Airline to law enforcement
06-07-2014, 02:42 PM
#52
Line Holder
Joined APC: Feb 2014
Posts: 71
Originally Posted by Ultralight
ERJF15 I live in AZ.
I always wanted to be a cop as a kid. My father was a police chief and retired young with a nice pension. He loved every day of it and misses it dearly.
I love flying but I don't really enjoy being a pilot if that makes sense. I've done the airlines (was captain at a regional for 5 years) done the corporate, and now fly part 135.
The local Sheriff's office is opening their application window early next year and I'm contemplating sending my app. I'm sure it won't all be roses and I could earn more money staying in aviation, but it looks like a very rewarding career. There's no guarantee I would get in or even make it to the end. I read that in the last class, 29 made it out of the 44 that started training. Some were let go, others just quit. I have prior military experience so I'm not worried about tough training regiments.
The Sheriffs office has its own aviation department too. I see the guys in the FBO at night. They circle the city in modified cessnas with PT6 engines with advanced imaging equipment. They always have interesting stories to tell.
I always wanted to be a cop as a kid. My father was a police chief and retired young with a nice pension. He loved every day of it and misses it dearly.
I love flying but I don't really enjoy being a pilot if that makes sense. I've done the airlines (was captain at a regional for 5 years) done the corporate, and now fly part 135.
The local Sheriff's office is opening their application window early next year and I'm contemplating sending my app. I'm sure it won't all be roses and I could earn more money staying in aviation, but it looks like a very rewarding career. There's no guarantee I would get in or even make it to the end. I read that in the last class, 29 made it out of the 44 that started training. Some were let go, others just quit. I have prior military experience so I'm not worried about tough training regiments.
The Sheriffs office has its own aviation department too. I see the guys in the FBO at night. They circle the city in modified cessnas with PT6 engines with advanced imaging equipment. They always have interesting stories to tell.
09-12-2014, 10:24 AM
#53
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2014
Posts: 269
Originally Posted by Ultralight
ERJF15 I live in AZ.
I always wanted to be a cop as a kid. My father was a police chief and retired young with a nice pension. He loved every day of it and misses it dearly.
I love flying but I don't really enjoy being a pilot if that makes sense. I've done the airlines (was captain at a regional for 5 years) done the corporate, and now fly part 135.
The local Sheriff's office is opening their application window early next year and I'm contemplating sending my app. I'm sure it won't all be roses and I could earn more money staying in aviation, but it looks like a very rewarding career. There's no guarantee I would get in or even make it to the end. I read that in the last class, 29 made it out of the 44 that started training. Some were let go, others just quit. I have prior military experience so I'm not worried about tough training regiments.
The Sheriffs office has its own aviation department too. I see the guys in the FBO at night. They circle the city in modified cessnas with PT6 engines with advanced imaging equipment. They always have interesting stories to tell.
I always wanted to be a cop as a kid. My father was a police chief and retired young with a nice pension. He loved every day of it and misses it dearly.
I love flying but I don't really enjoy being a pilot if that makes sense. I've done the airlines (was captain at a regional for 5 years) done the corporate, and now fly part 135.
The local Sheriff's office is opening their application window early next year and I'm contemplating sending my app. I'm sure it won't all be roses and I could earn more money staying in aviation, but it looks like a very rewarding career. There's no guarantee I would get in or even make it to the end. I read that in the last class, 29 made it out of the 44 that started training. Some were let go, others just quit. I have prior military experience so I'm not worried about tough training regiments.
The Sheriffs office has its own aviation department too. I see the guys in the FBO at night. They circle the city in modified cessnas with PT6 engines with advanced imaging equipment. They always have interesting stories to tell.
I believe that in AZ. the Rangers are all volunteer and will give you a taste of what its like.
Remember L/E can be unexpectedly removed from the job, much like a pilot, via a Fitness for Duty Exam if the Officer becomes ill or suffers a non-recoverable traumatic injury.
Not trying to dissuade you, just food for thought.
