Any LEO pilots here?

[CincyCop]

I am trying to break into law enforcement flying (either fixed wing or rotary wing) and was wondering if there are any LEO pilots here. I have contacted a few agencies (LAPD, NYPD, etc) but you have to be a patrol officer first with the respective agency before being eligible to apply for a pilot position which I can understand. I was wondering if there are any agencies where you can go directly to the cockpit following academy training. Our local Sheriff (Hamilton County) hires directly to the cockpit but they do not have any openings at this time.

[blakech47]

I think Jacksonville PD may. I'm not positive. Question is do you have any flight time now. Just curious. If you have some flight time I think it would be more of a possibility. I'm a Chinook pilot in the Army, but I have an interest in LE, I have my degree in CJ, was looking at LE when I get out.

[CincyCop]

I think Jacksonville PD may. I'm not positive. Question is do you have any flight time now. Just curious. If you have some flight time I think it would be more of a possibility. I'm a Chinook pilot in the Army, but I have an interest in LE, I have my degree in CJ, was looking at LE when I get out.

Greetings, Blake...I'll check out Jacksonville PD. I have not flown since October of 2001 when I was furloughed from Delta Airlines. I have not flown rotary wing since getting off active duty in 1992 as a Navy SH-60B Seahawk pilot so the lack of currency will probably be a problem. I just joined the Civil Air Patrol so that I will be able to get fixed wing current again.

-Collin

[CincyCop]

blakech47, is your intention to go directly to law enforcement flying once off active duty?

-Collin

[CincyCop]

I called the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and spoke to a recruiter a few minutes ago. They require at least 2 years on patrol before being eligible for a specialty (pilot) assignment. Kind of interesting...I was trying to find Jacksonville (FL) Police via Google but nothing came up for Jacksonville, FL. The city consolidated their police and sheriff agencies in the late 1960's and operate as the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office so there is no Jacksonville Police so to speak.

[blakech47]

I kind of remember that about Jacksonville now that you say that. I actually don't plan on going into LE pilot work, at least not right away for sure. Maybe later on. I'm more interested in the investigative/tactical side. We'll see about the flying side later on. I saw a lot of places, there is a aviation law enforcement website somewhere out there, I can get you the link if you give me a day or two, it is a pay website, but they have an enormouse amount of info. I'll get back to you.

[CincyCop]

Hey, it's all cool...keep the NR up, bro. :cool:

-Collin

[CincyCop]

I saw a lot of places, there is a aviation law enforcement website somewhere out there, I can get you the link if you give me a day or two, it is a pay website, but they have an enormouse amount of info. I'll get back to you.

I'll look as well, Blake. Thanks for the help. :)

Man, the CH-47 is one big bird...must be a blast to fly. :)

-Collin

[blakech47]

Try this website, I found it a few months back it may be helpful to you. Yeah the 47 is a big bird, lots of power to it. I enjoy flying it, rather fly it than any other bird out there. I would like to try the A-star.

http://www.alea.org/

[CincyCop]

Try this website, I found it a few months back it may be helpful to you. Yeah the 47 is a big bird, lots of power to it. I enjoy flying it, rather fly it than any other bird out there. I would like to try the A-star.

http://www.alea.org/

Many thanks...I'll check that website. :)

-Collin

[CincyCop]

http://www.alea.org/pics/images/cmpd/CMPD011.jpg

[Saab_Pilot]

When were you hired by Big D? I hope they make it and actually hire again. I'm from ATL and live there. I started reading this forum not long ago because I'm thinking about jumping ship from aviation, even though I still love driving airplanes for a living. I'm a commuter and I probably average 10-12 nights a month at home. I have always been interested in LE and actually went through the process w/ the City of Atlanta and the City of Roswell, Ga and was hired by both, but I decided to stick with flying. This has been several yrs ago. I'm ready to be home more. If I decide to go this route I want to go Federal LE only. I'm well under 37 (just turned 30)so I still have quite a while to find the job that I want. Anyways I hope you find a job in LE that involves flying. Checkout this site http://aptap.forumco.com/default.asp
It's run by one of my buddies in Atlanta from the Army. There is lot's of ex-army rotorheads that are also duel rated trying to get into ICE as pilots. Check it out, great place to network.

