SUMMARY MD Helicopters seeks a highly skilled pilot to serve as both Maintenance Test Pilot and Instructor Pilot, with additional responsibilities for customer delivery flights, demonstration flights, and customer training/instruction. This dual-role position ensures the airworthiness and op
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Maintenance Test/Instructor Pilot
Job Description:

SUMMARY

MD Helicopters seeks a highly skilled pilot to serve as both Maintenance Test Pilot and Instructor Pilot, with additional responsibilities for customer delivery flights, demonstration flights, and customer training/instruction. This dual-role position ensures the airworthiness and operational readiness of MD rotorcraft following maintenance, production, and modification activities, while delivering world-class training and customer support. The role requires strict adherence to FAA Parts 21/91/134/145, EASA, and applicable Military regulations, ensuring compliance across diverse operational environments.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Maintenance Test Flight (MTF)

  • Conduct post-maintenance, acceptance, and production test flights for MD rotorcraft (e.g., MD 500E, MD 530F) per OEM test profiles and regulatory standards.
  • Perform functional checks of rotor systems, powerplant, avionics, AFCS/autopilot, hydraulics, and mission equipment; identify and document discrepancies.
  • Execute track and balance procedures, vibration analysis, and performance verification against OEM specifications.
  • Lead preflight and postflight briefings with maintenance and engineering teams; ensure accurate completion of test cards and reports.
  • Support configuration management and conformity inspections for production and STC aircraft.
  • Apply Safety Management System (SMS) principles and risk assessments for all test operations.

Customer Delivery & Demonstration Flights

  • Serve as Pilot-in-Command for customer delivery flights, ensuring safe and compliant transfer of aircraft to domestic and international customers.
  • Conduct demonstration flights showcasing aircraft capabilities, performance, and mission-specific configurations for prospective customers and stakeholders.
  • Provide technical expertise during customer acceptance inspections and delivery briefings.
  • Represent MD Helicopters professionally during customer-facing events and flight demonstrations.

Instructor Pilot Duties

  • Deliver ground school, simulator, and flight instruction for MD rotorcraft initial, recurrent, and differences training to customers and internal pilots.
  • Develop and maintain training syllabi, lesson plans, and evaluation standards aligned with FAA, EASA, Military, and OEM requirements.
  • Conduct proficiency checks, standardization flights, and CRM/TEM training; provide feedback and remediation as needed.
  • Assist in creating training materials and technical publications, including CBT modules and quick reference guides.
  • Represent MD Helicopters at customer training events and demonstrations.

Safety & Compliance

  • Ensure compliance with FAA Part 21 (Certification), Part 91 (General Operations), Part 134 (Rotorcraft External Load), Part 145 (Repair Stations), EASA Part-21/Part-M, and Military standards.
  • Promote a strong safety culture through SMS reporting, risk mitigation, and adherence to SOPs.
  • Maintain personal currency and participate in recurrent training and standardization boards.

Minimum Qualifications

  • FAA Commercial or ATP Rotorcraft-Helicopter Certificate with Instrument Rating.
  • 2,000+ hours total time, including significant rotorcraft experience; prior maintenance test flight experience strongly preferred.
  • Proven instructor experience (OEM, Part 135/141, or military equivalent).
  • Strong technical knowledge of MD rotorcraft systems and maintenance procedures.
  • Ability to interpret engineering drawings, maintenance manuals, and test documentation.
  • Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

None

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • Prior flight instructor experience in turbine engine helicopters, to include teaching emergency procedures (auto-rotations, etc.).   Instructor experience includes flying from other than the PIC seat - 1000 hours. All hours preferred.
  • 4000 hours PIC flight time; 2500 hours helicopter flight time; 1000 hours turbine helicopter flight time is preferred  (MD500 series is preferred).
  • Ability to take and follow direction with minimum supervision.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Fluent in the English language is required.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, PowerPoint. CorelDRAW or similar graphics experience is a plus. 
  • Up to 25 travel required with significant customer interface.
  • Possess, or be eligible for, a U.S. passport.
  • Regular attendance is required.
  • Access to Export Control information is required.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university and 6 years work-related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience - Preferred.

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 employment contracts, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

  • FAA commercial pilot license with helicopter and instrument ratings is required.
  • FAA CFI helicopter is required; ATP or CFII helicopter is preferred.
  • Current FAA Class II Medical Certificate is required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these 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.

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.

Company Details
MD Helicopters, Inc.
4555 E Mcdowell Rd
Mesa, Arizona 85215 USA
www.mdhelicopters.com
3 Open Jobs Available
MD Helicopters is building upon a tradition of excellence that is unmatched in the aerospace industry.

Our high-performance helicopters have long been the products of choice for discriminating buyers. Our family of helicopters - the MD 500®...

Benefits:
MD Helicopters offers employees a complete and comprehensive benefits package of total rewards that go beyond competitive pay and addresses our employees' health, income security and capital accumulation needs. New employees are eligible to participate in MD Helicopters' benefits beginning on the first day of full-time employment. This information is not intended to provide full benefit plan details.

Benefits Include:
  • Medical, Prescription Drug, and Vision benefits
  • Dental benefits
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Company-paid Life Insurance
  • Dependent Life Insurance
  • Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Coverage
  • And more...

    Supported Manufacturers:
    MD

    Supported Models:
    MD 500E MD 52N MD530F Armed MD 530F MD 530G MD 600N MD 902 Explorer
  • (Job and company information not to be copied, shared, scraped, or otherwise disseminated/distributed without explicit consent of JSfirm, LLC)
    Job Info
    Location
    Mesa, Arizona, United States
    Type
    Permanent
    Company Details
    MD Helicopters, Inc.
    4555 E Mcdowell Rd
    Mesa, Arizona 85215 USA
    www.mdhelicopters.com
    3 Open Jobs Available
    MD Helicopters is building upon a tradition of excellence that is unmatched in the aerospace industry.

    Our high-performance helicopters have long been the products of choice for discriminating buyers. Our family of helicopters - the MD 500®...

    Benefits:
    MD Helicopters offers employees a complete and comprehensive benefits package of total rewards that go beyond competitive pay and addresses our employees' health, income security and capital accumulation needs. New employees are eligible to participate in MD Helicopters' benefits beginning on the first day of full-time employment. This information is not intended to provide full benefit plan details.

    Benefits Include:
  • Medical, Prescription Drug, and Vision benefits
  • Dental benefits
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Company-paid Life Insurance
  • Dependent Life Insurance
  • Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Coverage
  • And more...

    Supported Manufacturers:
    MD

    Supported Models:
    MD 500E MD 52N MD530F Armed MD 530F MD 530G MD 600N MD 902 Explorer
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