Airline Pilot Forums

Being a law enforcement officer is noble and good work. I know I could never do it, but I'm glad there are others out there who have found their calling in life. This article is about the Tacoma Police Department. The Seattle PD pays its boys in blue even more with the new contract negotiations.

From Tacoma News Tribune:
They’re on billboards and on the backs of buses. They were at booths at the McChord Air Expo and the Tall Ships Tacoma festival. Local law enforcement agencies are saturating the area with their message – “We are hiring now!” – in continued efforts to fill their ranks.
With the competition for applicants remaining intense, recruiters have altered their tactics and put money into incentive packages and advertising campaigns.

“It’s a regionwide problem as well as a national dilemma,” said Tacoma police Lt. Corey Darlington, who works in the department’s hiring unit. “Like many other agencies, we are finding it a challenge to fill police officer positions.”

Overall, the agencies are filling openings but are still losing ground.

Several agencies talked last weekend to men and women attending the McChord air show, which attracted more than 377,000 people. Tacoma police officers handed out 1,000 recruiting packets over the two days from their spot in Hangar No. 3.

“This has probably been our biggest career fair in the last three years,” Tacoma police Sgt. Dwayne Joseph said. “It was huge. We’ve never gone through that much material before.”

He’s already received a handful of e-mails and phone calls from people who picked up the information. That’s the kind of return agencies are looking for.

Here’s how Tacoma police, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department and Washington State Patrol are working to fill their vacancies.

Police agencies step up recruiting efforts | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA (http://www.thenewstribune.com/front/topphoto/story/420562.html)

It's been my understanding that most city police departments require a bachelors degree. When considering the danger, wages, and education requirements I wouldn't want to do it either. I can see why they're having problems. Besides, it's Tacoma! EWE!!!

Hmmm, you mean I get to carry a gun:D

Plus I'd volunteer to be a motorcycle cop.....because yes, I'm a motorcycle nut

Cops can do very well. I have several ex-pilot friends who have become police officers. There are things about the job that appeal to pilot personalities.

Many times on this forum I have brought up the police job. Six months ago this suggestion would have brought a hail of tomatoes. However it is a great career suggestion.

The best part is that it does not require 80K in training and years of your life before you apply. Just show up for the test. I also think that many departments are relaxing degree requirements for entry.

Great pay, benefits and retirement. My buddy who is a deputy will be fully retired at 53.

Skyhigh

I would submit there are many jobs in aviation that pay as well as being a police officer, have less stress, and more time off. In aviation, a four year degree is only needed for the top end of the career. You could get into the biz with no more than a CFI and work your way up to a job that equals being a cop in pay, benes, and QOL. Cops sometimes work graveyard, ya know. Can't really make the "home every night" argument with that.

That said, if you one of those in aviation who have been furloughed and need to put food on the table, or just want out of the biz, I could see LEO as a viable alternative.

We've had several LEO's at APC looking to get into flying. Would be nice if one of them would chime in.

I would submit there are many jobs in aviation that pay as well as being a police officer, have less stress, and more time off. In aviation, a four year degree is only needed for the top end of the career. You could get into the biz with no more than a CFI and work your way up to a job that equals being a cop in pay, benes, and QOL. Cops sometimes work graveyard, ya know. Can't really make the "home every night" argument with that.

That said, if you one of those in aviation who have been furloughed and need to put food on the table, or just want out of the biz, I could see LEO as a viable alternative.

We've had several LEO's at APC looking to get into flying. Would be nice if one of them would chime in.

I sure would like to know what flying jobs can offer a similar situation as being a police officer. One of the best things that being a police officer has going for them is a sound government retirement plan. In addition they have great benefits.

I don't know of any flying jobs other than at a traditional legacy that has anything similar. I to have know plenty of LEO who have become pilots. Usually after they have a nice retirement check coming in from their police career.

Skyhigh

I worked briefly as an air taxi pilot for a guy who had retired from a 40 year career as a state trooper in South Carolina. He had 4 extremely well-kept Cessnas hangared at Clemson. The business lost money but he was quite happy with them and would talk me to death about his escapades as a cop. His airplanes could pass for new and there was no doubt that he had some money.

