SUMMARY

The Chief Pilot serves as MD Helicopters’ senior aviation authority and is responsible for the safe, compliant, and effective execution of all company flight operations. This role provides leadership over flight test, production acceptance, demonstration, training, and customer support flying for both commercial and military programs. The Chief Pilot ensures adherence to regulatory, contractual, and company standards while promoting a strong safety culture and supporting MD Helicopters’ operational and business objectives.

This person works in conjunction with the Manager, Customer Training to ensure a smooth, complete, and efficient experience for the Customer Training Department’s customers.

Helicopter Pilot: Operates company and customer owned aircraft in any or all of factory flight training; spaneting demonstration; repositioning; delivery; chase; photo; maintenance, production, engineering, and experimental flight test, and other flight operations. Supports other departmental and company requirements related to these flight operations such as flight planning, aircraft maintenance scheduling, courseware development, and others.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Flight Operations & Safety

• Serve as the company’s senior pilot and final authority on flight safety matters.
• Establish, maintain, and enforce flight operations policies, procedures, and standards.
• Ensure compliance with FAA regulations (Part 91 and other applicable parts), military airworthiness requirements, and MD Helicopters policies.
• Lead operational risk management and actively support the Safety Management System (SMS).
• Conduct flight readiness reviews and assess operational risk for complex or non-routine missions.

Flight Test, Production & Engineering Support

• Lead and support development, certification, production acceptance, and delivery flight operations for MD Helicopters aircraft.
• Coordinate closely with Engineering on flight test planning, execution, data collection, and reporting.
• Review and approve flight test cards, mission profiles, and operational limitations.
• Support aircraft performance, handling qualities, and system validation activities.
• Participate in airworthiness reviews and internal/external audits as required.

Demonstration, Training & Customer Support

• Conduct domestic and international aircraft demonstrations for customers, partners, and government entities.
• Support customer acceptance flights, delivery operations, and post-delivery operational support.
• Oversee pilot training standards, qualification requirements, and currency programs.
• Provide technical and operational expertise to customers, instructors, and internal teams.
• Represent MD Helicopters in customer briefings, evaluations, and industry engagements.
• It is expected that the Chief’s Pilot’s flight time responsibilities will be less than 50 of their weekly total work hours.

Leadership & Personnel Management

• Lead, mentor, and evaluate company and contract pilots.
• Establish and maintain pilot qualification, proficiency, and standardization programs.
• Support recruiting, selection, onboarding, and training of flight operations personnel.
• Coordinate pilot scheduling and flight crew utilization in support of company priorities.

Cross-Functional & Program Support

• Partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Program Management, Sales, and Compliance.
• Support U.S. Government, Foreign Military Sales (FMS), and commercial program requirements.
• Contribute to the development and review of flight manuals, operating procedures, and training materials.
• Serve as the primary pilot interface with regulators, customers, and program stakeholders.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead, mentor, and evaluate company and contract pilots.
• Establish and maintain pilot qualification, proficiency, and standardization programs.
• Support recruiting, selection, onboarding, and training of flight operations personnel.
• Coordinate pilot scheduling and flight crew utilization in support of company priorities.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Prior flight operations leadership experience, including experience leading pilots, such as experience as a Chief Pilot or Director of Flight Operations.
• 4000 hours PIC flight time; 2000 hours helicopter flight time; 1000 hours turbine helicopter flight time; 1500 hours as helicopter instructor.
• Prior aviation-related customer service experience.
• Prior flight instructor experience in turbine engine helicopters flying from other than the PIC seat.
• Ability to take and follow direction with minimum supervision.
• Excellent communication and team skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Possess, or be eligible for, a U.S. passport.
• Willingness and capability to travel for work.
• Exceptional airmanship and judgment
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills
• Ability to work cross-functionally in a technical, regulated environment
• Customer-focused and safety-driven mindset
• Access to Export Control Information.
• Regular attendance at the worksite.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in a technical field and 5 - 8 years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• FAA ATP license with helicopter rating; CFII.
• Prior Chief Pilot, Director of Flight Operations, or Test Pilot experience
• Military rotary-wing background preferred
• Flight test, production acceptance, or demonstration flying experience
• Instructor Pilot or Standardization Pilot experience
• Familiarity with ITAR, export compliance, and government contracting environments

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate with Helicopter and Instrument ratings.
• FAA CFI helicopter certificate.
• Current FAA Class II Medical Certificate.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work performed in an office and factory settings.
• Exposure to shop environment such as noise, dust, odors and fumes.
• Occasionally required to lift up to 20 lbs.
• Regularly required to sit, stand, bend, reach and move about facilities.
• Based at MD Helicopters flight operations or test facilities
• Frequent domestic and international travel
• Non-standard hours as required to support flight test, customer, and program needs

A review of this position has excluded the marginal functions of the position that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties. All duties and responsibilities are essential job functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent(s) will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities.

MD Helicopters, LLC is an equal opportunity employer that includes veterans and individuals with disabilities.