Aircraft Pilot

Overview

This position is open to Alaska Residents only. Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Commercial Fisheries is recruiting for an Aircraft Pilot 1 located in Kodiak and Sand Point, Alaska. Kodiak Pay = $51.20/Hour. Sand Point Pay = $69.20/Hour.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is seeking a skilled Aircraft Pilot 1 to serve as a critical pilot resource for the Division of Commercial Fisheries, supporting salmon and herring management in the Westward Region, including the North Alaska Peninsula, South Alaska Peninsula, the Chignik and Kodiak. This specialized role involves piloting single-engine fixed-wing aircraft on wheels and floats to enable essential aerial surveys, staff transport, and remote operations in challenging Alaskan environments.

• Safely piloting department aircraft to transport biologists, technicians, and supplies to remote field camps, weir sites, assessment locations, and other operational areas across the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Archipelago.
• Conducting specialized low-altitude flights for salmon escapement estimation, stream enumeration, fish distribution surveys, run strength assessments, and oversight of commercial fishing fleet activities to provide real-time data for in-season management decisions.
• Operating in highly demanding conditions, including takeoffs and landings on unimproved strips, remote beaches, lakes, lagoons, and other unprepared surfaces amid unpredictable weather, rugged terrain, and variable visibility.
• Performing routine aircraft maintenance, minor repairs, annual inspections, and record-keeping to maintain FAA compliance and ensure continuous airworthiness of the department s fleet (typically based in Kodiak during the off-season).
• Coordinating flight priorities with management biologists, regional staff, and other pilots; establishing task schedules; and, where applicable, conducting check-rides, training, and oversight for subordinate pilots.
• Supporting broader department needs, such as aerial surveys for herring biomass and logistical support for weir operations, test fisheries, and emergency order implementation in isolated field sites.

This position operates seasonally, spending approximately September through April in Kodiak (off-season, focused on maintenance and planning) and May through August (and sometimes September) on the Alaska Peninsula during the intensive summer field season. Housing is provided at no cost at key field offices, including Chignik, Sand Point, Cold Bay, and Port Moller. Time allocation across these remote communities varies based on dynamic program needs, such as supporting weir activities and aerial surveys.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game strives for a diverse and inclusive workforce where safety and well-being are paramount, and employees at all levels promote a culture where everyone is valued, treated equitably, and treated respectfully.

This position is a professional-level Aircraft Pilot role with direct influence over Alaska resources. As a key member of the Westward Region fisheries management team you will conduct real-time aerial assessments of local salmon stocks, herring biomass, and fishing fleet activities during the fishing season, providing critical data from low-altitude surveys to ensure commercial fishing is managed sustainably and supports long-term resource health.

This position is a critical member of a dedicated team of aviation and field support personnel in enabling the high-profile commercial salmon and herring fisheries management of the Westward Region, including the Chignik Management Area. The role requires an incumbent with adept piloting skills, calm decision-making under pressure, and the ability to develop innovative solutions to the complex challenges of operating in Alaska remote, unpredictable environments.

Providing essential aerial support for some of Alaska most productive and iconic salmon and herring stocks offers exceptional opportunities for professional growth and accomplishment, while directly contributing to sustainable resource management and delivering significant social and economic benefits to remote coastal communities.

This permanent, full-time role is partially based in Kodiak, Alaska, with extended seasonal operations across the remote Alaska Peninsula, including key sites like Chignik, Sand Point, Cold Bay, and Port Moller. The role involves flying personnel and supplies to remote field sites and flying low level aerial surveys in rugged environments to support commercial fisheries management, including:

• Extended periods (approximately 4 months, mid-May through mid-September) working on the Alaska Peninsula during the peak summer field season, with housing provided at no cost in remote field offices or communities; off-season operations…