Buddy of mine left CAL for FBI "flying gig" in 2008. I don't think he's flown once. He's an agent full time. Two very different lifestyles. If you think you'll be home every night with either, you're fooling yourself. IMO, there is no better or higher paying job for the hours involved than being a pilot at a major airline. After all, you didn't ask on FBICENTRAL.com. :D

I spent the last 6 years in a flying gig with a federal law enforcement agency and just got hired by a legacy carrier. If you really like to fly, take the airline path. The federal law enforcement aviation job sounds exciting and great, but unless you think you will be content flying C-206's or other light fixed-wing for the rest of your career, stay away. Most agencies are finding themselves with a shrinking budget and aging fleets which means airplanes are getting parked or are flying very little. Also, consider that you'll typically find yourself serving in cities associated with high crime rates or that have less appeal. Not to mention poor schools for your kids, etc.

The federal job does have some appeal. You can be lazy, accepting that you don't have to do anything for your pay check except show up every day, going for weeks and sometimes months without ever flying. There is something to be said for the government benefits and pay, and the pension that MIGHT be there when you retire. Being able to carry a firearm, and, on occasion, doing something related to law enforcement has it's appeal, but you'll find that in the pilot positions you'll do very little that resembles law enforcement except maybe airborne surveillance. However, for the next several years anyway, plan on barely maintaining currency in ill-equipped, aging aircraft.

Pork - If you don't mind me asking, which branch of law enforcement and what planes did you fly? Currently doing something similar, 5 months into the gig. PM if you prefer.

Pork Soda??? ewwwwwww

Man, there's a lofty statement

Yep. And from somebody who should know better.

Anyone who's been in this business for more than 10 years should know that things can completely change in a heartbeat. While sailingfun's statement certainly looks to be true based on the current situation and outlook, things may or may not actually unfold that way. I agree it looks good, but I sure wouldn't be telling people anything definitive like that.

I remember being told I would make Captain in 5 years, have a 150K/year pension and be a WB Captain in 12 years. Well, it's year 18, still an FO (Although I could be a junior NB on reserve working every weekend and holiday) and no pension. "missed it by that much"

JetBlue currently.

Go CIA, get the DAL job as a cover and be like that chick on the short lived show Pan Am.

Baja.

Such opposing jobs/careers.
It would seem that your passion/desire/job satisfaction/ etc... would at least least somewhat clearly lead you down one path or another.

As one poster commented....and this after knwoing quite a few FBI agents, if you think you are going to be home every weekend, weeknight, holidays, and important life event - you must be the 9-5 fingerprint analyst guy working at FBI HQ, not a SA out in the field actually doing investigative work.

My next door neighbor in Virginia Beach was a local FBI special agent. he mentioned some of the surveillence they had in place on occasion. he mentioned that he went along on a few flights. Hours and hours of turning left or right resulting in a sore neck!

I think if you want to be a LEO - then go FBI.
If you want to be a pilot - look elsewhere.
The only difference might be CBP where the two seem to merge nicely.
Porksoda might be one of them, and if so he certainly seems not to have enjoyed his time with the agency, but I know a few others who find it a very challenging and satisfying job combining aviation and law enforcement. I will say that I'm glad that I don't work with such a group of Federal employees as he describes - that would suck the life right out of a person.