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

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Quote:

Originally Posted by mimark (Post 3045732)

The LE academy is not that difficult. Not a big deal for someone who has been through all the training involved in being a pilot. If you have enough brain power and judgement to be a professional pilot, it is highly unlikely you couldn't make it through FLETC. Not making it through FLETC is rare and usually is a result of integrity issues, not the difficulty of the course.

Flight training within the agency is typical of what you have already been through. A vendor course for the aircraft you are flying (like Flight Safety) and then an in-house syllabus in the actual aircraft.

Good deal, Thanks for the reply

Going through the application process and things are moving along nicely, question for the folks currently flying at CBP-

If I get hired into a UAS/UAV location and want to get into a King Air, would the time it takes to transfer be measured in months, years or "check your crystal ball"?
I'm gung-ho for the mission and a LE career, but I'd be lying if I said I'd be happy doing UAV work for the long term. Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by DustoffVT (Post 3046009)

This. AMO is the career you never thought of when you got into aviation. But is absolutely a career position and should be approached as such. We do have aircraft that will get you to a major airline, but if you start here without previous twin turbine PIC, it will take a whole career to accumulate the hours.

An exception might be ugleeual's type: that experience level will bring value here even just for a few years. But I would expect AMO to be wary of those types. But, who knows.

One point I differ with RCpilot on: In my view (and experience) we are pilots who happen to be LEOs, not vice versa. With few exceptions, our job is to fly and leverage that skill set to enhance the ground mission. Like most flying jobs, we are really paid to bring back the aircraft with all the paint and all the people. No AMO pilot has ever been written up for not putting cuffs on enough bad guys, but plenty have for unsafe flying. JMHO.

Dustoff -

Interesting opposing view point on the pilot or LEO first.
i guess I could see it your way too.
you were hired because of your pilot experience into a LEO position.
Also - if you couldn’t fly......would you be retained in the LEO (meaning if you lost your medical for instance would you be moved to the ground side to continue in the CBP)?

I contrasted it with the military.
I always considered myself a Marine who’s weapon system was an airplane - like an a Infantry Officer would his platoon or a Tanker his iron horse! :-)
I was asked one time during my AO/FAC tour by a young Marine if we went to war would I want to be with the battalion or back with me squadron.
I said that the Marines had spent a lot of time and money to train me to employ that particular weapon system so I’d be most useful in that cockpit, but I took his point. I’d do my best job where ever the Corps needed me at the time.

would you say that your view of pilot first/LEO second is the more common viewpoint of other AMO AIAs than RC12’s viewpoint?

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyandtri (Post 3046960)

I think you could use the uas as a bargaining chip to get to the MEA (King Air). I’d caution you though, once you’ve been sent to a UAS branch and get trained I don’t know how likely it is you’ll ever leave. Maybe some other’s can chime in on the likelihood of getting out of the uas once in ? The MEA unfortunately is viewed as the pinnacle of fixed wing aviation in the agency and will be very difficult to get into, regardless of previous experience. Seniority really helps towards your cause. I believe the only real flight time you’ll get is in a Cessna 206 to remain current while at the uas branch. Unless drones are your thing I wouldn’t put my name in for it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by USMCFLYR (Post 3047021)

This is a long running existential debate. Think the last scene of Platoon. Charlie Sheen sitting in the huey wondering about who had control of his soul. First, AMO is absolutely a law enforcement agency, with plenty of experienced LEO's who do lots of hands on LEO stuff. Marine agents, AEA's, etc. For most AIA's though, the extent of our hands on cop experience ends at FLETC, so, really little to none. Could I be sent to the line in times of need? Yes, and that's fine. But not in a Tahoe by myself. Between statutory government authorities and citizen's constitutional rights, lies basically infinite politics, policy, and TTP that AIA's are neither trained on nor experienced with. It's exactly analogous to a ground agent coming to AMO as a sensor operator. There is a huge amount of training to be completed, CRM, survival/egress/smoke, FAR's, aircraft specific sensor designations, NVG, don't puke on the seats, etc.

There are exceptions, but it's an individual choice to pursue an interest. And most of the more "special" ops stuff is more related to national security than law enforcement. Out of necessity, the vast majority of training time and dollars for AIA's goes to aviation related knowledge.

Again, just my thoughts. And I am truly nobody, thank God.

How is the flight assessment? I read that it's to "commercial pilot standards" and I see the maneuvers on the site but the aircraft offered for it are a bit different than what I fly (UH-60 and a multi engine turbine airplane).

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabbo (Post 3049326)

I took the assessment in February. I have 0 time in Cessnas but it was not an issue. If you know the listed maneuvers and can demonstrate that you understand them...you will not have a problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabbo (Post 3049326)

We evaluate your basic flying skills, not how well you know a C206 or Astar.

Thanks all. Makes sense.

All,

There is an announcement coming out today for Corpus Christi, Tx only to fly P3's. If you are a new hire in FLETC or existing AIA you can request the Voluntary Relocation Program or VRP. According to HQ, they are allowing 4-6 slots to be filled. The opening is for only 14 days and is an awesome opportunity! Chances like this don't occur often in AMO's P3 world.

If you do have some significant airplane multiengine time and want more than what branch life can offer, I encourage you to apply.

The resumes are screened and ranked by local IP's in the office for selection. The training is great but quite demanding.

Good luck!