Final Filing Date: 8/18/2025
Please see the attached duty statement for details on this position.
Contact Deputy Chief John Byrne at (831) 601-9385 or by email at John.Byrne@fire.ca.gov for questions related to the duties of the position.
Candidate may be selected by resume review.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.
Job Code #: JC-486987
Position #(s): 542-419-1046-505
Working Title: Helicopter Pilot
Classification: FORESTRY FIRE PILOT
$7,754.00 - $10,232.00
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions: 1
Work Location: San Benito County
Telework: In Office
Job Type: Permanent, Full Time
Facility: San Benito-Monterey Unit
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is California's fire department and resource management agency. The organization is comprised of nearly 12,000 permanent and seasonal employees. The mission of the Department is to serve and safeguard the people and protect the property and resources of California.
When you join CAL FIRE, you join a family of employees that function as a team. You will build trust and friendship with your co-workers, as together you respond to emergencies and challenging situations. CAL FIRE provides employees with a variety of career choices and opportunities. CAL FIRE offers well-paying careers and opportunities for advancement. We hope that you will consider a rewarding challenging career with CAL FIRE!
Under general direction, throughout the State, to pilot a helicopter over all types of terrain; to assist in all aspects of fire prevention, suppression, and vegetation management; to perform required preventive maintenance on helicopters; and to do other related work.
Pilot a helicopter in single pilot operation over all types of terrain in aerial firefighting, hauling firefighters and inmates to and from fires, hauling cargo, both internal and external, and dropping water and retardant on fires from helicopter-carried water buckets or tanks; flying routine and emergency missions such as search and rescue, medivacs, reconnaissance, law enforcement, serial photography, and administrative flights; support prescribed burning projects by hauling various serial ignition devices to ignite prescribed fires; be responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the helicopter; perform preventive maintenance plus limited inspections and maintenance on helicopters while under the direction of a licensed aircraft mechanic; act as air operations officer on occasions, which would include special projects, training, and inspecting rental aircraft pilots, plus other aviation management tasks; and perform other duties assigned.
Licenses: Possession of a valid Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Commercial Airman Certificate with rotorcraft-helicopter rating or a valid FAA Airline Transport Pilot's Certificate with a rotorcraft- helicopter rating. and
Possession of a valid and current Class II Airman's Medical Certificate issued by an FAA authorized medical examiner. and
Possession of a valid driver license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Applicants who do not possess this license will be admitted to the examination but must secure the license prior to appointment. and
Experience: Applicants must have logged at least 2,000 hours of pilot-in-command flying helicopters, which must include the following:
1. At least 500 hours of mountain pilot-in-command helicopter flight time, routinely making landings in mountainous terrain above 4,000 feet MSL.
2. At least 500 hours of turbine helicopter time as pilot-in- command.
3. Two hundred and fifty hours as pilot-in-command of helicopters performing low level missions in fire control, map survey, powerline patrol, search and rescue, and spray or seeding operations over mountain or forested or comparable military operations.
4. At least 100 hours as pilot-in-command in helicopters carrying sling loads.
5. At least 50 hours as pilot-in-command in helicopters in the past year.
Knowledge of: Safe helicopter operating procedures; State and Federal forest and fire laws; regulations of the Department of Transportation, FAA, and other regulations governing civil aircraft movements; terrain, weather, and flying conditions in California.
Ability to: Skillfully pilot a helicopter using all known devices and attachments associated with helicopter forestry firefighting while making correct and sound decisions on their use in practical applications; operate a helicopter under hazardous conditions.
Keenness of observation, mental alertness, tact, and good physical condition.
Forest-firefighting experience with helicopters is desirable.
Possession of a valid Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Commercial Airman Certificate with rotorcraft-helicopter rating or a valid FAA Airline Transport Pilot's Certificate with a rotorcraft- helicopter rating.
Possession of a valid and current Class II Airman's Medical Certificate issued by an FAA authorized medical examiner.
Valid driver license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 8/18/2025
Who May Apply
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.
Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
CAL FIRE Southern Region Hiring
Attn: 542-419-1046-505
1234 East Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93710
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
CAL FIRE Southern Region Hiring
Attn: 542-419-1046-505
1234 East Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93710
08:30 AM - 05:00 PM
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.
Forestry Fire Pilot (1046)
This classification is eligible for the following pay:
$7754 - $10,232 Base Salary (paid every month)
$2635 - $3478 Extended Duty Week Compensation (paid every 4 weeks)
$122,784 – $167,998 Annual Compensation
In addition to the above pay items, employees are eligible for medical benefits (health, dental, vision) and may be eligible for other pay differentials.
Additional Forestry Fire Pilot Pay Incentives:
*10% for CAL FIRE NVG Qualification
*2.5% for Unit Instructor Pilot
*These pay incentives have minimum qualifications and training requirements and also apply to retirement compensation.
Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.
The Hiring Unit Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Hiring Unit Contact:
Seth Hurd
(559) 243-4114
seth.hurd@fire.ca.gov
Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.
EEO Contact:
Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator
(916) 767-8359
ReasonableAccommodations@fire.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.
You must submit a completed State Application (STD. 678) [please include WORKING TITLE and POS#], Resume, Copy of a valid Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) Commercial Airman Certificate with rotocraft-helicopter rating or a valid FAA Airline Transport Pilot's Certificate with a rotorcraft-helicopter rating, Copy of a valid and current Class II Airman's Medical Certificate, Official Flight Record indicating at least 50 hours as Pilot in Command in Helicopters in the past year and Authorization to Release Information Form (PO-299).
Submit the required documents to the following address:
CAL FIRE Southern Region Hiring
POS#: 542-419-1046-505
1234 E. Shaw Ave
Fresno, CA 93710
Applications/Resumes postmarked after the final filing date may not be considered.
ADDITIONAL APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Applicants are highly encouraged to complete an OPTIONAL Recruitment Questionnaire , located at:
The Bargaining Unit 8 Memorandum of Understanding regarding Voluntary In-Class Transfer Policy (Inter-Unit) (Section 9.2) will be followed. Transfers may require a two-year commitment.
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.
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