Federal
Airplane Pilot/Helicopter Pilot
Department of the Air Force - Agency Wide · Department of the Air Force
About This Position
Your application will remain active through the open period of this Public Notice. Once this Public Notice closes, you must reapply. Please read this Public Notice in its entirety prior to submitting your application for consideration. Positions may be filled as permanent or term with a full-time work schedule. Pay will vary by geographic location, please click here to review pay tables.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: GS-2181-12 (Airplane Pilot/Helicopter Pilot): Applicant must possess a USAF Pilot rating, hold a valid aviation service aeronautical order and have a minimum of 750 total military flight time in the organization's mission design series. GS-2181-13 (Airplane Pilot/Helicopter Pilot): Applicant must possess a USAF Pilot rating, hold a valid aviation service aeronautical order and have a minimum of 1,000 total military flight time in the organization's mission design series. GS-2181-13 (Flight Instructor): Applicant must possess two years of progressively responsible experience in a flying component of the U.S. military establishment in assignments that normally would qualify for progression into the position of Wing Operations and Training Officer or its equivalent. AND Must possess a USAF Pilot rating, hold a valid aviation service aeronautical order and have a minimum of 1,200 total military flight time in the organization's mission design series. GS-2181-14 (Flight Instructor): Applicant must possess three years of progressively responsible experience in a flying component of the U.S. military establishment in assignments that normally would qualify for progression into the position of Wing Operations and Training Officer or its equivalent. AND Must possess a USAF Pilot rating, hold a valid aviation service aeronautical order and have a minimum of 1,500 total military flight time in the organization's mission design series. NOTE: Pilot hours as described above may include (Primary, Secondary, Instructor, Evaluator, Stimulator, Student and other US Military and Foreign Military Time) in mission design series of organization of position being filled. You must submit an ATAFR-209 Form, Flying History Report or any official document what shows your most recent flight (last date actively flown), total flight hours and type of aircraft flown. FAILURE TO SUBMIT THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION AS DESCRIBED ABOVE, WILL RESULT IN AN INELIGIBLE RATING. These are Air Reserve Technician (ART) positions. ARTs are eligible for 15 days active duty tour each year for which military leave is granted with full civilian pay. Air Reserve units and members; are subject to immediate call to active duty in mobilization to meet a national emergency. For additional information regarding ART positions and/or military qualifications, please call 1-800-257-1212. Retired military are usually ineligible for membership in the AF Reserve. Retired military that have active AF Reserve assignments may apply provided they show assignment (position) on the application. A military service member's statement of service/certification will be accepted IF a terminal leave form or DD214 cannot be provided. The statement/certification should indicate member's separation from active duty is within 120 days of the closing date of this announcement. It must be signed by, or by direction of, the adjutant, personnel officer, or commander of your unit or higher headquarters and must indicate when your terminal leave will begin, your rank, dates of active duty service, the type of discharge and character of service (i.e. honorable). Your preference and/or appointment eligibility will be verified prior to appointment. Military members may be appointed before the effective date of their military retirement/separation if member is on terminal leave. Individuals selected for ART positions must meet both civilian qualifications and uniformed military requirements. In addition to meeting civilian qualifications, applicants must obtain military membership in the Air Force Reserve, wear the uniform, maintain job-specific military specialty requirements, and meet other military qualifications such as age, height, weight, and physical fitness standards. For more information click here and speak with an Air Force Reserve Recruiter. PART-TIME OR UNPAID EXPERIENCE: Credit will be given for appropriate unpaid and or part-time work. You must clearly identify the duties and responsibilities in each position held and the total number of hours per week. VOLUNTEER WORK EXPERIENCE: Refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service Programs (i.e., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student and social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge and skills that can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. AFR Pilot Concierge Cell (PCC): Email: [email protected] Global: A3/ReservePCC Teams Page: Reserve PCC Teams Chat: @ReservePCC Sharepoint: https://www.milrecruiter.com/afrc-pcc/ Phone: (478) 327-1546
Major Duties
GS-12: Operate aircraft as a fully qualified, mission-ready pilot in unit type aircraft.
GS-12: Accomplish mission planning and briefing, aircraft inspections and checklists, mission forms and other associated documentation.
GS-12: Represent the unit by participating in discussions, meetings or serves on panels or committees.
GS-13 (Pilot): Conduct training for the upgrade of unqualified active duty and/or Reserve aircrew members and proficiency training for qualified Active Duty, Reservists and Air Reserve Technician (ART) personnel.
