Fire Boss Chief Pilot

Position: Fire Boss Chief Pilot

Reports To: General Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt, Salaried

This position is based out of South St. Paul, Minnesota.

Benefits Summary:

We offer a full benefits package including health, dental, 401(k) plan with employer match, tuition reimbursement, life, short & long term disability insurance and other benefits such as PTO (starting at 15 days) and holiday pay, all while working with great people, first shift, and in a family-friendly atmosphere.

The benefits noted above are subject to availability and eligibility requirements.

We have been engineering and manufacturing aircraft floats for the last 60 years and have become an aviation industry leader of diversified aviation services. Our products are used to convert existing airplanes into sea planes. We support passenger service, tourism, and fire-fighting operations all over the world. Our core values are simple, a win-win mindset, technically adept, work/life balance, do the right thing and have fun. If these values speak to you, we want to connect! Join this growing company that is proudly producing products made in the USA.

Position Summary:
The Fire Boss Chief Pilot provides flight instruction, pilot services, pilot management and training program oversight in accordance with all applicable FAA regulations and AFT&L syllabi and customer needs specific to Wipaire Fire Boss aircraft. Establishes and maintains Wipaire course curriculums, standards for quality of service and flight safety programs. This position manages AFT&L and Wipaire Fire Boss pilot qualifications and manages a matrix of these pilots to ensure cross training and availability to meet internal and external needs.

Primary Responsibilities:
1. Overall responsibility for Advanced Flight Training and Leasing Fire Boss operations and training programs.
2. Ensures all departments and external customers have appropriate and sufficient pilots to meet their needs and are utilized by the following priority order:
a. Flown by Fire Boss Chief Pilot or AFT&L pilot
b. Internal secondary pilot resources
c. Contract resources
3. Develops and maintains training materials appropriate to AFT&L client needs. These aircraft specific training materials include, but are not limited to:
a. Program syllabus
b. Classroom materials such as Power Point presentations
c. Computer Based Training (CBT)
d. Reference handouts
e. Simulator training programs
4. Provides training services to Wipaire and AFT&L employees and customers on AT-802 and 802A Fire Boss Aircraft.
a. Quotes and schedules client lessons and test flights
Ground training including, but not limited to: aircraft systems and operation, amphibious aircraft operations and aerial firefighting techniques
b. Flight training including, but not limited to: aircraft flight characteristics, amphibious operations, seaplane operations, water scooping and dropping, aerial fire fighting techniques
c. Provides client endorsements as necessary
d. Provides currency training, insurance check outs, Flight Reviews and IPCs for those that are approved to fly for the company
e. Provides flight training to Wipaire employees and customers as necessary.
5. Provides flight services to Wipaire and AFT&L customers.
a. Ferries aircraft from Wipaire to customer locations or from other locations to customer locations.
* Complies with FAA regulations for VFR and IFR flight as appropriate.
* Files instrument flight plans as appropriate with air traffic control to ensure that flights are coordinated with other air traffic
* Coordinates flight activities with ground crews and air-traffic control and informs crew members of flight and test procedures
* Conducts in-flight tests and evaluations at safe altitudes and in adverse weather, in order to determine the receptivity and other characteristics of equipment and systems
* Responds to and reports in-flight emergencies and malfunctions
* Records in logbooks information such as flight times, cycles, distances flown, and fuel consumption
* Tests and evaluates the performance of aircraft released from Maintenance or engineering test flight
* Checks passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts, to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met
b. Maintains flying currency, including flight reviews and IPCs necessary to operate aircraft owned or maintained by Wipaire and external clients.
6. Performs maintenance, test flights, and performance of aircraft that have released from Wipaire maintenance or in support of the Wipaire engineering department.
a. Provides test flight documentation as required
7. Performs administrative duties related to Flight Services.
a. Provides customers information and quotations for flight training and other services.
b. Supports Fire Boss aircraft sales team through development of mission profiles and other information to support successful aircraft sales.
c. Coordinates with Human Resources regarding contract resources.
d. Maintains long-term relationships with customers for the benefit of the Company.

Education, Experience and Credentials

• Possess and maintain certified Flight Instructor Certificate, single engine & instrument required; multi engine preferred
• Possess a current United States passport
• Commercial Pilot's Certification required, ATP preferred
• 3,000 hours total flying time required
• 400 hours in airplane single engine sea (ASES)
• 200 hours Fire Boss experience required
• 200 hours of low-level flight in airplanes (below 500 feet above ground level (AGL)); including at least 100 hours dispensing fire retardant, water on fires, or agricultural materials preferred
• Airtractor 802 Instructor Certification
• Complex, and high performance, tail wheel endorsements required
• Seaplane rating required
• Type certified in applicable aircraft
• Instrument rated

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Previous experience with low level disbursement / aircraft firefighting experience.
• Able to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of an aircraft to exact positions.
• Able to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Able to know one's location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to oneself.
• Able to time movements or the movement of an aircraft in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
• Able to assess and understand the learning styles of individuals, present complex information to them at appropriate levels, and evaluate their levels of understanding.
• Develop training and other materials using Microsoft and other tools as required.
• Able to display high levels of customer service, responding promptly and thoroughly to the inquiries and needs of individuals both internal and external to the organization.
• Able to plan, prioritize, coordinate, and manage own work in a fast-paced environment. Able to work unsupervised and solve problems effectively and creatively.
• Work as an effective and proactive team player; exhibit flexibility and switch priorities in work duties while maintaining a positive attitude; understands the importance of supporting the organization, customers, and other employees.
• Able to develop and give oral presentations to small and large groups of individuals inside and outside the organization.
• Understand and maintain confidential nature of organization, employee and customer information, including and in accordance to HIPAA regulations.
• Show professional knowledge, proficiency and initiative in achieving goals and meeting standards.
• Able to identify, evaluate, problem solve, and give direction regarding problem resolution for Department or customer issues.
• Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, statistics, and their applications.
• Perform occasional lifting of supplies and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Hear, speak and effectively verbally communicate in the English language, including following oral and written instructions, in order to communicate with people inside and outside the organization.
• Stand for extended periods of time in an instructional or industrial setting.
• Sit for extended periods of time and perform long hours of work piloting an aircraft.
• Apply manual dexterity and visual acuity for operating an aircraft and to review detailed reports and information.
• Move around the hangar, shop, and office area repeatedly throughout the day.
• Primarily domestic travel, with the potential of international travel, to customer and company locations approximately 40% of the time.
• Pass FAA 2nd class medical physical exam.
• Comply with drug testing requirements in compliance with federal regulations.

AFT&L and Wipaire are Equal Employment Opportunity Employers and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on any other applicable legally protected status. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply online at www.wipaire.com/careers.