I worked briefly as an air taxi pilot for a guy who had retired from a 40 year career as a state trooper in South Carolina. He had 4 extremely well-kept Cessnas hangared at Clemson. The business lost money but he was quite happy with them and would talk me to death about his escapades as a cop. His airplanes could pass for new and there was no doubt that he had some money.

When I was a CFI the nicest plane on the field was a Stearman that was owned by a Tacoma police officer. Back in thew late 1980's he was making almost 100K.

In my home town cops start out at 50K and can work their way up from there. By comparison a pilot must invest in a degree plus 60 to 80K in training and many years to get there.

And lastly cops are in demand in almost everywhere. Pilots are not.

Skyhigh

When I was a CFI the nicest plane on the field was a Stearman that was owned by a Tacoma police officer. Back in thew late 1980's he was making almost 100K.

In my home town cops start out at 50K and can work their way up from there. By comparison a pilot must invest in a degree plus 60 to 80K in training and many years to get there.

And lastly cops are in demand in almost everywhere. Pilots are not.

Skyhigh

I topped the 50K within my first year in aviation. Tops where as high as 180+ bennies. There is more to aviation that eating noodles as a F/O.
You seem to have the entire population as "ex pilots" for friends. Do you live in some sort of community where these people gather? I have yet to find a single cop that used to fly for airlines...

Ok, boys, I posted this in the "alternative careers for pilots" section. If you already have a flying job and want to keep it, then you should do that. If you got F'ed (say, the F word I'm thinking of is not the 4 letter one so I should spell it out), transitioning to a LEO is an option. You might be from the Pacific Northwest and want to come home. Now's your chance! Move back in with Mom and Dad for a while.

Another alternative, of course, is becoming a lawyer. :) However, it boggles the mind why anyone would want to be like me, when I want to be like you!

Another alternative, of course, is becoming a lawyer. :) However, it boggles the mind why anyone would want to be like me, when I want to be like you!

Vagabond,

Years ago, I took some Law School courses and found them very interesting. But I also learned enough about the day-to-day practice of law to realize that I wouldn't like to do it for a living. No doubt many people have discovered the same thing about aviation, medicine, farming, the military, or any other career you could name.

"Another alternative, of course, is becoming a lawyer."

I thought about that once when I realized how much free time being a pilot gave me. I looked at one of those LSAT books at Barnes and Nobles. Took me 15 minutes to realize I wasn't smart enough to get past the LSAT. Guess I was just smart enough to be a pilot. Nothing more.

I've lost more friends in firefighting/police work than I have in aviation. In the last 5 years, the total is 7. In two separate cases it was two on the same day. I have many firefighters in the family, it was a close second to flying when I was thinking about what to do with my life. It's dangerous work.

Recently, especially in more urban areas there is a renewed "F the Police" movement which is making things even worse for cops.

I topped the 50K within my first year in aviation. Tops where as high as 180+ bennies. There is more to aviation that eating noodles as a F/O.
You seem to have the entire population as "ex pilots" for friends. Do you live in some sort of community where these people gather? I have yet to find a single cop that used to fly for airlines...

They are out there.

I wish you would share some more about your mysterious background. As far as I know you still don't even have a job yet as a pilot. It is not difficult to make 50K in "Aviation". Even the guy who changes light bulbs at the airport makes 65K. The pilots however do not.

My father was an engineer for Boeing and did well. I suppose that was an aviation job as well.

Skyhigh

Why would I share my background with you, or anyone else in here?
I have no mysterious background. Neither am I really looking for a job in aviation, at least you won't find me begging Mesa for one, nor will you find me in here moaning about the lack of opportunities. "They are out there".

Why would I share my background with you, or anyone else in here?

In order to give your posts much value it would be nice to know your background. I could say that I was an astronaut but I have by background posted.

All we know about you is that you are a rich guy with a CFI who has never worked in the indutry.


SkyHigh

Why would I share my background with you, or anyone else in here?
I have no mysterious background. Neither am I really looking for a job in aviation, at least you won't find me begging Mesa for one, nor will you find me in here moaning about the lack of opportunities. "They are out there".

Dude, you are one strange cat.

In order to give your posts much value it would be nice to know your background. I could say that I was an astronaut but I have by background posted.

