Pilots becoming Air Marshals

H

heeha

New Member
Any pilots on here ever consider making the switch from sitting in the cockpit to sitting in the passenger cabin with a gun?

Does anyone know of any pilots who actually became Air Marshals?

I heard Air Marshals get paid around 75-90K a yr with overtime...probably more than a lot of pilots make, esp. regional pilots, and they also have more job security/benefits.
 
My observation is that they seem to prefer to hire people with aviation experience over people with law enforcement experience. I suspect that is part of the all too common "we want to train you our way" syndrome.
 
Every FAM I've met, and I tend to meet a lot, has some type of prior law enforcement experience. If you're interested, they have a website.


Edit: Heeha, I see you're in ILM. Where in town?
 
Most of the newer FAMs these days are former screeners, restaurant workers, Home Depot employees, you name it. The old cadre was certainly heavy on LE experience, but the new guys aren't.


I have several criminal investigators in my family, and one did some time as a FAM. He was incredibly bored and saw no opportunity for career development. Although there are some ground/investigative positions, most of your tenure will be "in the belly of the bird." According to him, there are some cultural issues that need to be changed before it becomes a career destination.

From an aviation standpoint, I can't imagine a more boring job. I highly respect them, but you couldn't pay me enough to sit in the back with no hope of doing much else.
 
the job would really, really suck.. incredibly boring, gone all the time, pay not that great. Can you imagine riding around in coach all day every day with absolutely nothing to do, it would be like the never-ending commute from hell.
 
RPM said:
the job would really, really suck.. incredibly boring, gone all the time, pay not that great. Can you imagine riding around in coach all day every day with absolutely nothing to do, it would be like the never-ending commute from hell.
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I was actually thinking about this yesterday on my first international flight. I'm guessing most fams are on international flights, I cant imagine sitting in coach for 14 hours on the reg.
 
RPM said:
the job would really, really suck.. incredibly boring, gone all the time, pay not that great. Can you imagine riding around in coach all day every day with absolutely nothing to do, it would be like the never-ending commute from hell.
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I couldn't imagine doing the job, it'd be boring as hell.
 
i don't want to talk about specifics, but are they allowed to read, watch movies, bring laptops...
 
Diamnd15 said:
i don't want to talk about specifics, but are they allowed to read, watch movies, bring laptops...
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Yes, but just flying as a pax all the time is boring as hell. There are other specifics we're allowed to do and not do, and still itd be boring to have to do it all the time, IMO. Not an easy gig, I'll give it that.
 
MikeD said:
Yes, but just flying as a pax all the time is boring as hell. There are other specifics we're allowed to do and not do, and still itd be boring to have to do it all the time, IMO. Not an easy gig, I'll give it that.
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Even the front office is boring most of the time.. the back seats are sooooo boring! 3 hrs in the back and im ready to gtfo.. I can't even imagine how bad your back would get jacked up sitting in those cramped coach seats all day every day! I hate it!

I would "consider" it for no less than 150K with 17 off a month.. and I want a German Shepherd partner for a buddy.:D
 
Y'all don't know what boring is until you walk around a parking lot for ten hours a day. Somedays I have to memorize plate numbers just to stay awake.:crazy:

I'm headed over to have a look at the website now to see about applying.
 
You know, it might not be such a bad gig anymore with the advent of inflight Wi-Fi and seatback entertainment systems becoming the norm, even on domestic narrow bodies.

With that said, I do my best to avoid deadheads now (or at least I did years ago when I was a lineholder and some control over such things) so I couldn't see ever wanting this job, unless the pay was 200k+.
 
RPM said:
the job would really, really suck.. incredibly boring, gone all the time, pay not that great. Can you imagine riding around in coach all day every day with absolutely nothing to do, it would be like the never-ending commute from hell.
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Exactly! No freaking way.
 
Here is an exact quote from my FAMS interview from back in 05. "You know Mr. (BLANK), in my experience if someone is a pilot and hired as a Marshall, they are going to have a hard time sitting in the back, because before long they are going to want to sit in the front. Im not convinced this is the job for a former pilot." Also, it is true that many of the FAMS have prior military or LE experience. BUT, I can tell you that the interview, at least the one I went through, had nothing to do with LE experience. Having been a police officer for 11 years I can tell you this was the most non-law enforcement type interview I have ever had. They asked questions such as tell me about a co-worker you didnt get along with. Had this been based solely on LE experience, my resume speaks for itself. However, I think they prefer to hire military types who can operate in conditions similiar to standing a guard post. As for the other LEO's who were hired, Ive known 2 who were municipal cops who left after 6 months and 14 months respectively. Again, I think they prefer to hire the Fed. Govt. LEO's who are also used to standing more guard post type details. Anyhow, hope this info helps...
 
Disgusting that they would get paid more than a pilot...But then again nothing surprises me with the gov't pay rates, pensions, vacations. More of my tax money going nowhere.
 
Baronman said:
Disgusting that they would get paid more than a pilot...But then again nothing surprises me with the gov't pay rates, pensions, vacations. More of my tax money going nowhere.
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Who's fault is it that pilots get paid what they do? Especially at the regionals? Don't know if I'd blame the government for that, however convenient it is to do so.
 
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