Aircraft Flight Instructor Job Portland area,Oregon USA,Energy/Power Generation

Lead Flight Instructor at Bonneville Power Administration

Power the Pacific Northwest from the Skies:
Lead the Next Generation of Aviation Pioneers at Bonneville Power Administration

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) delivers clean, reliable electricity across the Pacific Northwest, and our aviation team serves as the vital "eyes in the sky" keeping the high-voltage transmission grid safe and functional. As our Lead Flight Instructor, you will step into a premier, high-impact role. You won't just fly; you will shape the future of our aviation division, master cutting-edge flight technology, and lead safety-critical flight operations in one of the nation's most rewarding, challenging, and picturesque flying environments.

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Key Opportunities and Duties Designed for Elite Aviators:

Lead and Mentor a High-Caliber Flight Team
- Instruct and evaluate our dedicated team of FAA-certified helicopter and drone pilots. You will oversee flight techniques, conduct in-flight proficiency exams, and provide the advanced mentorship that ensures our pilots operate at peak performance levels.

Pilot Advanced Helicopters in Challenging Terrains
- Take the controls as Pilot-in-Command of the Bell 407 helicopter. You will fly specialized utility missions across the diverse Pacific Northwest-from low-level power line patrols to navigating complex, high-altitude mountain environments and variable weather conditions.

Sustain and Expand our Drone Program
- You will design training curricula, oversee remote pilot certifications, plan drone missions, and leverage high-resolution aerial data to support environmental research and infrastructure inspections.

Master Precision Aerial Utility Operations
- Execute and teach highly specialized utility maneuvers. You will train pilots in precision external cargo transportation, vertical-reference long-line placements of materials in tight spots, and tactical operations near high-voltage utility structures.

Design Modern, High-Impact Aviation Curriculums
- Formulate classroom and in-flight training programs. You will develop lessons covering critical topics like crew resource management, emergency procedures, hazard mitigation, and flying safely in low-altitude wire environments.

Author and Define Flight Safety Manuals
- Pioneer safety and operating procedures by developing and updating BPA's flight, operations, and hazard-mitigation manuals.

Guide Crew Progression and Career Advancement
- Act as a key decision-maker in our pilot pipeline. You will assess new hires during orientation, run flight exams, and make critical crew assignment recommendations to leadership, directly shaping who advances to Pilot-in-Command.

Coordinate Mission Operations with Regional Partners
- Collaborate with dispatchers, safety officers, and transmission line maintenance crews. You will lead pre- and post-flight safety briefings and build integrated daily flight plans to ensure all operations run safely, smoothly, and efficiently.