All we know about you is that you are a rich guy with a CFI who has never worked in the indutry.
SkyHigh

Since I am not "leaving the career" and aviation hasn't failed me, I'll focus on positive people, with positive outlooks. Why are you so concerned about my wallet? I'm all set, don't worry!
The fact that I have no financial troubles excludes me from the list of starving.
Change the pilots and the industry will change. It does not work the other way around.

Since I am not "leaving the career" and aviation hasn't failed me, I'll focus on positive people, with positive outlooks. Why are you so concerned about my wallet? I'm all set, don't worry!
The fact that I have no financial troubles excludes me from the list of starving.
Change the pilots and the industry will change. It does not work the other way around.

I am very happy that you are well off. Your perspective is important since it sheds light on you and how you come to your opinions. If I were from a wealthy family I too would think that professional aviation was a lark.

To those however who are trying to live off and live with the profession it is a different story. I wish you could put yourself into my shoes and perhaps develop some empathy and understanding.

SkyHigh

are not many beat cops out there making 70-80k a year.... not even many big city cops make that kinda jack... yea yea yea... always exceptions... but that is true in every line of work. I look at being a cop like being in the military or fire fighter... if you are just doing it for a paycheck you are in the wrong line of work....these jobs are CALLINGS in life for those that do it well. PLUS.... I would submit to you that being a cop is far more dangerous ( more cops killed in the line of duty each year than pilots killed in commercial aviation.....even when adjusted for size of work force ) than being a commercial pilot.

Average police officer salary where Skyhigh lives is 43K. That's according to Salary Search | Indeed.com (http://www.indeed.com/salary)

I submit it's not hard to "average" that kind of money if you work as a professional pilot for five years. In fact, if Skyhigh hadn't left Horizon, he'd be making over twice what police officers "average" in his home town. Check 12th year Capts pay on the DH4. That's according to http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/regional/horizon_air.html

It's easy to say the grass is greener somewhere else. It's much harder to prove it....

Average police officer salary where Skyhigh lives is 43K. That's according to Salary Search | Indeed.com (http://www.indeed.com/salary)

I submit it's not hard to "average" that kind of money if you work as a professional pilot for five years. In fact, if Skyhigh hadn't left Horizon, he'd be making over twice what police officers "average" in his home town. Check 12th year Capts pay on the DH4. That's according to Airline Pilot Central - Horizon Air | Regional (http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/regional/horizon_air.html)

It's easy to say the grass is greener somewhere else. It's much harder to prove it....

The bottom line is that there are police jobs in almost every town and by comparison only a handful of pilot jobs. Police are in demand pilots are not. Police have a very dependable and predictable retirement system pilots really have none in most cases.

And lastly pilots are more than eager to throw in overtime, per diem, and the quarter they found in the company parking lot as income in an attempt to justify a lessor profession. However fail to recognize commuter costs, lost days on the road trying to get home, total hours away from home, crash pads and the fact that they really do not have many benefits and no retirement at all.

Oh yea and when they like to quote other professions they merely post the average salary and overlook the rest. In the state of Washington cops can retire at age 53. Firefighters after 20 years. Not bad. Most pilots would be considered lucky to have reached the left seat at a major by then.

Firefighters work 9 days (24 hour shifts) a month... period. Their pay, demand and respect is on the rise.

After ten years at Horizon Air I might be earning as much as a cop who hadn't advanced at all however as a cop would also be half way to a full retirement. Another thing to remember is that police careers usually do not require years of prior experience to reach a starting wage. In addition anyone who were to start at Horizon Air today would have a hard time reaching the left seat after ten years.

I could go on but I doubt you would keep on reading. If you were to really climb into the details there is no comparison. A simpler way is to compare lifestyles firefighters have boats new homes and take many long vacations. Pilot work over their vacations so that they can make the rent.

Skyhigh

Starting Pay $38,676 While in training !!

Annual pay $46,704 to 66,440 !! And they get pay raises with the cost of living.

PLUS education incentive, Shift differential pay

Tuition reimbursement.

Retirement at age 55 or 25 years of service.

And they have an aviation department.

No furloughs!! No layoffs !!! No mergers !!! No Bankrupcies !!!

Even a legacy guy would have to think twice about that.

SkyHigh

Even a legacy guy would have to think twice about that. SkyHigh

Comparing being a pilot with being a fire fighter now?
What do you think would happen if the fire departments started advertising like crazy that they are running out of firemen. Then, high school kids would be allowed on the line. All of them, with almost no training. All they would need is a pulse and to walk upright.