Good Luck
09-24-2014, 08:52 AM
#54
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 110
Man you guys keep talking about this love of flying so much that you're willing to walk out on a government pension? Are you kidding me?
I left the military to come be an airline pilot and 9 years later I have ZERO dollars in my retirement fund. 9 years as an FO and I am in the worst financial situation possible.
If you are already an LEO, don't be stupid and leave just because you "love to fly". Stick it out for your 20 year pension and THEN come do this airline bull****. Trust me, the airlines will always be here and they will always be willing to pay you garbage to come "love to fly" their airplanes. You will be 1000x better off if you get your pension and then come chase your love of flying. You'll at least be able to financially LIVE.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I left the military to come be an airline pilot and 9 years later I have ZERO dollars in my retirement fund. 9 years as an FO and I am in the worst financial situation possible.
If you are already an LEO, don't be stupid and leave just because you "love to fly". Stick it out for your 20 year pension and THEN come do this airline bull****. Trust me, the airlines will always be here and they will always be willing to pay you garbage to come "love to fly" their airplanes. You will be 1000x better off if you get your pension and then come chase your love of flying. You'll at least be able to financially LIVE.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
09-24-2014, 07:13 PM
#56
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 384
Originally Posted by jumppilot71
Tough training requirements? What did you do in the military to make you think anything about law enforcement is tough? I've done different departments pt tests, the state departments, usms and fbi's and all of them were basically a joke.
Unlike part 121 training fail a test and the redo in the academy and your out. And then six months to a year of probation where you are under an FTO. People bomb that too. Both jobs have their pros and cons.
09-24-2014, 07:16 PM
#57
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 384
Originally Posted by Airdale
Man you guys keep talking about this love of flying so much that you're willing to walk out on a government pension? Are you kidding me?
I left the military to come be an airline pilot and 9 years later I have ZERO dollars in my retirement fund. 9 years as an FO and I am in the worst financial situation possible.
If you are already an LEO, don't be stupid and leave just because you "love to fly". Stick it out for your 20 year pension and THEN come do this airline bull****. Trust me, the airlines will always be here and they will always be willing to pay you garbage to come "love to fly" their airplanes. You will be 1000x better off if you get your pension and then come chase your love of flying. You'll at least be able to financially LIVE.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I left the military to come be an airline pilot and 9 years later I have ZERO dollars in my retirement fund. 9 years as an FO and I am in the worst financial situation possible.
If you are already an LEO, don't be stupid and leave just because you "love to fly". Stick it out for your 20 year pension and THEN come do this airline bull****. Trust me, the airlines will always be here and they will always be willing to pay you garbage to come "love to fly" their airplanes. You will be 1000x better off if you get your pension and then come chase your love of flying. You'll at least be able to financially LIVE.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
09-29-2014, 11:04 AM
#58
New Hire
Joined APC: Sep 2014
Posts: 2
Hello guys, I'm new to the forum. I've been a LEO for twenty years in a relatively small department town pop about 13,000. I just turned 40 and finished my PPL this summer. Currently working on IFR. I've had a good career. Can't wait to get out!
Here is a couple of problems with LE. It used to be about serving the public. Now it's "performance based". Basically in the area that I police so much emphasis is put on writing tickets. Why? Because these smaller towns using us as revenue generators. It is unethical to have a quota but don't right enough and see what happens.
Another problem is we are so scrutinized and followed with cameras. Look at the situation in Ferguson, MO. All of us LE officers are one call away from that. We have to make life saving/taking split second decisions and be right 100% of the time.
My situation is I've got 8 more years to go because the first department I worked for didn't put into state retirement. Point being after I get my CFI and build some time my ass is gone! Age is not on my side. With that being said I can still draw a pension when I'm 59 if I leave early. Twenty years in a police car is long enough.
You guys just really do your research before you up and leave your flying gig. I realize everybody's situation is different but LE is not what it used to be. All of the changes I've seen over twenty years haven't been good.