[CincyCop]

When were you hired by Big D? I hope they make it and actually hire again. I'm from ATL and live there. I started reading this forum not long ago because I'm thinking about jumping ship from aviation, even though I still love driving airplanes for a living. I'm a commuter and I probably average 10-12 nights a month at home. I have always been interested in LE and actually went through the process w/ the City of Atlanta and the City of Roswell, Ga and was hired by both, but I decided to stick with flying. This has been several yrs ago. I'm ready to be home more. If I decide to go this route I want to go Federal LE only. I'm well under 37 (just turned 30)so I still have quite a while to find the job that I want. Anyways I hope you find a job in LE that involves flying. Checkout this site http://aptap.forumco.com/default.asp
It's run by one of my buddies in Atlanta from the Army. There is lot's of ex-army rotorheads that are also duel rated trying to get into ICE as pilots. Check it out, great place to network.

Greetings...I was hired by Delta in March of 2001 then furloughed November of 2001 due to operational cuts following 9-11. I am about 290 numbers from recall but the recall temporarily ceased last fall after chapter 11. I feel your pain regarding the commute...I only did it for 4 months from CVG to ATL before being 727 based in CVG for the last 4 months at Delta. I decided after being furloughed to give LE a shot since I have always had an interest in it. Yes, one of the nice things is that you are home more with LE but I do miss flying. If you decide to go FLE best of luck with the pursuit and THANK YOU for that link. :)

Do you fly the Saab 340? Which airline?

[Saab_Pilot]

I fly the Saab 340 for Colgan Air. We are US Air Express, United Express and CAL Connection. www.colganair.com

Who did you fly before Delta? I would guess you needed to build your fix wing time somewhere. Anyways I will check back later. I just did a horrible CDO overnight, we got less than 3 hours sleep and had to divert on the one leg back in this morning due to the weather being less than 1200 RVR.

[CincyCop]

I fly the Saab 340 for Colgan Air. We are US Air Express, United Express and CAL Connection. www.colganair.com

Who did you fly before Delta? I would guess you needed to build your fix wing time somewhere. Anyways I will check back later. I just did a horrible CDO overnight, we got less than 3 hours sleep and had to divert on the one leg back in this morning due to the weather being less than 1200 RVR.

Ah yes...the continuous duty overnight (CDO)...I remember those at Comair. I flew for Comair for 6 years (building 121 turbine/jet fixed wing time) just prior to getting hired at Delta. Started at Comair in '94 as an FO in the SA227 (Metroliner) and left in early '01 as an RJ Captain with about 1200 hours PIC in the RJ.

[Florida Smokey]

I thought you might like this. This link will bring you to a picture of one of our planes that hit a seagull last week. The pilot had to land in a field and only suffered minor injuries.

http://www.fhp.state.fl.us/PhotoGallery/images2006/PG030806b.jpg

[MacAttack]

Don't know if this would be the right time to ask this...but here it goes. Those of you that have posted in this particular thread have said that you have flown in the military. I am 23 (next month 24) and already have a BA is CJ. I am looking at and applying to different agencies, but flying a helicopter has always interested me. I am curious if I were to join a branch, most likely Navy, would I be guarantee that I would be able to fly a helicopter. I have talk to a Coast Guard recruiter and he said no, because I have two plates and twelve screws in my left forearm. I realize that I will have to talk to a recruiter, just thought I'd ask you guess. Thanks and sorry to hijack the thread.

[medic]

I just thought that I'd chime in and say hello. I'm an airline pilot for a commuter in STL. I'm thinking about making the move to LE. I was a paramedic for a number of years before and during my flying career, so I guess LE isn't a huge leap.

I've been at my airline for five years, been furloughed and recalled once. I'm just looking for something with a little more stability than aviation. I wish that I had some rotor-wing time. All my time is fixed-wing and not real applicable to LE work.

Anyway, good luck to everyone in their pursuits.

[Saab_Pilot]

Navy will not be a guarantee to fly helos. It's about class ranking and the NEEDS of the Navy at that time. Army will however be a 100% guarantee that you will be a helo pilot. Everybody from the Warrant Officers to the RLOS go through IERW (intial entry rotor wing). I would go warrant in the army even though you have a college degree if you want to fly. The warrants fly quite a bit more than the RLOs. The Army committment is 6 yrs after getting through flight school.

[Saab_Pilot]

Do you fly for Trans States?

[janego10]

Hey CincyCop, i've talked to you before over on crownvic.net flew 53s and am getting out. I hope you find what you're looking for as for me I could live without flying but everytime I see a helo in the air it brings me back. Still want to go into LE though and if I get a pilot slot so be it, if not I'll be happy too. Was your application process to be a cop a little smoother due to the quals you got while in the military?

