?
I can understand the VPAW not paying for people to attend the interview, considering the restrictions on budgets across the whole force. Although I do not agree with it. But, it would be a small price to pay for the opportunity to work there if successful. It would have to be one of the best jobs in this country for a helo pilot.
But, dont think for a minute that the successfull apllicant got the job without paying a significant price in terms of financial costs and in years of service. From memory he completed 8 years as a gerenal duties police officer on the street before gaining a highly competative postion as an Air Observer. Then spent the next 10 - 12 years working as an Air Observer while he paid for his own pilots licence and built up the minimum hours required to gain the position. All that work paid off, and so it should have. But it would not have been an easy ride.
At the end of the day, this is a Police Air Wing that consists of Police and Aviators doing police work together. It would be the best in the country by far. Keeping that mix of members is extremely important if they want to stay that way.