Utility Aerial Specialist - Flight Operations - Reading-Airport Bldg

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Co., a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. 

The Utility Aerial Specialist position is responsible for oversight of scheduling, notifications, coordinating and deconflicting of utility aerial assets, including FirstEnergy (FE) helicopters, vendor helicopters, and UAS (drone) activities across the FirstEnergy system. Utilize various communication tools and software activities within the FE Flight Operations and with other departments within FE. Duties may include helicopter observer patrols in a safe and successful manner. Flexibility, organization, collaboration, and multi-tasking skills are essential to the success of working in this environment. This position requires a flexible schedule, which may include nights, weekends, holidays and on-call or after-hours.

The selected candidate may be offered a position within the same job family, at a level that is lower than what is posted. This will be determined based upon the results of the interview process which considers the candidate’s skills, work history, experience level, and other relevant qualifications.

• The position is located in Reading, Pennsylvania. Applicants must reside within a two-hour radius of Reading Regional Airport, Reading, PA to ensure timely and reliable response to scheduled and unscheduled flight requests.

Responsibilities Include:

• The Utility Controller on Duty serves as the central point of contact for aerial utility operations. Ensuring safe and compliant activity across FirstEnergy territory. 
• Foster and embrace a high-performance safety culture by leading through personal conduct, applying human performance principles, and maintaining a safe work environment for co-workers and the public
• Participate and actively contribute to an organizational culture that thrives on safety, integrity, open and honest communication, continuous improvement, collaboration, and values the contributions of all employees
• Maintain customer and operating confidentiality 
• Perform site Safety Observations and reviews to ensure adherence to safe work standards and procedures 
• Participate in contractor performance evaluations, project review, lessons learned
• Verify all vendor pilots assigned to each flight are legally qualified and eligible to fly in the aircraft and type of operation through coordination
• Assist in developing a FirstEnergy Flight Operations Control Center for all aerial operations
• Utilize Google Earth Pro and other software to monitor aerial activities
• Report aviation related accidents, incidents, and near misses to the appropriate business unit.  Oversee     contractor incident process
• Monitor daily activities and plan for deconfliction of all FirstEnergy aerial utility operations
• Attend FE Flight Operation standards and policy trainings while also assisting in the development of targeted training programs.
• Review FE Flight Operations metrics to identify improvement opportunities and take necessary actions, while also researching new technologies to advance utility aviation.
• Ability to travel
• Ability to perform aerial patrols as a trained and qualified flight sensor operator

Flight Sensor Operator (FSO) is an individual gathering information from a flying airborne platform (manned or unmanned). The FSO is a crewmember when participating in any flight activity.

The primary responsibilities of a Flight Sensor Operator are to ensure the safe operation of the Sensor systems in conjunction with the flight, effectively operate assigned remote sensing systems and support the processing, exploitation, and dissemination of collected information.

Some of the general duties of a Flight Sensor Operator are:

• Flight Crewmember when assigned to flights
• Participation and contribution to our Safety Management System
• Sensor flight planning
• Participating in Crew Resource Management
• Sensor Operations
• Manage, analyze, and distribute acquired data effectively
• Sensor installation, testing & maintenance
• Collection management
• Quality Control (QC) of acquired data

Learn and apply complex principles of aerial photography, videography, LiDAR, airborne GPS, and inertial navigation systems. 

• Preferred skills include experience with LiDAR workflows and data analysis.  Assist in development of training materials and documentation for LiDAR operations and data interpretation
• Effectively work with the pilot in command to safely and efficiently complete assigned missions
• Keep accurate and detailed notes to complete mission flight logs and progress reports in a timely manner
• Perform preflight and post flight inspections of the sensor system(s)
• Assist in other office duties as needed (subject to change and evolve with the flight department)

An employee hired at the Utility Aerial Specialist V level will be expected to perform all of the above responsibilities with more proficiency, and in a more independent manner. Further, the Utility Aerial Specialist V level employee will be assigned additional responsibilities related to those listed above. 

Qualifications include:

• Comprehensive understanding of the electrical grid
• Proficient with Google Earth, TAMI, and other mapping software
• Excellent computer skills, interpersonal skills, strong written and verbal communication skills, and strong analytical ability are required.
• Able to function both independently and on a team, communicates and drives positive workforce change to achieve intended process improvements.
• Able to complete TSA background check for appropriate airport access
• Adaptable to changes in work requirements and organizational priorities
• Highly organized with strict adherence to deadlines

Qualifications at the Utility Aerial Specialist IV level include all of the above plus:

• High school diploma, Associates in Applied Science, or business or related discipline and with a minimum of 3 (three) years relevant work experience is required.
• Attend Flight Sensor Operator (FSO) trainings

Qualifications at the Utility Aerial Specialist V level include all of the above plus:

• High school diploma, Associates in Applied Science, or business or related discipline and with a minimum 5+ (five) plus years experience working in the utility industry. Vegetation management and transmission line aerial experience preferred

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity 

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time. 

Safety 

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.