Airline Pilot Central Forums - CBP Air Interdiction Agent (Pilot)

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Hello Everyone,

First off, I want to thank everyone for their candor on this topic. I understand the frustrations that some (or all) are going through. I have read and reread a lot of the post on the posts and I'm still interesting in the AIA position in the future.

With that being said, I have a few questions for all of you.

1) I'm planning on joining one of the other CBP components (OFO or BP) while I build up my hours up. If I was to join AMO at a later date, do I have to do the academy again or can I laterally transfer over?

2) Since the first duty station is a drone site, how many hours do you spend actually flying the drone per day?

3) What is you average day like? That for both drone sites and non drone sites.

Thanks for what you do for this country!

Ok I had applied twice for this position and withdrew my application twice because I thought that the regionals were a better choice for me. However, after almost a year at the regionals, I have seen the treatment pilots get which is very dismal to say the least. My question is: If I apply for it a third time, would they denied my application? Or would I be able to apply and get hired? What are the hard places to fill now days? Is there a recruiter that I can contact? And at which point, during the hiring process, I would know what location will be assigned to me and what airplane I would be flying? Thank you in advance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ymayorsh (Post 2971129)

Welcome to the club. Regional's were a real pain, so I feel ya. From my understanding, they are hurting for pilots and won't count your withdrawls against you. USAJOBS would be the longest way to get hired. AMO has direct hiring authority, so I'd go VFR direct to them. I hear there are hiring fairs where you can interview and poly in the same day, but I don't know where or when the next is.

Anyone have an update on current manning and projected hiring? Also, anything on what aircraft are used on the southern border? I have read that there would be some consolidation down to a couple different rotorwing airframes (AS-350 and H-60??)

Quote:

Originally Posted by grumpydwarf (Post 2971332)

I had heard they were getting rid of the polygraphs.
If still in use.....have they at least changed the process?

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCFLYR (Post 2971477)

I had heard they were getting rid of the polygraphs.
If still in use.....have they at least changed the process?

I recently took mine. Nothing has changed with the poly process. There has been a H.R. submitted in 2010 to make it easier for vets to get that waived and it failed. It was reintroduced recently by Dan Crenshaw and there has been no movement. Don't hold your breath on congress.

Took my poly last month after being denied my reciprocity request. I hear 206s in McAllen....Laredo helo only....Sierra Vista, San Angelo, and Grand Forks are drone only. Slim Pickens. Interview this month

Doesn’t San Angelo have a PC-12? I was TDY to Goodfellow recently and saw the PC-12 flying a lot.

Regardless I’m definitely interested to hear about how your interview goes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rabid Jackalope (Post 2937194)

Blah. I don’t think anyone is saying that the only flying job worth having is an airline gig. There are plenty of other good/decent paying jobs that give satisfaction and other Quality of Life perks that the airlines can’t always give, and I don’t begrudge anyone doing them.

But I will warn everyone I talk to AWAY from an AMO AIA job. I used to print out the USAJobs announcement for an AIA and tell the other guys, man, I wished I had THAT job.

I won’t rehash what has probably been said on the drawbacks of the AIA position and the extreme dysfunction of AMO. Plenty of venom has been spewed, and rightfully so I’m sure in many cases.

But I intended to make AMO a career, and was one of the last in my year group to bail as I didn’t think I wanted that airline and being an AIA should be the best job ever. But it isn’t. Not even Close. The drawbacks drown out any minuscule benefits that might be received.

There are better jobs, civilian, government and military than AMO. Go there first, and keep trying. If anyone goes to AMO, keep looking. You won’t be there 1-2 years before the cheap veneer wears off....

Rapid Jackalope - Could you enlighten me about these better jobs? Civilian and government?
1200 hr / 400 ME CFI here looking for a new gig. seeking a fun challenging job, looking for something with bush wheels or twin turboprop, BEFORE i spend the rest of my life in an airline. would really appreciate your input.

thanks all for the input about CBP AIA. I was really excited about the job until I read this thread. The politics and BS of a gov run organization would really make the job miserable for me.

Looks like management is volun-telling pilots they need to go to UAS school at a particular air branch if not more across the country that I don’t know of. For those of you that have been with the agency for awhile, what would be the repercussions if one were to refuse ? Example would be for someone like myself who’s dual rated, flys two airframes for AMO already. Thanks for any input.