[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Greetings all,
I am entertaining a new direction and wanted to know differant opinions.. Here is my situation. I love to fly and everything about aviation. I am a commercial single engine pilot with an instrument rating and 470 hours total time. My goal for the last ten years has been to be a professional pilot (focused on the airlines). The turbulant times of the airlines have caused me to reconsider that route. Now before you start thinkingI am a guy who wants to fly for the police just to build hours, please read on. Flight lessons are expensive. In order to pay for them, I became a police officer in Georgia. I didnt become cop just for the money. I have always had a slight interest in law enforcement. Well, now I like LE a lot and am thinking of making a career in law enforcememnt, but only if I can fly for them.
The issue? I am an airplane pilot and know nothing about helicopters. After doing research, ther eare no departments that fly fixed wing in Georgia. There are some out west and inFlorida though> I am strongly looking at the FHP. They have a lot of 182's,
The question? Do I pack up, move to Florida, go back through a police academy (get maced again), be a road trooper for two years just to fly single engine cessnas? I can flight instruct and do the same thing in less time. But being that I am in my 30's and may have a family soon, flight instructing pays no money as opposed to haveing a career as a law enforcement officer.
I have also been thinking that maybe I will have to submit and get a helicopter rating.
I dont mind being a road cop for a few years. Like I said I like being a police officer plus it would give me time to build my hours to meet the minimums to be hired as a police pilot. Also, I would like to find departments that fly multi engine planes as well. Are there any inthe Florida area?
Thank you for taking time to read this and feel free to be honest with your comments. One last interesting tid bid about me. I am a police officer but........a week after I graduated from the police academy my national guard unit activated me and I am currently deployed to Iraq, so I havent actually been on the street yet. Ihavent even bee through FTO program yet. Thanks again.[/font]
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I am entertaining a new direction and wanted to know differant opinions.. Here is my situation. I love to fly and everything about aviation. I am a commercial single engine pilot with an instrument rating and 470 hours total time. My goal for the last ten years has been to be a professional pilot (focused on the airlines). The turbulant times of the airlines have caused me to reconsider that route. Now before you start thinkingI am a guy who wants to fly for the police just to build hours, please read on. Flight lessons are expensive. In order to pay for them, I became a police officer in Georgia. I didnt become cop just for the money. I have always had a slight interest in law enforcement. Well, now I like LE a lot and am thinking of making a career in law enforcememnt, but only if I can fly for them.
The issue? I am an airplane pilot and know nothing about helicopters. After doing research, ther eare no departments that fly fixed wing in Georgia. There are some out west and inFlorida though> I am strongly looking at the FHP. They have a lot of 182's,
The question? Do I pack up, move to Florida, go back through a police academy (get maced again), be a road trooper for two years just to fly single engine cessnas? I can flight instruct and do the same thing in less time. But being that I am in my 30's and may have a family soon, flight instructing pays no money as opposed to haveing a career as a law enforcement officer.
I have also been thinking that maybe I will have to submit and get a helicopter rating.
I dont mind being a road cop for a few years. Like I said I like being a police officer plus it would give me time to build my hours to meet the minimums to be hired as a police pilot. Also, I would like to find departments that fly multi engine planes as well. Are there any inthe Florida area?
Thank you for taking time to read this and feel free to be honest with your comments. One last interesting tid bid about me. I am a police officer but........a week after I graduated from the police academy my national guard unit activated me and I am currently deployed to Iraq, so I havent actually been on the street yet. Ihavent even bee through FTO program yet. Thanks again.[/font]
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