Pilot - Border Protection

CBP Air Interdiction Agent

These Pilot--Air Interdiction Agent (AIA) employment opportunities are with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations (AMO).

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is one of the world’s largest law enforcement organizations and is charged with keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. while facilitating lawful international travel and trade. CBP takes a comprehensive approach to border management and control, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection into one coordinated and supportive activity.

Locations:
Locations are offered based on operational requirements, mission requirements, and critical agency hiring needs for entry level Air Interdiction Agents as determined by Air and Marine Operations. A duty location will be offered after successfully completing a three-part assessment. The duty location listed in the final offer letter may include any geographic location within the Southwest Border Region, Southeast Border Region, Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB), and National Air Security Operation Centers (NASOC) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Location. You must be willing to work at any duty location that falls within that region.

Southeast Region: (to include but not limited to the following locations) Homestead, FL and the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB): Aguadilla, PR
Southwest Region: (to include but not limited to the following locations) Tucson and Yuma, AZ; San Diego, CA; El Paso, Laredo, and McAllen, TX
National Air Security Operation Center (NASOC) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Locations: (to include but not limited to the following locations) Sierra Vista, AZ; San Angelo, TX

Salary:
$76,927-$100,000
Note: This is a career ladder position, with a grade level progression of GS-11, GS-12, and GS-13. You may be eligible for a promotion to the next higher grade level automatically (without re-applying) once you complete 52-weeks at each grade level (with supervisor approval).

Duties:
As an Air Interdiction Agent (AIA) you will perform Aviation Law Enforcement operations for the detection, prevention, interdiction, & apprehension of terrorists, terrorist weapons, and other contraband and persons from illegally entering or attacking the United States. Your duties will include:
Conducting air patrol, surveillance & pursuit activities related to the interdiction of smuggled contraband via land vehicles, aircraft, or vessels.
Monitoring behavior patterns and activities of suspect persons, vehicles, or vessels believed to be engaged in illegal activities.
Collecting, refining, and analyzing strategic and tactical intelligence.
Searching persons, vessels, baggage, and cargo for contraband or weapons incidental to detention or arrest.

Qualifications:
Experience: You qualify for the GS-11 grade level if you possess 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, performing duties such as:
Flying as a Pilot-in-Command or sole manipulator in an airplane and helicopter in all environments of flight, including night, poor weather, unfavorable terrain, low altitudes or speed;
Valuating information rapidly and make judicious decisions promptly during in-flight operations;
Developing strategies and coordinate aircraft and ground assets;
Using information systems and databases to conduct information surveys, queries, update files and disseminate information.
Specialized experience may include:
Operation of an aircraft as Captain
Pilot in Command
Aircraft Commander
First Officer
Certified Flight Instructor
Second in Command
Co-pilot
Hiring Minimums: Pilot Enter on Duty minimums are 1500 flight hours; (up to 500 hours can be waived, reducing the pilot enter on duty minimums to 1000 hours; see Required Documents in the official USAJOBS Air Interdiction Agent announcement regarding the Flight Hour Waiver)
A current FAA Commercial or ATP Pilot Certification with the following ratings:
Dual Rated: Airplane (Single-engine land or multi-engine land) with instrument rating AND Rotorcraft Helicopter with instrument rating; or
Airplane Rated: Airplane (Single-engine land or multi-engine land) with instrument; or
Helicopter Rated: Rotorcraft Helicopter with instrument rating; or
Equivalent military rating of the above at the time of application (eligibility based on military flight experience must provide official orders, forms or logbooks showing their status as a rated military pilot)
250 Pilot-in-Command hours and
75 Instrument hours
75 Night hours (Flight Hour Waiver available)
FAA Class I medical required for assessment dated within last 12 calendar months
FAA Class II medical will qualify. It must be dated within last 12 calendar months. However, at the time of your Flight Assessment you MUST present a FAA 1st Class Medical Certificate dated within the previous 12 calendar months.

Apply at 750 hours total time: Applicants applying at 750 flight hours are required to obtain at least 1,000 flight hours (depending on the number of hours approved for a waiver) at own expense before being able to attend the 3-part flight assessment. Applicant must still meet 250 Pilot-in-Command, 75 instrument and 75 night hours and 100 flight hours in the last 12 months.

UAS Flight Hours: Applicants may include UAS Predator A (MQ-1), Predator B (MQ-9) flight hours and Predator A (MQ-1), Predator B (MQ-9) or predator based variant flight hours. These hours may be credited towards satisfying the "Total flight time" 1,500 flight hour requirement only. UAS hours do not count towards the 250 flight hours as a Pilot in Command, 75 flight hours Instrument and 75 flight hours Night. Flight hour logbooks will be required at time of your Flight Assessment for verification.

Conditions of Employment:
FAA Class 1 Medical required at time of Flight Assessment. FAA Class 2 medical qualifies to start the pre-employment process for the AIA position. All FAA Medical must be dated within the last 12 months.
FAA Commercial or ATP Airplane or Helicopter rated with Instruments
You may be required to pass a background investigation and/or polygraph
You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this position
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered with Selective Service
Primary U.S. residency for at least three of the last five years
CBP follows the DHS Drug-Free Workplace Plan for drug testing procedures
Age Requirement: Provisions of Public Laws 93-350 and 100-238 allow the imposition of a maximum age for initial appointment to a primary Law Enforcement Officer position within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In accordance with DHS Management Directive 251-03, the "day before an individual's 37th birthday" is the maximum age for original appointment to a position as a primary law enforcement officer within DHS. The age requirement is also necessary to ensure that you are able to complete the 20 years of applicable service for retirement. NOTE: The Commissioner of CBP has approved a temporary increase in the maximum allowable age to 40 for original placement into an Air Interdiction Agent position.

How to Apply

Click this site’s APPLY link to complete the Air Interdiction Agent (Pilot) Pre-screening Form. After submission of this Pre-screening Form, you will receive additional information about the official application process.
The closing date for this employment opportunity is November 30, 2022.

Salary : $76,927 - $100,000