You are comparing non competitive jobs with competitive jobs.
Firemen can not be hired at 6.25/hour. First they would be too proud to serve their communities full time for peanuts, second they would hate the job after a short while. Why? Because John Doe could decide to offer to do the same job for nothing but noodles. People would scream "Hey! Look, it's getting cheaper". The fire departments could at some point no longer afford to ride to the fire. Firemen would use their own cars instead. Eventually all collapses. Do you see the firemen as the crux? (Being a pilot was once a good paying job. What or who changed that?)

But because they have pride and respect for themselves they cannot afford to work for less. What and who introduced pilots to be a never ending cheap resource? Pilots did. Self inflicted gunshot to the head. Someone somewhere sometime decided that a pilot is no longer a special person with special skills by selling himself cheap. Others followed. Now, we look at losers and winners. Why not move on to the next gig, sell out the police. Sell out the fire department. Sell out being a nurse, lawyer or dentist?

Comparing being a pilot with being a fire fighter now?
What do you think would happen if the fire departments started advertising like crazy that they are running out of firemen. Then, high school kids would be allowed on the line. All of them, with almost no training. All they would need is a pulse and to walk upright.

You are comparing non competitive jobs with competitive jobs.
Firemen can not be hired at 6.25/hour. First they would be too proud to serve their communities full time for peanuts, second they would hate the job after a short while. Why? Because John Doe could decide to offer to do the same job for nothing but noodles. People would scream "Hey! Look, it's getting cheaper". The fire departments could at some point no longer afford to ride to the fire. Firemen would use their own cars instead. Eventually all collapses. Do you see the firemen as the crux? (Being a pilot was once a good paying job. What or who changed that?)

But because they have pride and respect for themselves they cannot afford to work for less. What and who introduced pilots to be a never ending cheap resource? Pilots did. Self inflicted gunshot to the head. Someone somewhere sometime decided that a pilot is no longer a special person with special skills by selling himself cheap. Others followed. Now, we look at losers and winners. Why not move on to the next gig, sell out the police. Sell out the fire department. Sell out being a nurse, lawyer or dentist?

Are you trying to be ironic??? :confused: Are you supporting my position now? :confused:

I don't get it.

SkyHigh

I'm just sarcastic Sky. I don't support your position that the "industry" failed anyone. In fact I am almost certain the firefighting industry could be brought down by people willing to do a job for next to nothing. Everytime a pilot accepts a job flying 50 passengers around for 1700/month he contributes to the misery. They still accept, in fact, the kids run towards it.
See - poor Tony Macarony (was it?) asked for his account to be deleted, I received a infraction for calling him a name. Some people just don't mix well. People do what their heart desires. Some are MD's, some are nurses, some are happy driving trucks. Some, like me, have run their own show for years and are willing and able to give it a shot. What it all cooks down to, is that "leaving the career" is kind of a sad place to be in a aviation forum. I don't want to bash the aviation industry. I don't want to be sad. So, that TM can have his comeback I am leaving [upstairs]. There is positive in this forum, and thats where I'd like to be. :)
If I ever leave the industry - I will walk away from it and never ever look back. You will not find me sitting outside telling people how bad they are off for having made a choice. The grass is always greener on the other side, and I think you miss flying for a living.

I'm just sarcastic Sky. I don't support your position that the "industry" failed anyone. In fact I am almost certain the firefighting industry could be brought down by people willing to do a job for next to nothing. Everytime a pilot accepts a job flying 50 passengers around for 1700/month he contributes to the misery. They still accept, in fact, the kids run towards it.
See - poor Tony Macarony (was it?) asked for his account to be deleted, I received a infraction for calling him a name. Some people just don't mix well. People do what their heart desires. Some are MD's, some are nurses, some are happy driving trucks. Some, like me, have run their own show for years and are willing and able to give it a shot. What it all cooks down to, is that "leaving the career" is kind of a sad place to be in a aviation forum. I don't want to bash the aviation industry. I don't want to be sad. So, that TM can have his comeback I am leaving [upstairs]. There is positive in this forum, and thats where I'd like to be. :)
If I ever leave the industry - I will walk away from it and never ever look back. You will not find me sitting outside telling people how bad they are off for having made a choice. The grass is always greener on the other side, and I think you miss flying for a living.

