As a counterpoint, I went through 60 AQC with the head of the Baltimore Police aviation unit. He prefers to hire pilots and then send them through the academy. They found that too much street experience led to pilots getting wrapped up in the tactical situation and not flying the helicopter.

Same as some EMS outfits aren't told the nature of a pxt's injuries, just that the docs think it's worth a launch. Too much mission focus can kill.

 

I went from an Air National Guard Navigator (Captain) to Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Two (Army National Guard) pilot then back to Army National Guard Captain (pilot). It can be done...

 

You probably ought to start a separate thread for this. But, in a nutshell, the vast majority of State and local airborne law enforcement units require you to be a sworn officer and have some (varies from agency to agency) level of street experience before you are eligible to apply to the aviation unit. A smaller number will hire a pilot off the street and send them to an Academy, commission them as a sworn officer, then immediately (or very quickly) send them to the Aviation Unit. An even smaller number hire civilian (non-sworn) pilots; however many of these guys are either ex-military pilots or former (sometimes retired) law enforcement officers/pilots. A good source of info is the Airborne Law Enforcement Association, their website is Airborne Law Enforcement Association - ALEA - Home Page I will tell you, airborne law enforcement jobs - particularly with State or local law enforcement agencies - are very tough jobs to get........ but very fun. And you are home in your own bed almost every night, very few trips with RON's. But you'll be mostly flying helos, and sometimes light singles and twins, not many (if any) fancy fast jets in the fleets of State or local agency airborne law enforcement units. (CBP, FBI and DEA are another story alltogether) PM me if you'd like more info.

 

In regard to the original question, I sort of made the switch in reverse. Went from an Air National Guard Navigator (Captain) to Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Two (Army National Guard) pilot then back to Army National Guard Captain (pilot). It can be done...the National Guard Bureau can make it happen!

[Is that the runway or a taxiway?]

 

You would have to go to OTS.