LAPD Aviation Unit

[archercapt32]

Just wondering if anyone on here can tell me anything about the LAPD Aviation Unit? How hard is it to get into? How long is training? How many hours a year do the pilots normally fly, ect...thanks

[ateamer]

I believe that you will need to be on patrol for six to eight years and be among the best officers in the department to be considered. To be a Tactical Flight Officer (Observer is an outdated term that hardly covers everything the nonflying crewmember does), they put you on loan to Air Support for 30 days, for training and evaluation. If you pass that step, then it's a couple more months of training before being permanently assigned.

For pilots, you need a private pilot certificate and 100 hours. The department will provide your training up through commercial helicopter. After that, you can fly as a mission pilot on VFR day flights; as your experience increases, the weather minimums and authorization to fly night missions increases.

LAPD ASD has 75 people total, out of about 10,000 on the department. They are an elite unit, and possibly the best air support unit in law enforcement.

[archercapt32]

Thanks for the info...Would being a CFI with around 1,000 hours help at all???

[Biz_mikee]

Thanks for the info...Would being a CFI with around 1,000 hours help at all???


dont see how it can hurt.

[LA Copper]

Ateamer is pretty close.

You need at least 5 years on the job, the majority of which needs to be in patrol in multiple Bureaus so that you have a familiarity with the City.

You then take an oral interview and have to compete with about 70 - 100 other officers who want that same two or three positions. If you do really well in the interview, you'll be invited to do a one month loan as a TFO. If you do really well, then you'll be invited back to do a four month loan. If you do really well at that, you will be placed in a pool with the rest of the folks that did really well, although that pool will be much smaller than the original group. The ASD Commanding Officer will then make the determination who will be picked up. Your personnel package and reputation will help to make a difference.

As for being a pilot, you need to be a TFO first. They will later send you to pilot training, which is about six months. The vast majority of the folks who get into ASD stay for the remainder of their careers so it's not often that there is an opening. Good luck!

[DOAcop38]

for a while in the mid '90s LAPD was supposed to get former military OH-10 Bronco light observation/attack acft as surplus service acft ( can just imagine it- Officer: "we need air support-is there an airship that can come up on frequency for a roof check on a hot prowl?" Pilot: roger Air 21 enroute,and heavy with Willie pete rockets!"- most of the planes went over seas or to the border patrol..............Guess that could put a serious dent in crime,you could just strafe and light bomb known burg locations or knock out those fleeing cars we see in soo many chases-LOLOLOL!!! but for real- Air support div as a TFO or pilot is a great gig( they make $$$)

[archercapt32]

Thanks for all the great info everyone! One last question, how much extra a month is flight pay?

[L8SHIFT]

I respect LAPD aero because they are available alot more than LASD aero. Our guys at LASD always seem to be down or not available because of bad weather ect.....:(

[Berlioz]

Thanks for all the great info everyone! One last question, how much extra a month is flight pay?

See keiths response....

[Kieth M.]

TFO's make what is called P2+5 pay, which is basically somewhere around LT. pay.

Not unless it's changed in the six months since I left. The observers, now known as tactical flight officers (TFO's) make Police Officer II + 2 pay, the same as a motorcycle officer. Pilots make P.O. II + 6 pay which is about the same as a lieutenant.

[Berlioz]

I think you are right, Im just going off hearsay.

[LA Copper]

Not unless it's changed in the six months since I left. The observers, now known as tactical flight officers (TFO's) make Police Officer II + 2 pay, the same as a motorcycle officer. Pilots make P.O. II + 6 pay which is about the same as a lieutenant.


Keith is correct.