GS-13 (Pilot): Analyze and interpret unit training objectives, develop training programs and train other aircrew such that the highest level of combat mission-ready proficiency of assigned crew members is maintained.
GS-13 (Pilot): As required, flies as an aircrew member in unit aircraft in support of the unit mission.
GS-13 (Flight Instructor): Assist with planning, organizing, and overseeing the activities of the Operations Group and subordinate Reserve flying squadrons, in conjunction with the Chief/Senior Air Reserve Technician (ART).
GS-13 (Flight Instructor): Assist with management of a flying and ground training program for an organization.
GS-13 (Flight Instructor): Assist with directing, coordinating, and overseeing work through subordinate supervisors.
GS-14 (Flight Instructor): Direct all operations and maintenance training programs for the Squadron.
GS-14 (Flight Instructor): Responsible for effective control and management of the organization’s Reserve Personnel Appropriation (RPA) and Military Personnel Appropriation (MPA) account
GS-14 (Flight Instructor): Implement flying and ground training requirements.
GS-12: Accomplish mission planning and briefing, aircraft inspections and checklists, mission forms and other associated documentation.
GS-12: Represent the unit by participating in discussions, meetings or serves on panels or committees.
GS-13 (Pilot): Conduct training for the upgrade of unqualified active duty and/or Reserve aircrew members and proficiency training for qualified Active Duty, Reservists and Air Reserve Technician (ART) personnel.
GS-13 (Pilot): Analyze and interpret unit training objectives, develop training programs and train other aircrew such that the highest level of combat mission-ready proficiency of assigned crew members is maintained.
GS-13 (Pilot): As required, flies as an aircrew member in unit aircraft in support of the unit mission.
GS-13 (Flight Instructor): Assist with planning, organizing, and overseeing the activities of the Operations Group and subordinate Reserve flying squadrons, in conjunction with the Chief/Senior Air Reserve Technician (ART).
GS-13 (Flight Instructor): Assist with management of a flying and ground training program for an organization.
GS-13 (Flight Instructor): Assist with directing, coordinating, and overseeing work through subordinate supervisors.
GS-14 (Flight Instructor): Direct all operations and maintenance training programs for the Squadron.
GS-14 (Flight Instructor): Responsible for effective control and management of the organization’s Reserve Personnel Appropriation (RPA) and Military Personnel Appropriation (MPA) account
GS-14 (Flight Instructor): Implement flying and ground training requirements.
How You Will Be Evaluated
Your latest resume will be used to determine your qualifications. Your application package (resume, supporting documents, and responses to the questionnaire) will be used to determine your eligibility, qualifications, and quality ranking for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment. Your responses to the questionnaire may be compared to the documents you submit. The documents you submit must support your responses to the online questionnaire. If your application contradicts or does not support your questionnaire responses, you will receive a rating of "not qualified" or "insufficient information" and you will not receive further consideration for this job. Applicants who disqualify themselves will not be evaluated further.
Additional Information
SELRES ART Pilots may be eligible for the Experienced Aviator Retention Incentive for $30K/yr for 1-5 yr contracts. Some positions are developmental positions with grade level progression of GS-12 thru GS-14. You may be eligible for a promotion to the next higher grade level without re-applying, once you have completed one year at each grade level (upon managerial approval). Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP): For information on how to apply as an ICTAP eligible click here. To be well-qualified and exercise selection priority for this vacancy, displaced Federal employees must be rated in the "Highly Qualified" or "Best Qualified" Category on the rating criteria for this vacancy. You must submit a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location. Employed Annuitants (Reemployed Annuitants): Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants. Click here for more information. Temporary and Term Appointments: If you are selected for a temporary or term position in the competitive service, your appointment may be extended to the maximum period allowed by law without further competition. Additionally, if you are serving on a term appointment in the competitive service, you may be converted to a career or career-conditional appointment without further competition. NOTE: Current federal civilian employees may apply for this position and if selected, a break in service of at least 3 days may be required prior to appointment to this position. Selective Service: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service. For additional information, click here. Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit. Disabled veteran leave is available to a Federal employee hired on/after 5 Nov 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30% or more. For more information, click here. If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here. Tax Law Impact for PCS: On 22-Dec-2017, Public Law 115-97 - the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017" suspended qualified moving expense deductions along with the exclusion for employer reimbursements and payments of moving expenses effective 01-Jan-2018 for tax years 2018 through 2025. When you perform a Civilian Permanent Change of Station (PCS) with the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers the majority of your entitlements to be taxable. Visit GSA Bulletin FTR 20-04 here for additional information.
