Govt flying job instead of regional??
 

I went to the April 21st FAPA in Vegas. The most visited booth was UPS. However, the second most visited booth wasn't Emirates, Air Japan, Air Wisconsin or the American WHO. The second most visited booth was Customs and Border Protection.

I just received a call from CBP and the recruiter stated that starting pay is min between $105,000 to $111,000 and that upgrade is quick, maybe 100 hours right seat time if you're experienced.

Is there something I'm missing? Am I being misled? What's the other side of the story that's being left out?

If you had a choice between a regional with starting pay of around $48000/year, including bonuses (with 2 year upgrade) and a gov job with $105,000 and quick upgrade, wouldn't it be a no brainer to take the gov job?

Thanks.

Could be the best job going for flying!
 

Check to see what other benefits you get like a pension, health insurance,vactation and "other bennies". You might get shot at though from time to time heck some get shot at departing around Chicago and Detroit . I'd say go for it!

Not the upside potential of being at a legacy, but then you might not get there, either. Pension pays pays 1% per year of service x average monthly salary (highest 30 of 42 months), pays good vacation and sick accrual.

GF

It's not for everyone but it is a good job for many. You will have to go to their police academy and I heard guys fly around 300 hours a month with some office work too. When I lived in Tucson, I was interested and talked to some of those guys and it is a pretty cool mission.

And some even fly about 300 hours a year :-)

There are a few CBP threads on APC if you use the search function.

The latest gouge from CBP is that is is rough going right now.
CBP would have been my first choice too, but you'll have to be able to make it through FLETC.
Maybe some of the current, and former, pilots will chime in - but that starting pay seems a bit on the high end, though the retirement and benefits are good.

There are quite a few other gov't flying jobs too. There was a recent ad for the Dept of Energy pilot flying the 737 out of ABQ and another one for a NASA Research pilot (though prior military - not necessarily test pilot - was a requirement).

If you are interested in that path, sign yourself up for an account on USAJobs.gov and have an e-mail alert sent you for openings in the -2181 career field for starters.

I retired from CBP in January. I was a gs-13 step 9
My base was 105k then you get LEAP which adds 25% so I was making roughly 130-135k. Federal LEO retirement is figured different than normal civil service. You get 1.7% per year for your first twenty and 1% a year after that of your high three years plus a social security supplement. You can retire at 20 years if your over 50 and anytime if you have 25 years in. Generally new hires start as a gs11 for a year then a gs12 for a year then a 13. GS13 is top unless you go into management or fly the P3.
The GS scales are published on the OPM Website. Look for the special salary rate for LEO then add 25% to get an idea of pay. Some of this may have changed but that's the way it was.
I did way better than my friends who went to airlines for a while, now they are all at majors and will far surpass my career earnings.

I would do some research on the hiring process of the CBP. There's a reason that they're short handed. From talking to recruiters and others that are currently employed by the CBP they will hire anyone that meets their minimum requirements. The hold up is that over 60% fail the polygraph. Reading about it, they're ridiculous on they're poly and that will go on your permanent record for any other government job in the future.

I've held a TS clearance and have had several polys throughout my career and a dick examiner can make the process a miserable one. The deciding factor for me not to apply to the CBP was that you will have to move to the location that they offer and it looks like the middle of nowhere TX is most likely where you're going to start.

Chasing illegals from above in a dash 8 sounds very tempting.

As a dual rated ATP and former cop, CBP is my dream job. However, I have zero desire to move/live on the SW border of the US. Thats essentially where all the action is located. I know there is some minor possibility for a Florida assignment, but essentially everyone starts down south. Having a family and 2 kids, that just doesnt appeal to me.

It does seem like a great job, and a cool mission. Also, as the former CBP pilot said above, after doing the math, CBP versus the Airlines, your leaving millions on the table, and thats not a gross exaggeration.

How do you like Yuma?

....in the middle of August

Apples to oranges comparison.

Fed employment is relatively secure, but folks getting into airlines now will move up fairly quickly (once you're above 80% seniority you're generally out of the furlough risk zone).

Fed employment will pay decently from day one, but of course will never get anywhere near a quarter million per year.

Also the government generally has philosophical issues with civil servants getting 18 days off/month so you'd better like what you do because you're going to be doing most days of the week.

As everyone mentioned you have to live where the job is (but the SW US includes San Diego and I have navy buddies at CBP who live there).

All in all, it's not a bad gig. But given anticipated rapid career progression in airlines in the mid-term, it kind of pales by comparison.

Also if you don't have a veteran's preference it's going to be harder to get hired by the fed...there's a gazillion ex-mil helo pilots out there who don't qualify for airlines.

Aiming high, I see.:rolleyes:

BTW, "illegal" is not a noun.

Merriam Webster says it is:

il·le·gal
Definition of illegal
sometimes disparaging + offensive
: a person who enters or lives in a country without the documentation required for legal entry or residence

It always has been. I understand there is an ongoing to attempt to change that.

Here is what Merrian Webster says: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illegal

It says it is an adjective.

It defines it as: not according to or authorized by law : unlawful, illicit; also : not sanctioned by official rules (as of a game)

Not sure where you got your part of speech or definition. ;)

From the same link you posted. Just scroll down a little further and you'll see a second definition ... as a noun.

I see. I stand corrected. Thanks.

Oh snap!

Well....I like Yuma. Even in the summer.

I work with a guy that came from the CBP and both flew P-3s and instructed for them in OKC. He echoes many of the problems that you see reiterated in this thread - but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I might find the leadership more than I could handle, but the mission is definitely up my alley.

Here is hoping for a better environment in the future I guess. :)

It only became a noun because of its use ad nauseum by extremist right wing hypocrites.

I've spent 8 years in CBP as a Pilot - mainly in the DHC-8. I'll reserve comment in public beyond strongly advising you to look for other flying opportunities.

Air and Marine is experiencing an exodus of those seeking or leaving for airlines, and those eligible for retirement, but would have otherwise remained onboard until mandatory are bailing out.

The extreme recruiting you are seeing is due to a significant problem locating eligible candidates, with 1 of every ten making it to a job offer (though the demand is far higher). The poly failure rates are accurate, including one of the former Air Force One pilots & several great officers I know of.

Okay - I said more than I set out to, you are better off at a regional. Most of our aircraft are Cessna 206/210 or maybe a modified King Air that is reportedly miserable to patrol in. DHC-8 life isn't much better, and the P-3 is a far remote possibility which is now capped at GS-13. 3+ month non flying academy in an dormitory with no family allowed on campus. There is no seniority system, you will be assigned to Puerto Rico or the SW boarder, and will have to apply after a minimum 3 year stay for a release.

Yeahhhh, that's it... :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: