police helicopter pilot
- Thread starter flyallday
- Start date
pilot602
If specified, this will replace the title that
Usually you have to be a street (or some other kind) of officer for a while ... and generally the slots will go to the more senior (of the interested) officers. Some departments will do all the training from zero hours and give preference to those with some previous aviation experience. Of course there are exceptions but if you ant to know specifics you need to contact individual departments.
C150J
Well-Known Member
VERY dependent on the law enforcement agency. Most local law enforcement agencies require you to be a police officer first (I believe this to be necessary, as you really need a "street degree" before jumping into LE-related aviation missions), while SOME state agencies (MD) are starting to hire civilians. That being said, the civilians are usually former military pilots with PLENTY of OPERATIONAL time (they weren't just putzing around).
Another thing to keep in mind is that "minimums" are very subjective. For example, Phoenix PD mandates that one must spend the first three years of their career in patrol before specializing (aviation, SWAT, investigations, etc.) HOWEVER, the average wait to get on the "dream team" (aviation unit) is almost NINE years.
You also will not be flying immediately - I talked to a friend with LAPD, and he said that, to the best of his knowledge (he's SWAT, not aviation), you are an "observer" (left seat) for quite some time before becoming PIC.
From what I've heard, it seems like a great gig, albeit a very hard one to get into. Federal agencies also have flying positions, but they tend to also hire individuals with prior LE/MIL experience, in addition to graduate-level educations.
Good luck!
J.
Another thing to keep in mind is that "minimums" are very subjective. For example, Phoenix PD mandates that one must spend the first three years of their career in patrol before specializing (aviation, SWAT, investigations, etc.) HOWEVER, the average wait to get on the "dream team" (aviation unit) is almost NINE years.
You also will not be flying immediately - I talked to a friend with LAPD, and he said that, to the best of his knowledge (he's SWAT, not aviation), you are an "observer" (left seat) for quite some time before becoming PIC.
From what I've heard, it seems like a great gig, albeit a very hard one to get into. Federal agencies also have flying positions, but they tend to also hire individuals with prior LE/MIL experience, in addition to graduate-level educations.
Good luck!
J.
JC1188
Well-Known Member
A lady came to my school for career day, she was a Massachusetts State Police Helicopter Pilot.
She said she was hired just as a regular police officer but was one day offered the slot..she had no flight expierence at all. The state police trained her for free and she began her new career
she has since left the air wing due to problems
She said she was hired just as a regular police officer but was one day offered the slot..she had no flight expierence at all. The state police trained her for free and she began her new career
she has since left the air wing due to problems
[ QUOTE ]
HOWEVER, the average wait to get on the "dream team" (aviation unit) is almost NINE years.
[/ QUOTE ]
Actually, almost longer than that for Phoenix PD
[ QUOTE ]
You also will not be flying immediately - I talked to a friend with LAPD, and he said that, to the best of his knowledge (he's SWAT, not aviation), you are an "observer" (left seat) for quite some time before becoming PIC.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yup, you start out as a JAFO, then can qual as pilot. Even as pilot (at least for PHX PD) you still rotate being pilot and observer on each mission.
HOWEVER, the average wait to get on the "dream team" (aviation unit) is almost NINE years.
[/ QUOTE ]
Actually, almost longer than that for Phoenix PD
[ QUOTE ]
You also will not be flying immediately - I talked to a friend with LAPD, and he said that, to the best of his knowledge (he's SWAT, not aviation), you are an "observer" (left seat) for quite some time before becoming PIC.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yup, you start out as a JAFO, then can qual as pilot. Even as pilot (at least for PHX PD) you still rotate being pilot and observer on each mission.