Sure I miss flying. That is no secret. However I don't like the pay, QOL and future. The flying was great.

Thanks for your input.

Skyhigh

Sky aren't you doing some C150 flying? Maybe you should get your CFI current and train some students around there. I think if I were in your shoes I would still like to fly as a hobby. Many people feel low-level commercial flying is the most fun. Several retired airline pilots told me they have more fun flying a Cub or a Decathlon giving lessons in it than they ever did flying passengers for big bucks. Sorry for the thread drift.

Sky aren't you doing some C150 flying? Maybe you should get your CFI current and train some students around there. I think if I were in your shoes I would still like to fly as a hobby. Many people feel low-level commercial flying is the most fun. Several retired airline pilots told me they have more fun flying a Cub or a Decathlon giving lessons in it than they ever did flying passengers for big bucks. Sorry for the thread drift.

I am still a current CFI and there is a flight school nearby that I have instructed at part time over the last few years. The problem is that it is a 45 minute drive away from my home.

It is difficult to drive all the way down there for an hour lesson then drive all the way back only to have another student pop up 4 hours later.

I still think about it though. In the mean time I still like flying the 150M. :)

Skyhigh

But because they have pride and respect for themselves they cannot afford to work for less. What and who introduced pilots to be a never ending cheap resource? Pilots did. Self inflicted gunshot to the head. Someone somewhere sometime decided that a pilot is no longer a special person with special skills by selling himself cheap. Others followed. Now, we look at losers and winners. Why not move on to the next gig, sell out the police. Sell out the fire department. Sell out being a nurse, lawyer or dentist?

This is pretty funny to me. You have obviously never seen the pay rates in the Southeast. Fire Departments and Police Departments will never pay "well" (eye of the beholder) because it's a government job. Lawyers and dentists are paid well because most set their own prices. New pilots, on the other hand, are anxious to get their foot in the door and will work for peanuts because there is a prospect of getting paid well in the long run. It's just like any other career. You start at the bottom and work your way up.

As for a career in law enforcement, I spent 8 years at a large metro-Atlanta police department before leaving becoming an airline pilot. One thing is for sure, it is a calling...at first. Just like new pilots, you enter the career all wide eyed and bushy tailed barely making enough to pay the rent. Why? Because it's what you want to do. I always think it's funny to hear new F/O's complaining about how much they get paid. Didn't they know the pay rate before they applied? Didn't they make the necessary financial calculations before they got hired?

The first 5 years of law enforcement are great fun. Then the newness wears off and you realize it's not so fun anymore, it's a job. Worse yet, you deal with the worst of society day in and day out which makes you very jaded about people in general. You have to go to work each day and remind yourself that somebody may try to kill you. So after 8 years of working all three shifts, being a fatality crash investigator, a Field Training Officer and a Senior Patrolman, I was making about $45K a year. If anybody decides to get into policing, just remember it's not all high speed chases and shootouts. The benefits are good and the camaraderie is unparalleled but don't think it's a cake walk. Police work is 95% monotony and paperwork. The other 5% is frenzied and chaotic.

I wonder if there any disgruntled ex-cops that frequent the police forums and suggest being a pilot is a great alternative to the crappy job of being a police officer...

Cops is my favorite TV show. Bummer I missed it tonight. But no way does being a cop look like a job with better QOL than flying.

[quote]I wonder if there any disgruntled ex-cops that frequent the police forums and suggest being a pilot is a great alternative to the crappy job of being a police officer...

Ha ha! This is funny. It does seem that no matter what people are doing for a living the grass is ALWAYS greener on the other side of the fence. Great observation! :)

Alright I couled not resisite to comment on this one. I am a firefighter fulltime. I make realy good monney at firefighting. As far as this job goes I works 8 days a month and 24hr shifts. Benis are good and QOL is great. As you may or may not know all firefigters have side jobs. Me inclued I am a FO for an airambulance opp. I fly for them about 65-75 hrs a month and the pay is not all that bad. I instructed as my side job prior to that. I belive that if your leaving the carear all together then firefighting is a great opputunity. If any body wouled like more info please PM me.

"I make realy good monney at firefighting."

