State of Maryland

A Maryland State Police (MSP) Instructor Pilot is the full performance level of specialized flight instruction training and pilot work in the Aviation Command, Maryland State Police Department. Employees in this classification develop and provide specialized in-service flight training and certify civilian and sworn pilots as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Employees in this classification also perform the search and rescue missions, medical evacuation operations, and other law enforcement related missions as directed by the MSP Chief Pilot, Director of Flight Operations and Commanding Officer of the Aviation Command. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive general supervision from the MSP Chief Pilot or Section Supervisor. Employees in this classification are assigned shift work including holidays and weekends and are subject to 24-hour on-call duty during emergencies and staff shortages. Employees are required to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions. The work involves hazardous conditions such as maneuvering helicopters in congested or unusual terrain.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology. The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The MSP Instructor Pilot is differentiated from the MSP Pilot IV in that the MSP Instructor Pilot provides specialized flight training to the MSP Pilot IV while the MSP Pilot IV performs the full range of civilian helicopter or fixed wing aircraft pilot duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Identifies training needs of MSP civilian and sworn pilots and sworn medical providers;

Presents training on the use of new equipment, instrument ratings for pilots, fire-watch, crew resource management, water egress and the ground handling of aircraft;

Prepares and presents training programs and performs annual check rides in order to certify civilian and sworn pilots;

Performs pre-flight and post-flight inspections of aircraft following performance of maintenance;

Develops flight training program materials such as manuals and guides to meet certification requirements and evaluates the effectiveness of flight training programs;

Develops and presents initial and recurrent flight and ground training programs for Aviation Command personnel;

Maintains applicable records pertaining to certifications and training of the MSP civilian and sworn pilots;

Performs line pilot functions to include flying as Pilot-in-Command (PIC) or Second-in-Command (SIC) of various departmental aircraft for search and rescue missions, medical evacuation operations, prisoner extradition, personnel transport and other law enforcement related missions;

Performs maintenance functions to include cleaning aircraft interiors and exteriors, refueling and adding necessary fluids, and replacing light bulbs as necessary;

Performs routine maintenance of hanger and office facilities;

Makes go/no-go flight decisions concerning weather conditions, maintenance, and other flight safety considerations;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and regulations;

Knowledge of specialized training programs required for pilots flying search and rescue missions, medical evacuation operations, and law enforcement related missions for day, night, and instrument flying conditions;

Knowledge of standard training methods, procedures, techniques, and materials traditionally used in training activities to include the construction of lesson plans and other course materials;

Knowledge of MSP standard operating procedures, policies, rules and regulations governing pilot and instruction duties;

Skill in presenting training material in a clear, concise, and understandable manner utilizing written, oral, audio-visual, and computer based formats;

Skill in piloting the MSP Aviation Command aircraft as an Instructor Pilot, PIC or SIC;

Ability to make safe and rational go/no-go flight decisions and to determine if weather and other flight safety considerations are within acceptable ranges;

Ability to conduct test flights on aircraft following major and minor aircraft maintenance or inspections;

Ability to conduct ground training for sworn medical providers to ensure continuity of flight considerations;

Ability to plan, coordinate and develop flight training courses.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Completion of 2600 helicopter or fixed wing flight hours as a FAA licensed pilot.

Note: Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Naval Aviation Pilot classifications or Rotary Wing Aviator, Pilot, or Pilots/Naval Flight Officers specialty codes in the Piloting field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.

1. Employees in this classification must possess and maintain FAA Commercial Helicopter or FAA Commercial Airplane multi-engine certification.

2. Employees in this classification must possess and maintain FAA 2nd Class Physical certification.

3. Employees in this classification must possess and maintain an acceptable Instrument Helicopter or Instrument Airplane Rating as determined by FAA regulations and required by the MSP Aviation Command.

4. Employees in this classification must possess and maintain FAA Helicopter or Airplane Instructor Pilot certification.

5. Employees in this classification must possess and maintain FAA Helicopter or Airplane Instructor Pilot Instrument certification.

6. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification will be subject to a complete criminal background investigation, to include a polygraph examination, by the Maryland State Police Department before permanent appointment can be made. A criminal conviction record may be grounds for rejection of the candidate.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with the Code of Maryland Regulations 06.01.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

3. Employees in this classification are subject to call-in on a 24 hour basis and must provide the agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

Class specifications broadly define groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System. All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions  Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit H, Public Safety and Security classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation. An employee who works more than the normal work week is entitled to be compensated for that overtime as provided by State Personnel and Pension Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.