MUFAZA

Now, I am in a bit of a situation. I HATE MY JOB!!!! I have been in Law Enforcement for five yeras and I have payed my dues. I have worked in the jails, on patrol, under cover and in special operations. I recently (about 6 months ago) was transfered into the Aviation Unit after a long wait. It was what I have longed for the whole time I have been in the department. We have a couple of Astar Helicopters and a C-210. Because I came in as a CFII_MEI Fixed wing, I was able to start flying the C-210 right away. It was told to me that I was going to be trained in the chopper ASAP. Well, that hasn't happened! I was told that it probably wont happen for a long while. The politics around here is just crazy!!! Too many chiefs and not enough indians!!! Because our mission are mainly geared towards the helicopter, we do not fly the C-210 much. (hardly ever) The higher ups around here have gone back on their word and there is not much I can do or say. Due to all the time I spent on the streets as a cop, I did not get much flying inn. The past five years has been off and on. (mostly off) Now I find myself with 700 TT and in a industry going through some hard times right now. I know I want to fly full time, but having a family changes alot of things. I just wanted to see if anyone out there were in my position, and wanted to get a full time flying job, what would you do?? Where could I go and could I get hired? Should a take a pay cut and go back into instructing? I feel lost... I know I am not going anywhere working here. Maybe, I should give up on Aviation and go back to work as a street cop. What do you guys think?

Diver Driver

Things on the civilian side are pretty much a lot worse, many of us are furloughed, getting furloughed or will be as the economy continues to slide. If flying is what you want to do and you dont think you will get that in law enforcement, I would time my departure with an upswing in the civilian side. When hiring resumes, many of us with thousands of hours are going to be looking for jobs and it will be a while before someone with 700TT gets in a jet. See if you can CFI on your down time to get some hours and fly as much as you can on the job too. It might make things better in the short term if you shoot for goals. Focus on getting that first 1,000 hours down, then shoot for part 135 IFR mins, then ATP mins. Once hiring resumes, you will be in a good spot to get on somewhere if you have around 1500TT and 100-500 multi. Good luck.

Emb170man

not sure if there are current positions...BUT...with you law enforcement experience and our flying skills, check out Customs and Border Protection.

MUFAZA

Thanks for the info guys. I know that times are difficult out there for eveyone. I am certainly grateful for having a job and I would really love to make this long term, but it just seems like the administration is doing all in its power to prevent that. I know my place here and my gut feeling tells me that its not good. I have looked into customs myself and they are hiring. The problem there is the time. They are asking a min. of 1200TT. At the end of the day, its going to boil down to wether or not I make the change. Right now is probably not the best time. Maybe aviation needs to take a back seat for the time being.

usmc-sgt

I think you are in a far better position than any FO at a regional. You are making more than you will (most likely) as a regional captain and you see your family every day. In addition to the above you are also flying and have somewhat hope of transitioning to an Astar courtesy of state and/or local funding. In the time you will find yourself likely in the left or right seat of that Astar you will be lucky to even have a job as a regional FO or even if you get a job as an FO you will be lucky to be off reserve.

If you are not happy then you are not happy but you will tire with the regionals far faster than you will with your current LE gig not to mention unless you were prior military your wife and family has no idea what it will be like for you to be gone 2/3rds of the month.

However, if this is what you ABSOLUTELY MUST DO then we can give you all the info you need to get you where you need to be.

GrUpGrDn

customs and border patrol, try dea, you would be frustrated even more if you decided to go 121 airlines, but i could be/am wrong. all what you make of it. first year pay leaves alot to be desired. nothing at the regionals will open up for a while (meaning, couple of years.)

celticpilot

I left LE about 2 1/2 years ago (after 13) to chase the dream.... I was even a Sgt. about to test for Lt. So I know what you are going through. However, we never had an air unit. We had 400 cops, but no air unit. Anyway, I pulled the plug and dove in with both feet.

I can tell you that I love what I do (flight instruct full time aerobatics, tailwheel, etc...) but it is hard financially. I went from 80 to 17K my first year. Now after over two years of teaching, I will be up to 40, but little in terms of benies and such.

I love aviation and all things aviation, but it is not without sacrifice. It was harder then I would have imagined leaving cop life. Like going through a divorce (did that at the same time). Right now I would hang onto the LE gig for the time being and just keep flying as you can and put yourself into position for the future (as has been said).

Customs would be a decent gig, but it requires another academy.... one is enough..... and you would have to move to a location where they need you. They are requiring 1500 TT. And being a CFI helps...

Anyway, good luck... Every LE air unit is politics. Cop first, pilot second... And whom you know, not what.... About as tough as Tac. Hang in there bro it will happen.

flynavyj

I think a lot of the pilots flying for the regionals these days would trade places with you. Most of us haven't heard any good news recently, and what good news I hear typically turns out to be rumors and not truth.

While regional airlines can sometimes be a quick entry point for aviation, It can make for some of the dullest flying out there, especially if you found yourself in the right seat of an RJ. The amount of time away from base, and from home will be a big hardship on the family, however, you won't know if they can deal with it, or how well they deal with it unless you try it. Another captain i flew with recently was explaining his daughter tugging at him not to go to work, i'm sure that happens in all fields, but normally a child expects you to come home for dinner.

There are some other "adventurous" flying jobs out there. Problems are that most all flying jobs don't pay great, and you'll take a significant pay cut to do any flying other than what you're already doing. It's just a big give and take. Weigh the options and proceed with caution, if you do plan on making the jump though, i'd hang out in your current operation, instruct on the side, push hard for the chopper gig, and jump when the market starts to move. You'd probably find yourself in the middle to tail end of the hiring once they get down to 700TT pilots (dont know your multi numbers), especially when you consider the guys on furlough (who might come back) and hopefully, you wouldn't be looking at a furlough in your future after getting on, but that's just the great aviation gamble. best of luck.

cappelation

if you can afford it get a buddy pilot and time build 10, 20 hours a month as cheap as possible. give them dual. thats PIC "time" (loggable PIC) sometimes i dont fly more than 20 hours a month as a full time cfi. hold onto the law enforement gig id rather be in that position myself right now.

MUFAZA

Thank you everyone who has taken the time to express their opinions. I have definitely learned from all of you who are out there now. I know things are hard for me right now but I also understand all the struggles in other places. I value all the information gathered here and I feel that it will help me in my decision making process. I will most likely hold on as much as I can or as much as they allow me to. Hopefully, the helicopter training will come and I can continue to grow in the industry. If it dosen't, I could then move on without wondering what could have been...