Commercial jobs in United Kingdom

Location: National Police Air Service

Line Pilot (Rotary) National Police Air Service NPAS Bases Birmingham and Redhill. Permanent posts, 37 hours per week.

Role Profile Attachment

Job Advert

Here at the National Police Air Service (NPAS) we’re looking for helicopter pilots to join our team which provide air support across England and Wales, 365 days a year. On a daily basis, NPAS help save lives, tackle criminality and keep people and communities safe.

Flying to more than 20,000 tasks every year, crews provide effective aerial support to ground based officers and in doing so improve operational response to incidents within the highest safety standards.

• Fast‑paced, dynamic tasks such as pursuit of stolen vehicles.
• Searching for missing persons or suspects.
• Support for firearms incidents.
• Pre‑planned tasks, including large public events such as the London Marathon, Heads of State visits and large demonstrations.
• Landing to allow the crew to assist people in distress.

• Fixed roster pattern offering a stable working routine and the ability to plan many months ahead.
• 19 days annual leave per year (19 × 12hr shifts). On a 4‑on, 4‑off shift pattern you can have 12 consecutive days off by booking 4 consecutive days of annual leave.
• Additional annual leave or overtime for public holidays.
• Additional annual leave upon completion of 5 years’ service.
• Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) pension scheme.
• Potential to transfer to another NPAS base across England and Wales, including touring pilot positions.
• A Loss of Licence Insurance scheme.

• Minimum of a UK Commercial Pilot’s Licence (Helicopter) with RT Licence and Class 1 Medical (unrestricted) and English language proficiency level 6.
• Minimum of 1,500 hours or 1,000 military helicopter hours, total helicopter flying time which must include an absolute minimum of 100 hours flying at night, including 20 hours PIC at night, 500 hours PIC overland under VMC. You must also be able to evidence significant overland experience in a comparable operating environment.
• A UK CAA Class 1 medical for Single Pilot Commercial Operations Carrying Passengers, which has an upper age limit of 60 years.
• Ability to work as part of a team and be a self‑starter.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely to the crew while carrying out other tasks.
• A full UK driving licence.
• Resided in the UK for at least the last 3 years.
• Applicants must be able to pass adequate vetting checks. Those who have not lived in the UK for the last three years may be refused due to inability to vet them to the required standard.

These posts are suitable for job share.

As part of the recruitment process, applicants will be required to fly in a 135 simulator and pass an interview panel.

Selection will take place on 28th January 2026 at Gloucester Airport.

This recruitment is aiming for various start dates in 2026.

ANY ENQUIRIES RELATING TO THIS ROLE OR APPLICATION PROCESS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO NPAS RECRUITMENT AND NOT TO THE WEST YORKSHIRE POLICE RESOURCING DEPARTMENT: ku.ecilop.sapn@tnemtiurcer.sapn

NPAS provide borderless air support to all police forces of England and Wales, 365 days a year, from a national network of 14 bases. NPAS exists to keep communities safe and tasks which pose the highest risk to communities are prioritised in line with local police and crime plans. All requests for air support are managed through our national Operations Centre.

NPAS was formed in October 2012 following the national review of air support conducted by the Home Office in 2009. We are the first and only collaboration of all police forces in England and Wales, regulated by law.

NPAS is delivered by West Yorkshire Police on behalf of British Policing and governed by a National Board made up of nine elected Police and Crime Commissioners and nine Chief Constables each representing their policing regions. It is funded through the collaborative agreement of participating police forces to each pay a proportionate contribution toward this overall cost of delivery which corresponds to their service use.

West Yorkshire Police is committed to improving the diversity of its workforce to better reflect the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all minority groups and individuals who identify with one or more of the protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act 2010.

All NPAS staff and officers have access to an in‑house peer support scheme. All peer supporters are fully trained and will listen and help staff during difficult times.

We are committed to building a service that reflects a wide variety of skills, perspectives and backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Backgrounds, females, and those with disabilities who are currently under‑represented within West Yorkshire Police and NPAS. Disability is not necessarily a bar to application or success in this role and all applications are assessed individually.

All applications will be fairly and rigorously assessed by West Yorkshire Police / NPAS.