Airplane Pilot

Take Flight on High-Impact Missions:
Power the Pacific Northwest from the Flight Deck

At the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), our transmission network delivers approximately 80% of the electrical transmission capacity across the Pacific Northwest, spanning over 15,000 circuit miles and more than 150 substations. Keeping this vital energy lifeline operational and resilient requires rapid, precision air support across rugged terrain and demanding environments.

As an Airplane Pilot with BPA Aircraft Services, you will fly multi-engine turbine aircraft (such as Pilatus PC-24), you will serve as a linchpin for regional infrastructure reliability, transporting key agency leaders and technical specialists throughout the Pacific Northwest. If you are an accomplished aviator seeking a dynamic career that pairs exceptional pilot skills with public service impact, this role offers an unmatched flight deck experience.

Here are the key duties and operational highlights where your expertise will make a difference:

• Command Multi-Engine Turbine Aircraft on Regional and International Routes:
  Serve as Pilot-in-Command (PIC) and Second-in-Command (SIC) operating commuter-category turbine aircraft. You will transport BPA leadership, engineers, and mission-essential personnel safely throughout the Pacific Northwest, other regions of the United States, and across international borders into Canada.
• Exercise Flight Authority and Operational
  
  Risk Management:
  
  Act as the operational authority when acting as pilot-in-command. Evaluate weather, route efficiency, and aircraft systems to determine in-flight route changes or make the critical go/no-go safety call to continue, divert, or terminate a mission in alignment with safety policies.
• Advanced Multi-Crew Cockpit
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Lead and support operations in a professional, dual-pilot crew environment utilizing modern Crew Resource Management (CRM) principles. Maintain open communications, precise task sharing, and mutual cross-checking to uphold the highest levels of safety and flight discipline.
• Collaborate with Aircraft Maintenance:
  Leverage your systems knowledge to support fleet reliability and airworthiness. Work side-by-side with maintenance teams by providing precise operational write-ups, assisting with ground engine run‑ups, and conducting functional check flights following aircraft servicing.

Conditions of employment

• You must be a United States Citizen.
• This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
• Males must abide by Selective Service registration requirements.
• You will be required to report in person to the official duty location.

• This position requires an initial drug test prior to appointment and random drug or drug and alcohol testing thereafter. Failure to test or a positive result on random drug or drug and alcohol tests conducted after appointment may result in removal from Federal employment.
• After employment, this position may be subject to periodic physical examinations, as prescribed by competent medical authority and at BPA expense, if exposed to health hazards.
• A preliminary background check must be completed before a new employee can begin work. Current Federal employees or other individuals with an existing completed background investigation may not be required to undergo another background check.

Bonneville Power Administration applies 14 CFR Part 91 non-commercial regulations to the operation of BPA aircraft. Airplanes are maintained and operated; and pilots are trained in accordance with FAA regulation Part 91 and DOE approved Aviation Implementation Plan (AIP).

In addition to meeting the individual occupational requirements for positions in the 2181 series, you must also meet a selective placement factor (screen-out); both requirements will be used to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for this position. The selective placement factor for this position is a current Airline Transport Pilot (ATP). Applicants who do not meet both the individual occupational requirements and selective placement factor by the closing date will be found ineligible.

You MUST provide a copy of your current ATP, medical certificate and sufficient documentation (e.g., copy of Log Book) to show proof you meet all of the requirements stated below. Failure to provide supporting documentation by the closing date may result in disqualification; your application will be marked incomplete.

The individual occupational…