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The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Helicopter Unit and their Bell 407, call sign Henry 1,

1,604 square miles of mountainous forest, narrow river canyons, and steep coastal cliffs bordered by the world's largest ocean. The diverse beauty that beckons visitors from around the world also contains environmental elements potentially hazardous to life and limb.

Being airlifted to safety by a rescue helicopter is the last thing anyone has on their mind. Fortunately, there are a handful of professionals who make the business of rescue their top priority...

The helicopter unit is best known for regularly executing long line rescues quickly and efficiently in challenging environments and conditions when conventional rescue techniques are constrained by terrain, time, or available resources.

Diver Rescue

The FLIR camera captures an ocean rescue of three abalone divers approximately 50 yards offshore. When Henry 1 and crew arrived, a stricken diver was being held up by his two dive buddies. Pilot, Paul Bradley, Sgt. Eric Thomson, and rescue paramedic Jeff Lemlin go in for the rescue. South Coast Fire and Coast Life Support (Medic 120) stand by on the cliffside.

Pilot Position

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department-Helicopter Unit is currently accepting resumes for a pilot. This is a VFR program performing law enforcement, medical transport, search and rescue, and fire fighting in a Bell 407.

Required Qualifications
Commercial helicopter rating
Second class medical
3,000 hours total time in turbine helicopters
External load experience to include:
Minimum of 300 hours vertical reference,
precision long-line (100’ or longer)

Mountain flying experience
Back country-off site landing experience
100 hours PIC in last 12 months
Residence within 30 minutes of KSTS
Willing to work 3 or 4 days each week
Able to pass law enforcement background investigation

Desired Qualifications
# 25 hours PIC in Bell 407
# Instrument rated (VFR program)
# 500 hours night PIC
# NVG experience
# Bambi bucket operations
# OES Card
# Vertical reference over water
# Vertical reference at night
# SAR and EMS experience

Miscellaneous Information: Starting salary range $75k - $80k plus 401(k), annual vacation and medical insurance.
Contact / Resumes: Pilot: Paul Bradley, 707.565.7197, pbradley@sonoma-county.org