[janego10]

Don't know if this would be the right time to ask this...but here it goes. Those of you that have posted in this particular thread have said that you have flown in the military. I am 23 (next month 24) and already have a BA is CJ. I am looking at and applying to different agencies, but flying a helicopter has always interested me. I am curious if I were to join a branch, most likely Navy, would I be guarantee that I would be able to fly a helicopter. I have talk to a Coast Guard recruiter and he said no, because I have two plates and twelve screws in my left forearm. I realize that I will have to talk to a recruiter, just thought I'd ask you guess. Thanks and sorry to hijack the thread.


if you want helos in the Navy you'll most likely get them..there is that 1% chance of the needs of the Navy..saw some hardcore helo guys get P-3s just due to a draft.

[medic]

Do you fly for Trans States?
Sadly, yes.

[msw]

You airline guys really hi-jacked the thread, didn't ya? Just kidding, no big deal! But to answer CincyCop's original question about agencies that take you right from the Academy to a cockpit.........

I think the answer is either "no" ..... or "so few it might as well be no". Here is why: If an agency is going to go to the trouble to put you through an academy and train you and make you a gun-toting cop, they are going to want you to be just that. If they wanted to hire someone directly into the cockpit, they would hire a civilian pilot (non-sworn) ....... and there are many agencies that do that. Maryland State Police occasionally hire civilian helo pilots, and Arizona DPS hires civilian F/W pilots too sometimes; and a few Sheriff's Dept's in Florida and elsewhere, from time to time. But those are non-sworn CIVILIAN pilots, hired right into the cockpits. (Though some of them are sometimes retired L.E.) If you want the gun and the badge, and take the time to go through an Academy, I doubt there's many agencies that would put you right into the cockpit, unless it was a matter of immediate (unusual/exigent) need. The other thing to keep in mind is that the bigger the agency - and by extension, the bigger the agency's aviation unit - the greater the chance for movement into a flying spot. Some of the State Highway Patrols in the USA only require a year or two "on the road" before being eligible for a flying position. The important word here is "eligible" ..... spots at airborne law enforcement units are highly coveted and sought after, and there's a lot of competition when openings occur. At my agency, new transfers into our aviation unit typically have 8 - 12 years on the Dept..... and their first assignment is as an Observer. They might wait another year or two or three or even more for a pilot position to open up, and give them a chance to switch seats.

Membership in ALEA is $30/year, and probably well worth your money. It'll buy you (among other things) access to their database of airborne law enforcement agencies, where you can research exactly who flies what, and whterh they have sworn or civilian pilots, etc etc etc. They have a good magazine too, and a "Forum" (similar to this one) but just for their membership; great place to ask questions. www.alea.org

BTW, I was a commuter airline pilot 30 years ago, before I became a cop. In retrospect, in the twilight of my L.E. career now (after 20 years working mostly uniformed patrol, Detectives, undercover, etc; then the last 8 years at our Aviation Unit flying both helos and F/W), I am absolutely convinced that I made the right decision. I could not have done 30 years of "gear up/auto-pilot on"..... the boredom would have killed me!

Good luck.

[Saab_Pilot]

ICE hires sworn pilots directly into the cockpit.

[CincyCop]

janego10, (CVN! CVN! CVN!) :D

Having the 5 points added to my written score because I am a military vet helped a ton...in fact, I would not have made the cut without the 5 points since my written test score was not so hot (85).



msw,

I'll check out ALEA. That's pretty cool that you are able to fly both rotary wing and fixed wing. :cool: I envy you! :)



Saab Pilot,

ICE? I think I'm too old (41)...I think you have to be 37 by appointment since it is Federal but I'll check it out. Thanks! :)

[CincyCop]

I thought you might like this. This link will bring you to a picture of one of our planes that hit a seagull last week. The pilot had to land in a field and only suffered minor injuries.

http://www.fhp.state.fl.us/PhotoGallery/images2006/PG030806b.jpg

Good job by the pilot handling that! Thanks for the pic, Florida Smokey. :)

I didn't know FHP had fixed wing aircraft but it makes sense since you are such a large agency.

[Saab_Pilot]

I didn't know you were over 37. Do you know a guy that was a CRJ Cpt that worked at CMR around the time you did. He went to American mainline. He is very involved in aptap. Another ex-army type. J. DeFranco?

[RGratton]

..............

