any company in any type of helicopter, such as tour flying in Alaska or the Grand Canyon area in which pilot operated aircraft in high and hot altitudes.
- Any previous longline experience or graduate from a longline course is a big plus, though not mandatory.
- Any previous wire environment flying is also a plus such as powerline or gasline patrol, powerline construction work, etc.
- Last, but not least, ATTITUDE is a big consideration. No matter how good the pilot is flying the aircraft, if a good attitude is not noted and acceptable, then neither is the pilot.
Ron Chaplin, Director of Training
PJ Helicopters, Inc.
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