Fire Pilot

Salary $84,926.40 - $ Annually

Location Division 1/Battalion 8/Fire Station 41 - 3900 Artesia Avenue, Fullerton, CA 90621, CA

Job Type FULL-TIME

Job Number 2026-67-DS

Department AIR OPERATIONS

Division OPERATIONS - 1

Opening Date 07/15/2026

Closing Date Continuous

This classification will receive the following base wage increases:

• 4.5% effective March 19, 2027
• 4.5% effective March 17, 2028
• 4.5% effective March 16, 2029
• 4.5% effective March 15, 2030
• 4.5% effective March 14, 2031

Continuously recruitment with a first application review of Tuesday, September 1, 2026. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply early.

• First Application Review:
  Tuesday, September 1, 2026
• Oral Interview:
  Week of October 5, 2026
• Check Flight: TBD – Will depend on candidate and OCFA Aircraft availability
• Fire Chief's Interview: TBD – depends on completion of candidate’s Check Flight
• Hire Date: TBD

Dates listed above are subject to change based on the needs of the Authority.

The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) is currently accepting applications for the position of Fire Pilot. This recruitment will be used to fill the current vacancy as well as to establish an eligibility list for future vacancies. Applicants are encouraged to review the entire recruitment announcement before applying to understand the minimum qualifications and to apply early in the process.

Under general supervision, Fire Pilots are assigned the authority and responsibility to perform aerial fire suppression by piloting Orange County Fire Authority helicopters over all types of terrain during aerial firefighting, crew/equipment transport, reconnaissance, medical rescue, disaster mitigation and related activities; maintains pilot flight logs and records; performs minor repairs and inspections to Orange County Fire Authority helicopters, and performs other duties as required.

The Fire Pilot is the first level in a two level helicopter pilot series. Incumbents serve as Pilot in Command (PlC) during a full range of helicopter missions including but not limited to missions related to fire suppression, are responsible for the safe overall operation of Orange County Fire Authority aircraft and have the final authority for all safety-of-flight aspects of the helicopter operations.

The Fire Pilot is distinguished from the Chief Fire Pilot which performs lead journey-level pilot duties and is responsible for supervisory activities.

To view a full summary of the essential functions for this position, please use the link provided below.

Education and Experience (position requirements at entry):

• Four thousand (4,000) logged hours of flying time in helicopters as Pilot-In-Command, including experience in power-off-auto rotational landings.
• One thousand five hundred (1,500) hours of this time must have been flown in mountainous terrain at altitudes over 4,000 feet on map survey work, power line patrol or construction work, fire control work, rescue operations work, or similar assignments requiring take-offs and landings with maximum loads on unimproved landing areas under adverse weather conditions.

• Must possess and maintain a valid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Commercial or Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with rotorcraft-helicopter rating.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Class 2 or Class 1 FAA Medical Certificate.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Helicopter Instrument Rating.
• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver License is required at time of appointment.

• Flight experience with Bell Medium Helicopter.
• Flight experience with Sikorsky S70/UH60 Helicopter.
• At least 500 hours of low-level flight such as powerline patrol, animal survey/capture, and vegetation management.
• At least 50 hours of Night Vision Goggle flight.
• At least 50 hours of instrument time.

• Helicopter flight control systems and equipment;
  Interagency Helicopter Operations Guidelines;
  Federal…