How to Apply
The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 12/16/2026. To preview the Application Questionnaire, please click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12854235 To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the application questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Application button at the end of the process. To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: 1. Your Resume. If you submit more than one resume, only the most recent will be reviewed. The "most recent" is considered the resume with the latest timestamp. Resumes may not exceed two pages. The two-page resume ensures the most relevant experience is reviewed and considered, which is a common practice in both the public and private sectors. Resumes exceeding two pages will be removed from consideration. Additional information on how to complete or update your resume may be located here. For qualification determination your resume must contain hours worked per week and dates of employment (i.e., month/year to month/year or month/year to present). If your resume does not contain this information, your application may be marked as insufficient, and you will not receive consideration for this position. If you are a current Federal employee or previous Federal employee, provide your pay plan, series and grade, i.e. GS-0301-09. Current Federal Civilian Employees may list any relevant performance related rating (given within the last three years) and/or incentive awards in your resume. Do NOT include photographs, inappropriate material, inappropriate content, nor personal information such as age, gender, religion, social security number, etc., on your resume. If the resume you submit contains such information you will not be considered for this vacancy. Your name, first and last, MUST be included on your resume. 2. A complete Application Questionnaire 3. Additional Required Documents (see Required Documents section). Ensure all submitted documents contain your full name. 4. Help recruiters find you. Make your resume and profile searchable, which means recruiters may contact you about possible jobs. Additional information may be located here. PLEASE NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. You can access your USAJOBS account to do so by clicking here. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan. Human Resources WILL NOT modify or change any answers submitted by an applicant.
Required Documents
The following documents are required and must be provided with your application for this Public Notice. Applicants who do not submit required documentation to determine eligibility and qualifications will be eliminated from consideration. Other documents may be required based on the eligibility/eligibilities you are claiming. Click here to view the AF Civilian Employment Eligibility Guide and the required documents you must submit to substantiate the eligibilities you are claiming. Online Application - Questionnaire Resume: Your resume may NOT exceed two pages, and the font size should not be smaller than 10 pts. You will not be considered for this vacancy if your resume is illegible/unreadable. Additional information on resume requirements can be located under "How To Apply". Veterans: If claiming 30% Disabled Veteran or Veteran's Preference - Submit VOW certification memo or copy of the official DD Form 214, which must include the character of service (i.e., with an honorable or general discharge). This will be annotated in block 24 on member copy 2, 4, or 7 of the DD Form 214. If claiming 30% Disabled Veteran, you must also submit a VA Letter or a disability determination from a branch of the Armed Forces. NOTE: All veterans claiming 10-point preference must also submit a SF-15 form. ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS: The VOW Act requires federal agencies to treat an eligible active duty service member as a veteran, disabled veteran, and preference eligible (as applicable) when applying for civil service positions before the effective release or discharge date. Appointment of military members before the release or discharge date is permissible if the member is on terminal leave. At the time the active duty member applies for a civil position, he or she must submit a "certification" memo in lieu of a DD Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Active duty members applying for a civil service position without submitting a valid certification memo or DD Form 214 with their application will render the member ineligible for the position. The certification memo must originate from the member's military service branch on official letterhead and contain the following: Name/Rank/Grade of Service Member Branch of Armed Forces Dates of Active Service (Start and End Date(s) Expected Date of Discharge/Release from Active Duty Terminal leave start date (if applicable) Expected character of service/discharge and type of separation (i.e. separation or retirement) Must be certified within 120 days of anticipated discharge Signature by, or by direction of the adjutant, personnel office, unit commander, or higher headquarters commander. Note: The VOW Act provides tentative preference. If appointed, a DD Form 214 must be submitted upon receipt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the Airplane Pilot/Helicopter Pilot position at Department of the Air Force - Agency Wide?
The salary range for this position is $76,463 - $197,200/yr. This is a GS-12/14 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Airplane Pilot/Helicopter Pilot job located?
This position is located in Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: GS-2181-12 (Airplane Pilot/Helicopter Pilot): Applicant must possess a USAF Pilot rating, hold a valid aviation service aeronautical order and have a minimum of 750 total military flight time in the organization's mission design series. GS-2181-13 (Airplane Pilot/Helicopter Pilot): Applicant must possess a USAF Pilot ...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Dec 16, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Secret clearance is required.
What does GS-12/14 mean?
GS-12/14 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.