Aerial Conservation Pilot — Northern Cameroon (Garoua)

✈️ About the role

As WCS’s Conservation Pilot, you’ll conduct aerial patrols for law enforcement and resource protection, support aerial biomonitoring, and provide aviation and logistical support across northern Cameroon. The role blends hands-on flying with meticulous aircraft stewardship, safety management, administration, and coordination with multidisciplinary field teams.

🧭 What you’ll do

• Fly safely and professionally under WCS SOPs in support of park operations, resource protection, aerial patrols, biomonitoring, and logistics.
• Uphold high standards of aircraft management; keep documents current and ensure compliance with all flight procedures and approvals.
• Complete required flight and safety training; maintain detailed flight records (hours, locations, passengers, mission purpose, and durations).
• Coordinate aviation planning with field operations, ecology, monitoring, and law-enforcement teams.
• Keep the aircraft, equipment, airstrip, hangar, stores, and aviation facilities safe, secure, and fully operational.
• Train personnel in aircraft safety, loading, and operating procedures.
• Coordinate maintenance and scheduling with the Aviation Fleet Manager and Maintenance Manager; promptly report aircraft issues and snags.
• Manage fuel, oil, and aviation stocks; secure the aircraft at all times.
• Oversee survey and surveillance equipment used in wildlife monitoring and anti-poaching operations.
• Prepare and support annual aviation budgets and plans; manage flight-clearance documentation and aviation logistics.

🧰 What you’ll bring

• Current FAA Commercial Pilot License (CPL) with Instrument Rating.
• FAA Second-Class Medical.
• Minimum 400 hours PIC and strong knowledge of FAA regulations.
• High-performance piston-engine experience (preferably on a C206 or similar aircraft).
• Fluency in English and French with effective written and oral communication.
• Proven ability to live and work in a remote, challenging environment and to collaborate in cross-cultural teams.
• Advantageous: Experience in Africa (particularly francophone Africa), wildlife surveys, anti-poaching surveillance, remote bush flying, FAR Part 135 operations, or an FAA A&P certificate.

🌟 Safety & standards leadership

• Champion a strong safety culture aligned with WCS aviation procedures and Safety Management System (SMS).
• Proactively report hazards, incidents, and non-conformities; support and conduct internal safety evaluations.
• Adhere to flight approval and tracking processes; ensure continuous improvement in risk management.

📍 Location & field conditions

• Base: WCS project headquarters in Garoua, supporting Bouba Njida National Park and the wider Northern Cameroon Landscape.
• Field-based duties with routine operations from remote/bush airstrips and variable terrain.
• Close collaboration with law enforcement, ecology, and monitoring teams in dynamic field settings.

📨 Ready to make an impact?

If you’re a safety-driven pilot eager to apply your skills to protect wildlife and landscapes, we’d love to hear from you. Bring your expertise, resilience, and teamwork to WCS and help strengthen conservation aviation in northern Cameroon.