Here is a couple of problems with LE. It used to be about serving the public. Now it's "performance based". Basically in the area that I police so much emphasis is put on writing tickets. Why? Because these smaller towns using us as revenue generators. It is unethical to have a quota but don't right enough and see what happens.
Another problem is we are so scrutinized and followed with cameras. Look at the situation in Ferguson, MO. All of us LE officers are one call away from that. We have to make life saving/taking split second decisions and be right 100% of the time.
My situation is I've got 8 more years to go because the first department I worked for didn't put into state retirement. Point being after I get my CFI and build some time my ass is gone! Age is not on my side. With that being said I can still draw a pension when I'm 59 if I leave early. Twenty years in a police car is long enough.
You guys just really do your research before you up and leave your flying gig. I realize everybody's situation is different but LE is not what it used to be. All of the changes I've seen over twenty years haven't been good.
09-29-2014, 08:37 PM
#59
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 384
Originally Posted by flip
Hello guys, I'm new to the forum. I've been a LEO for twenty years in a relatively small department town pop about 13,000. I just turned 40 and finished my PPL this summer. Currently working on IFR. I've had a good career. Can't wait to get out!
Here is a couple of problems with LE. It used to be about serving the public. Now it's "performance based". Basically in the area that I police so much emphasis is put on writing tickets. Why? Because these smaller towns using us as revenue generators. It is unethical to have a quota but don't right enough and see what happens.
Another problem is we are so scrutinized and followed with cameras. Look at the situation in Ferguson, MO. All of us LE officers are one call away from that. We have to make life saving/taking split second decisions and be right 100% of the time.
My situation is I've got 8 more years to go because the first department I worked for didn't put into state retirement. Point being after I get my CFI and build some time my ass is gone! Age is not on my side. With that being said I can still draw a pension when I'm 59 if I leave early. Twenty years in a police car is long enough.
You guys just really do your research before you up and leave your flying gig. I realize everybody's situation is different but LE is not what it used to be. All of the changes I've seen over twenty years haven't been good.
Here is a couple of problems with LE. It used to be about serving the public. Now it's "performance based". Basically in the area that I police so much emphasis is put on writing tickets. Why? Because these smaller towns using us as revenue generators. It is unethical to have a quota but don't right enough and see what happens.
Another problem is we are so scrutinized and followed with cameras. Look at the situation in Ferguson, MO. All of us LE officers are one call away from that. We have to make life saving/taking split second decisions and be right 100% of the time.
My situation is I've got 8 more years to go because the first department I worked for didn't put into state retirement. Point being after I get my CFI and build some time my ass is gone! Age is not on my side. With that being said I can still draw a pension when I'm 59 if I leave early. Twenty years in a police car is long enough.
You guys just really do your research before you up and leave your flying gig. I realize everybody's situation is different but LE is not what it used to be. All of the changes I've seen over twenty years haven't been good.
Hate to tell you airline pilots have faced greater scrutiny than LEO's for a long time. That little mic in the flightdeck is recording your every conversation. But just like LEO's when a pilot does something stupid it makes the news.
But you've done enough time working for the public. Do what makes you happy. Get your ratings and once you get your CFI you can decide to bail early on your LEO career. But just remember, the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
10-16-2014, 10:12 AM
#60
On Reserve
Joined APC: Aug 2014
Position: Desk
Posts: 23
I was a regional F/O when I left to enter federal law enforcement. It is competitive to get into but provides a very good paycheck, excellent retirement and, in my particular agency, quite a lot of opportunity to travel. I think law enforcement attracts some of the same types of personalities you see in aviation (type-a, confident, etc), so you'll have some of the same kinds of friendships and moments of "smokin and jokin." You will miss flying, however. Anyone who works hard enough to get an airline job is going to feel some loss at all the blood sweat and tears they put into getting there. There are good and bad things about each type of career. I became a Fed because when I boiled it down, I felt the change would enrich my life more than being an airline pilot. I think I was right, but who knows? I am now only six years away from a full pension, and I will be young enough to return to flying again in some capacity. Hope this helps. It's not an easy choice, so don't feel bad if the answer doesn't pop out at you.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
