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U.S. Customs and Border Protection

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Air Interdiction Pilot – CBP Air and Marine Operations

Join CBP as an Air Interdiction Pilot

Serve on the front line of national security with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations. Fly airplanes, helicopters, and/or unmanned aircraft to detect, track, and interdict illicit activity along and beyond the U.S. border.

  • Employer: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) – Air and Marine Operations
  • Duty locations: Multiple U.S. duty locations across the Southwest Border Region (Tucson & Yuma, AZ; San Diego, CA; El Paso, Laredo & McAllen, TX), the Southeast Border Region (Homestead, FL), the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (Aguadilla, PR), and NASOC UAS sites (Sierra Vista, AZ; San Angelo, TX)
  • Employment type: Full-time, federal permanent
  • Career ladder: GS-11 to GS-12 to GS-13 (promotion after 52 weeks at each grade, with supervisor approval)
  • Security clearance: Secret or higher (ability to obtain and maintain)
  • Assignment: Final duty station assigned after a three-part assessment; applicants must be willing to work at any location within their assigned region
  • Age requirement: Candidates must be referred for consideration before their 40th birthday (waived for veterans’-preference eligibles)

✈️ The mission

As a federal law enforcement officer, you will conduct air patrols, surveillance, and pursuit operations to interdict smuggled contraband and track suspect people, vehicles, aircraft, and vessels in defense of the Nation’s borders.

🧭 What you’ll do

  • Conduct air patrols, surveillance, and pursuit activities to interdict contraband smuggled by land vehicles, aircraft, or vessels, and monitor the behavior and activities of suspect persons, vehicles, and vessels believed to be engaged in illegal activity.
  • Collect, refine, and analyze strategic and tactical intelligence; search persons, vessels, baggage, and cargo for contraband or weapons incident to detention or arrest.
  • Operate aircraft systems during law enforcement missions; detect, intercept, track, and assist with apprehending targets; prepare reports, testify, and liaise with federal, state, local, tribal, and foreign partners.
  • Develop strategies to track aircraft, vessels, and people for effective interdictions; gather and share intelligence on illegal activity and potential terrorism with internal customers and the broader aviation and marine communities.

🧰 Qualifications at a glance

  • Apply starting at: 750 total flight hours
  • Before flight assessment: At least 1,000 total hours (depending on any approved waiver), obtained at your own expense
  • Pilot Enter-on-Duty minimum: 1,500 total hours (up to 500 hours may be waived to 1,000)
  • Minimum PIC time: 250 hours
  • Minimum instrument time: 75 hours
  • Minimum night time: 75 hours
  • Age & service: Must be referable before age 40 (veterans’-preference eligibles may be exempt); valid driver’s license; one-year probationary period

Rating options (FAA or equivalent military rating at time of application):

  • Dual Rated: Airplane (single- or multi-engine land) with instrument rating AND rotorcraft/helicopter with instrument rating
  • Airplane Rated: Airplane (single- or multi-engine land) with instrument rating
  • Helicopter Rated: Rotorcraft/helicopter with instrument rating

Acceptable pilot certificates: Current FAA Commercial (CPL) or Airline Transport Pilot (ATP). Military equivalents accepted with official documentation (orders, forms, or logbooks showing rated military pilot status).

🩺 Licenses & medical

  • Certificates accepted: FAA Commercial (CPL), ATP (unrestricted or restricted), or equivalent military rating
  • Medical: FAA Class 1, FAA Class 2, or military flight medical dated within the last 12 months to begin pre-employment; FAA Class 2 required at the flight assessment

🛡️ Suitability, screening & training

  • Must pass a polygraph examination (certain veterans may qualify for a polygraph waiver or reciprocity)
  • Background investigation for Secret or higher clearance
  • Demonstrate firearms proficiency and wear the approved uniform on duty
  • Complete 15 weeks at the Air and Marine Basic Training Academy at FLETC, Glynco, GA, including Spanish-language instruction, initial survival, aircraft-specific flight, Standardized Tactical Aviation training, and swim/water-survival

🌟 Pay, incentives & advancement

  • Base structure: OPM Special Salary Rate (SSR) + Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP 25% for everyone)
  • Career ladder pay (example): $106,588 (GS-11), $127,754 (GS-12), $151,918 (GS-13) with SSR + LEAP
  • UAS site retention incentive (10%): $115,115 / $137,974 / $164,071 (e.g., Sierra Vista, AZ; Grand Forks, ND; San Angelo, TX)
  • Caribbean AMB recruitment incentive (25%): $127,906 / $153,305 / $182,302 (Aguadilla, PR)
  • Advancement: Automatic promotion eligibility to the next grade after 52 weeks, with supervisor approval

📨 Next steps

After submitting your application, qualified candidates will move through pre-employment screening, medical and polygraph, and a three-part flight assessment. Assignments are determined upon successful completion of the assessment, and you must be willing to serve at any location within your assigned region.

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