Curious if you could give us a number? Good money kinda depends on where you live. 60K in central Mississippi is a lot better than 60K in California.

Also, since this is a career changer forum, I'm wondering how easy it is for a mid-30's airline pilot to get through the physical test. I know the test is very demanding. It's something that a guy in his early 20's might be more suited for but certainly there are those older folks who could get through it. To put it bluntly, when was the last time you saw a fat firefighter....

I've known three guys who are/were firefighters. All had great time off and all owned their own planes to include a Navion, a Cherokee 140, and a Comanchee 260.

Actually, my sister is a NY firefighter. I know, she cusses like a sailor yada yada. She's also a pro body builder. So 727 is right, you better get in shape if you want to be one.

Ha Ha Just today when I worked there was an unfit guy working. No there are definitely unfit firefighters out there but not many. The internal Physical fitness are tough but and person in there 30 that is reasonably fit coiled make it through. Although the academy is tough. There is very little classroom work and your in your turnout gear all day. Then when you go to work the gear that we ware is approximately 100lbs. I am in shape and have to just because of the job. I work a little bit of overtime here and there since I still have to fly this year being my 3rd year with my fire dept I will make about 90k from basepay,stipins,incentives,education,and OT. If i did not fly and just worked at the fire dept I would probably make about 110k. ( I also work in an upscale community and we have a good contract.) I also live in the northeast.

I also make another 65k from flying so that why I stay flying and don't work overtime.(alot)

.............As for a career in law enforcement, I spent 8 years at a large metro-Atlanta police department before leaving becoming an airline pilot.............The first 5 years of law enforcement are great fun. Then the newness wears off and you realize it's not so fun anymore, it's a job. Worse yet, you deal with the worst of society day in and day out ..........


Wow, that's what I always liked most about police work. I guess that is why I am still a cop after almost 34 years of it.


Police work is 95% monotony and paperwork. The other 5% is frenzied and chaotic.




Kinda depends on where you work. When I worked uniformed patrol and then plainclothes/detective/undercover assignments, I'd put the percentages at more like 50% monotony and paperwork and 50% frenzied activity. But all of my patrol and Detective/undercover assignments were working night shifts in South Central Los Angeles...... fairly busy place in the 1980's and the first half of the1990's when I was on the streets there.

And the pay scales for new Officers/Deputies is highly dependent on geographic region too. Many big city urban areas pay pretty well, just have to do your homework. And whoever said that most cop jobs require a Bachelor's degree is wrong. Very few do. They probably should require a BS degree, but most don't. A High School diploma is all that is required for probably 85% - 90% of the police jobs out there.

I gave up flying as a sched Part 135 Captain well over three decades ago. And now, in the twilight of my law enforcement career, I am very glad that I did. I kept flying on the side, part-time CFI'ing, bought my own little airplane about 15 years ago, and eventually ended up at the Aviation Unit of my Department, where I've been for the last 10+ years. I get to fly what I consider fun stuff, though, I admit, not very glamorous..... Eurocopter A-Star helicopters, Cessna 210's and a King Air B200. When I retire, in a year or two, my salary as a Sergeant with Flight Pay will be about $145K a year, and my defined benefit retirement plan will give me about 85% of that in my retirement years. Not too bad. Truth is, when I started into law enforcement, I never even thought of retirement or retirement benefits (who thinks of that stuff when you are in your early 20's?)........ I just saw a career that seemed to have a lot more adrenaline-action than flying gave me; and I was home sleeping in my own bed every night (or "day" if I was working graveyard shift).

Funny thing is that I sometimes fly people - Detectives, brass, etc - around in our King Air, guys I worked patrol with 25 years ago, and, despite the fact that we all admit we did pretty "well" over the course of our law enforcement careers (promotions, "good" assignments at specialized units, etc), and have what most on our Dept consider "great" assignments now (in our later years on the job)...... we all agree that the BEST job we ever had was working uniformed patrol in South Central Los Angeles, "back when we were young". That was truly the only job I have EVER had where I didn't want to leave at the end of the shift (afraid I might "miss" something), and could not wait to get back to it again the next day............. It was the most fun I ever had with my clothes on.

But I guess you have to have a certain personality for police work. It certainly ain't for everyone.

...I would submit to you that being a cop is far more dangerous ( more cops killed in the line of duty each year than pilots killed in commercial aviation.....even when adjusted for size of work force ) than being a commercial pilot.