[CincyCop]

I didn't know you were over 37. Do you know a guy that was a CRJ Cpt that worked at CMR around the time you did. He went to American mainline. He is very involved in aptap. Another ex-army type. J. DeFranco?

Yes, unfortunatley over 37 here. :(

The name DeFranco does sound very familiar! There were quite a few of us former military rotorheads at Comair at the time.

[CincyCop]

He is very involved in aptap.

I remember some of the Army guys talking about aptap at Comair...Army Pilot To Airline Pilot I believe.

[Saab_Pilot]

Yes,

APTAP=Army Pilot to Airline Pilot

[alpha1906]

MSW is right. I am also interested in flying for law enforcement. I have been on the websites of many agencies and I have called almost every state partol inthe country that has an aviation unit and they all say you have to be an experienced cop. They want a COP that happens to be a pilot. Not a pilot that happens to be a Cop. Maryland State Patrol has civilian pilots but they are experience ex military guys.

[CincyCop]

They want a COP that happens to be a pilot. Not a pilot that happens to be a COP.

Yep, that's what I'm finding out as well. :(

[CincyCop]

alpha1906,

Have you had any LE aviation leads?

-Collin

[rugermk2]

Hey all,

I haven't had any pilot training, but have worked around helos alot doing helicopter logging in Montana for summer jobs. I am a sworn cop now, but love helos and am interested in flying someday again. Do any agencies actually send you to flight school? or do they expect that you have your license and many flight hours already?

Would you suggest me getting my license and as many flight hours as possible on my own?

Thanks for the help

Brandon

[So Fla Cop]

Broward Sheriff's Office in Florida hires right in a as helicopter pilot, provided you have the time. Check the website under Careers at BSO. They just hired a pilot, but I see openings posted frequently.

www.sheriff.org

[CincyCop]

Broward Sheriff's Office in Florida hires right in a as helicopter pilot, provided you have the time. Check the website under Careers at BSO. They just hired a pilot, but I see openings posted frequently.

www.sheriff.org

Just saw the above post. I have found a pilot job but maybe someone else can use this information. :)

Thanks for posting that information, So Fla Cop. :)

[jchughes05]

I've never flown anything..ever...and I was interested in learning to fly a helo, even though our agency doesnt have an Aviation Section. Just curious. If possible, is it possible to learn as a civilian to fly?

Edit: I used to fly Ultralights, but that was it.

[copter]

I've never flown anything..ever...and I was interested in learning to fly a helo, even though our agency doesnt have an Aviation Section. Just curious. If possible, is it possible to learn as a civilian to fly?

Edit: I used to fly Ultralights, but that was it.
Yes you can learn as a civilian, very expensive but it can be done.
Advanced Helicopter Concepts in Frederick Md has flight instruction.
Let me know if you need any info.
To CincyCop: Md State Police are hiring civilian helicopter pilots.

[msw]

FWIW, not too long ago, the Arkansas State Police was looking to hire a Trooper/Pilot to fly their King Air 200. I think they wanted someone with previous multi engine turbine experience that could pretty much hop right into the King Air 200 and fly. I do not know if this position has been filled. BUT, like most of these types of jobs, it was a Sworn Cop/Pilot position......... you had to go through their six month Trooper Academy, after which (I think) you'd go straight to their Aviation Section.

[Bearcat357]

To CincyCop: Md State Police are hiring civilian helicopter pilots.

FYI.....He found a job......He's flying for the Airlines.....

[CincyCop]

FYI.....He found a job......He's flying for the Airlines.....
Greetings, Tim. :)

Yes, I returned to Delta in mid 2006 after a 5 year furlough. Lots of changes currently going on with the Delta/Northwest merger. Seniority is everything and I still don't have much of that. I often see the Atlanta PD helos at ATL skirting low and going in for refueling on the north side of the field...sort of takes me back to the days in the Navy flying helos. :)

[Bearcat357]

Greetings, Tim. :)

Yes, I returned to Delta in mid 2006 after a 5 year furlough. Lots of changes currently going on with the Delta/Northwest merger. Seniority is everything and I still don't have much of that. I often see the Atlanta PD helos at ATL skirting low and going in for refueling on the north side of the field...sort of takes me back to the days in the Navy flying helos. :)

Call me....I lost your damn number when my phone when into a snow drift.....

Hence, I don't have your number or fat boy's number.....

[SgtScott31]

I don't see it on the nashville.gov webpage anymore, but Nashville PD was looking for helicopter pilots for quite awhile. The pilots were commissioned and the new chief was decommissioning them and looking for civilian folks.

