Pilots - Captain Ia - Q400 (Finance)

** 1st review of applications will begin 9/29/2025 **

Summary

Aero-Flite is looking for a Q400 Captain IA to join our air tanker pilot team. The Captain IA is a Carded Air Tanker Pilot making drops on wildfire suppression missions. Responsible for the operation and safety of the aircraft and for the safety of all persons on board during flight time. For this purpose, the Captain will have final authority for the disposition of the aircraft during the time in which they are in command.

Specific Responsibilities
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Exceptional ability to communicate and convey information, inter/ intradepartmental, via multiple mediums.
• Proactive ability and desire to problem solve in a dynamic environment.

• Aeronautical Decision Making - Awareness of associated risk factors and ability to make consistent, conservative, and timely decisions.
• Airmanship - Apply knowledge, experience, training, situational awareness, skills, and discipline to command the machine to support the mission.
• Troubleshooting/Critical Thinking - Determine cause and effect through expert knowledge of aircraft systems, malfunctions, and procedures to assist abnormal operations and maintenance.
• Computer Literacy - Able to use IT tools to enhance training, productivity and situational awareness.
• Technical comprehension and writing - Ability to reference and understand manuals, critically analyze relationship between OEM procedures and company SOPS, and manage discrepancy logs and MEL/MES.

Required Experience

• Valid Airline Transport Pilot License or Commercial Pilot Certificate
• Multi-Engine Land, with Instrument Rating
• Minimum Valid Class 2 Medical certificate
• Interagency qualified Initial Attack Pilot
• DHC-8 Type Rating (Required)
• 4000 Hours PIC
• 2000 hours PIC Multi-engine
• 500 hours in forest fire flying environments
• 100 hours in preceding 12 months
• 100 hours night flying
• 500 hours PIC multi-engine over 12,500 lbs
• 500 hours PIC IFR
• 200 Hours multi crew aircraft
• 200 hours in mountainous terrain

Education and Training:

• Carded Initial Attack Air Tanker pilot
• Professional Aviation training - Specialized aircraft courses, Simulator, and CRM training (preferred)
• Post-Secondary Education - 2 or 4 year degree program (preferred)
• Human Factors / Safety Management - Formal risk based education (preferred)
• Two years of Federal or State Carded air tanker pilot making drops on wildfire suppression mission (preferred).

Competencies

• Communication - Must have excellent communication skills. Able to read, write and understand the English language.
• Teamwork - Ability to work as part of the aerial firefighting team under all conditions.
• Interpersonal skills - Ability to work well with a variety of personalities. Ability to diffuse conflicts and maintain a positive work environment
• Task management - Must prioritize tasks and projects with attention to detail.
• Professional demeanor - Ability to maintain professional relationships in adverse conditions.
• Adaptability - Able to adapt to dynamic work environment with uncertain and fluid work schedules.

Supervisory Responsibility

Supporting role in training other pilots.

Work Environment

This job operates in a home base and remote location hangar environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, for the administrative and training portion of the position. The noise level in the work environment is usually at a typical hangar level with frequent periods of moderately loud noises. Exposure to industrial chemical smells, fragrances, animals, temperature and air quality fluctuations, etc.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to move, talk and hear. The employee is constantly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.

The employee is constantly required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and move objects up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Constant exposure to a hangar environment with walking/traversing hazards, uneven surfaces and stairs.

Job Abilities:

Move, traverse - Must be able to move about inside aircraft, hangar with frequent trip/fall and overhead hazards.

Ascend/Descend, Work atop, Traverse - Constant ascends/descends ladders, platforms and work stands.

Position self (to), Move - Constantly positions self in work environment.

Communicate, Detect, Converse with, Discern, Convey, Express oneself, Exchange information - Must be able to constantly communicate accurate information and a level of assertiveness to stop unsafe activities when recognized.

Balancing - Must be able to manage equilibrium while piloting aircraft, traversing across office and hangar, ascending/descending ladders, and working at heights greater than six feet from the ground.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work will vary based upon business and customer needs.

Travel
Extensive travel within CONUS, occasional travel to other locations for short duration.

Work Authorization/Security Clearance

Valid Driver License

SIDA Badge

Valid Passport

** 1st review of applications will begin 9/29/2025 **

The base pay range for this position in Washington state is $174,000 - $199,000 annually. The annual rate is influenced by a variety of factors including, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, certifications, and geographical locations. E mployees will be eligible to enroll in the company's medical/dental/vision insurance, retirement plan with match contributions, company paid life & disability and financial wellness programs. Hired applicants will receive paid leave and may be eligible for bonuses. This information is provided per the WA State EPOA.