FN FAL
Freight Dawgs Rule
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2003
- Posts
- 8,573
Wisconsin uses strictly fixed wing for clocking cars and the State Patrol pilots fly the governor around in a King Air.FracCapt said:Very few departments operate fixed wing aircraft anymore. Some do, but generally they are 172's that are used for clocking people on the highways.
Henrico County Division of Police use strictly fixed wing and even use them for patrol work, like other police departments use helicopters. Their fixed wing aircraft have spotlights rigged on them and they can illuminate a suspect by turning on a point...you don't have to believe me if don't want to, but this was relayed to me by someone who flew in the aviation division there. He also said they used the plane for tagging along on surveilance flights; following drug mules. Figure 15 years seniority on the department before you manhandle one of the high wing cessnas at Henrico County.
Jacksonville Sheriffs office has a gaggle of helicopters. Their rules were you had to have five years as a street cop, before you could even apply to the aviation division. Then you sit as a JAFO for about five years or until a vacancy occurs on the flying side of the chopper. You have to pay for your own ratings and getting hired on the department with ratings does not advanced your name up the list. However, it might look good during the initial hire interview.
From what I have heard, you have to be hireable as a police officer and be able to go through all the same hoops and training as a regular officer, to get into the police aviation units...even if they do hire right into the aircraft.