[viper_pr]

If you're currently looking for a job as an LE pilot, here is the vacancy announcement for US Customs & Border Protection (CBP): MHCAMDE-221185-JMC

You'll find it on usajobs.gov and/or cbp.gov/careers. CBP has the largest air fleet in law enforcement to include fixed and rotary wings. CBP has many branches nation wide, including the Caribbean.

It's a great oportunity, good luck.

[diamnd15]

Virginia State Police
Position: Pilot - Single Engine
Position Type: Pilot - Fixed Wing
Location: Abingdon VA
Salary: $34,271-$58,497

One day too late, closed on Dec 19th 5pm.

but there out there just have to look really hard...

[GreenLine]

There are also sometimes vacancies for agent/pilots with the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service, though I believe their requirement for hours is quite high (I want to say 1500, but I'm not 100% on that). Some regions in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - especially Alaska, where pilots are always needed - have been known to either pay for pilot training for a current SA who is interested or at least allow him/her to take training on the clock.

[CincyCop]

Many thanks for the inputs...and I'll keep them as a reference for the future. I'm not really sure how things are going to pan out at Delta with the recent Delta/Northwest merger since I remain a fairly junior pilot...I could get furloughed (again) once consolidation begins. If I do get furloughed again, the inputs will be a valuable reference. I'm not sure how marketable I'll be since I haven't flown a helo in over 15 years and have not been involved in LE for over 2 years. It's good to hear that agencies hire non-sworn/civilian helo pilots.

[CincyCop]

Call me....I lost your damn number when my phone went into a snow drift.....

Hence, I don't have your number or fat boy's number.....
Tim, I left you a message on your cell yesterday...and provided Norm's number.

[TNTRP]

Just trying to revive the thread a little bit.....

I'm a furloughed guy from the airlines (PSA Airlines CRJ 200 FO), but thankfully I'm on order's with the National Guard for flight school, so I still have a paycheck.

I worked and/or flew in LE for about 10 years. I left LE and finally tried my take at the airline industry, BIG mistake!!

I hope to be going back to THP, but with budget issues who knows. If anyone knows of any LE hiring, please pass it along. I'm fixed and helo qual'd on several civilian & military airframes.

I'm familiar with the APTAP website and a couple others for job links. I will pass some along as I get them.

Cheers!!

[msw]

Take a look at the career section of ALEA's website at www.alea.org for jobs specific to airborne law enforcement. But as you probably know, direct entry into law enforcement aviation units is pretty rare, you usually gotta do your "street time" first!

On a side note, in 1980, I almost left my cop job for United Airlines but decided at the last moment to stay with my Department. Now, after almost 32 years on (the last 11 assigned to our Aviation Unit) I am really glad I never left......... I get to fly both helos and F/W in support of a variety of pretty fun L/E missions, and I think my retirement benefits are going to be way better (and more stable) then they would have been had I gone to the airlines all those years ago.




Just trying to revive the thread a little bit.....

I'm a furloughed guy from the airlines (PSA Airlines CRJ 200 FO), but thankfully I'm on order's with the National Guard for flight school, so I still have a paycheck.

I worked and/or flew in LE for about 10 years. I left LE and finally tried my take at the airline industry, BIG mistake!!

I hope to be going back to THP, but with budget issues who knows. If anyone knows of any LE hiring, please pass it along. I'm fixed and helo qual'd on several civilian & military airframes.

I'm familiar with the APTAP website and a couple others for job links. I will pass some along as I get them.

Cheers!!

[a cashew]

CBP hires directly to the cockpit...

[TNTRP]

yea....I have belonged to ALEA since 2000. I am reaching out to every source available.

I also applied to CBP and haven't heard anything other than my score of a 95. I "heard" that the process is slow and that if you didn't put one of the cities on your dream sheet from which they were hiring then don't expect to hear anything.

Your right, most department's make you do your road time before you join the unit, no matter how much experience you have. I was lucky in the unit that I flew for in that I was transferred to the unit after three month's of being hired. However, I already had flying experience and 6 years on patrol. (plus they needed pilots) This was a great job with plenty of flexibility, but the promotion potential within the unit along with retirement was sad.

The TN Highway Patrol is different, you have to spend a minimum of 3 years as a "road dog" to even apply for Special Operation's. It is competitive, but THP is a GREAT place to work for. However, like every department/agency it has it's flaws.

times are tough.....