jetcareers - View Single Post - Probably just going to make flying my hobby

jonnyb · December 11th, 2004, 14:44

[ QUOTE ]
Be careful with your hopes of flying for a law enforcement department. You'll be up against some serious competition. You'll be up against military helo pilots, with thousands of hours of rotary time and now most have combat experience to go with it. But it doesn't help to try anyways. You might get lucky!

[/ QUOTE ]
It's definitely possible. But at my department (Huntington Beach P.D.), it was totally political and you had to have at least 10+ years on duty to be selected. Every now and then I'd see a 5-7 year guy get selected, but that was rare. I'm sure every department is different. We didn't have any former military pilots, or pilots with previous helicopter experience for that matter when I was at the department. I'm sure it's easier to get selected at larger departments with many aircraft such as LASO, San Bernardino County, LAPD, Riverside County and CHP.

December 11th, 2004, 14:44	#11
jonnyb Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: So. California Posts: 1,304	Re: Probably just going to make flying my hobby [ QUOTE ] Be careful with your hopes of flying for a law enforcement department. You'll be up against some serious competition. You'll be up against military helo pilots, with thousands of hours of rotary time and now most have combat experience to go with it. But it doesn't help to try anyways. You might get lucky! [/ QUOTE ] It's definitely possible. But at my department (Huntington Beach P.D.), it was totally political and you had to have at least 10+ years on duty to be selected. Every now and then I'd see a 5-7 year guy get selected, but that was rare. I'm sure every department is different. We didn't have any former military pilots, or pilots with previous helicopter experience for that matter when I was at the department. I'm sure it's easier to get selected at larger departments with many aircraft such as LASO, San Bernardino County, LAPD, Riverside County and CHP.