Flying for the FBI?

[skyward80]

My father spotted a Boeing aircraft recently with the FBI's insignia on the tail. I had no idea these guys flew around their own planes. Truthfully, I've never given it much thought. In any case, I was wondering if anybody out there had any information about becoming a pilot for the FBI or other similar branches such as the CIA or Secret Service (if either of those even fly their own planes). Any information would be appreciated. I know this is the military forum, but I figured this was a good place to start. If this forum is too public for this sort of information, please PM me so that I can give you a more secure means of contacting me.

Thanks!
Skyward80

 

[stlpilot]

The FBI does have their own although they have contracted out in the past. They were hiring about a year and a half ago. They had 10 or so "special needs" jobs and pilots were one of them. Of course that need lasted about a week and then they took it off the website. I have a close relative in the bureau and he put me in contact with a person at DC who said "Of course its not on the website anymore, you know how many airline guys are out of work right now" So it is possible to get in but like any other aviation job right now its tough. And of course being the FBI you wont just fly, you must be trained to handle any of the other 270 or so crimes they investigate. As for the other branches, I don't know, but customs hires pilots, although their website says they must have some ridiculously high amount of multi time. Iv heard they prefer ex military.

 

[captainv]

FBI

I looked into this a little when my brother went off to Quantico. the big thing is, you're an FBI agent first and foremost, a pilot second. if you're not chomping at the bit to be an agent - you won't make it past the interview process, and maybe not even then. it's a cool job, don't get me wrong, but for me, i decided that aviation was the priority.

assuming you are lucky enough to be selected, it's much more likely that you'll be flying a C-182 on surveillance missions. remember the FBI plane the media spotted circling over Bloomington, Ind.? that kind of stuff.

i met Director Freeh at IAD one morning, he was flying in a Citation I. Reno flew in a Citation I out of Miami after the Elian Gonzales debacle. John Ashcroft usually flies around in a King Air 200. the odds of you flying something more glamourous than these workhorses is pretty slim.

a few years back, DEA had 1500 mins for pilots, but of course it prefers ex-mil.

the bottom line is, most of these organizations tap pilots from within. people who are totally committed to the organization's mission, who also have an interest in flying. If flying is your overwhelming passion, best to try for a career that focuses on flying, and nothing else....

 

[skyward80]

Thanks for the awesome info! Very informative and helpful.

Skyward80

 

[Pistlpetet]

The DEA, Border Patrol, ATF, and FBI normally always require a person to be a ground agent for a period of time before getting a cockpit job.

Customs hires guys to be pilots, but they still have to go through six months or so of normal agent training. They hire only dual rated rated pilots (FW and Helo), or P-3 pilots.

The CIA, State dept, etc. normally use aircraft and pilots that are flown by contractors. Mercenary pilots if you will.

Merc Pilot