Not to take away from the dangerous work police officers undertake to protect us, but actually pilots suffer a higher on-the-job fatality rate.

90 per 100,000 for pilots/flight engineers versus 17 per 100,000 for police officers/sheriffs' deputies, in 2006 (most recent stats I've found).

We suffer the second highest death rate (civilian occupations), behind only fishermen.

http://stats.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/CFOI_Rates_2006.pdf

Being a pilot has a higher fatality rate. It however is not considered dangerous. Flying is now considered a normal everyday safe activity. However stopping a car at 3 am or going in burning building is not a normal everyday occurrence. There are different statistic for the different category of working too. There is normal duty,Hazardous duty and Ultra hazardous duty.However we don't have a high fatality rate because 80% of the academy is staying alive. I know when I was getting my ratings there was training on emergency procedures but not 80%. Also remember the way the statistics are worded and the data provided. Like I said I am not bias towards one or the other because I do both. (Oh no what does that mean for me)

I started my career in Alaska. Almost half the guys who I started with as a CFI are dead from plane crashes.

Just last summer I turned down a job to fly in Alaska. The guy who took it died during a training event along with another guy I knew from years back.

It depends on the job.

Skyhigh

I wish we did have an air unit where I worked. I was with the Glendale Police Department in Glendale, Az for 13 years. It is true that my favorite times where my first 3 years on graves as a Patrol Officer, my first year as a patrol Sergeant. I loved my people, my brother and sister officers. They were (still are) my family.

But I have always looked to the sky. I got my Commercial while working for the PD. And after alot of thought (not wanting to promote to Lt), a divorce, and much sleepless nights, I decided it was time for a change. I am a flight instructor now and have been for about a year and a half. I fly supercubs on dirt strips quite a bit and will be flying and teaching aerobatics by the end of summer.

For me this is a blast. I have been blessed to have lived a life of excitement. As a Police Officer and now as a pilot. And I miss my cop family more then most will ever know. But I am very happy at what I do now (though the money or lack there of sucks).

The grass is always greener. But it is all what you make of it. I left making about 80ish in Arizona with full benefits. And now make about 30 with nothing. But I am happier and much less stressed (Admin sucked).

To those thinking of Public Safety (Police or Fire) they are fantastic and I would highly recommend them. For me it was just time for a change.

I liked this story about how a former police officer with a Husky was able to save a mans life. He went on to say that if he had been in his Mooney that day he would not have been able to help the guy.

It is great that he can afford two planes.

AOPA Online: Husky pilot helps rescue man dying in desert (http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articles/2008/080731husky.html)

SkyHigh

We have all been going around and around here. At the end of the day, where you are in life is a result of hard work, motivation, passion, influence, lots of luck and probably the alignment of the stars the day you were conceived. My father stayed with one career his entire life. He started out as an office boy, moved to foreign countries with his young wife and children when the company tapped him on the shoulder, and ended up Senior VP years later. Yet, he was very encouraging when I gave up a successful career to become a lawyer. It hadn't been easy, but with the support of my husband, family and friends, I am where I am today.

There is a place for each of us in this world. Some will enter aviation with hopes and dreams, only to see them dashed. Others will persevere and move from one airline to another, while others will change careers altogether. Nothing wrong with any of this. You make decisions based on research, inquiries and with the best information available to you at the time.

Because of my job, I meet all kinds of people - judges, police officers, doctors, ditch diggers, and everyone else in between. They are like you and me, who want to have a job that supports a comfortable lifestyle, raise good, moral children, work hard, live a good life, and have fun doing so. They are not always happy about their jobs, but overall, they made the best decision for themselves.

And now, I heard the Washington State Patrol is still desperate for a few good men (and women)! :)

Sure, If you want to be AAA with a badge.

Sure, If you want to be AAA with a badge.


So, what is your other career, ChinookDriver47? Based on your post, I think I could hazard a pretty good guess! (In Calif, we used to say "AAA with a gun"; but they are very sensitive these days and get offended easily, and I am now Very Politically Correct and don't say such things anymore.)

Sensitive, indeed. But, from my understanding, they have a pretty good working relationship with the counties (at least on their end). Most of the county guys I am buds with tell a variety of different stories.