Police Pilot Experince (UK)
Hi SFIM
As importantly as the hours minima you will need to have:
a. A god sense of humour (if you can't laugh at yourself, the
Police Observers certainly will!)
b. A Robust chararacter - a Captains four gold/silver bars won't
automatically generate respect from the passengers (CAA
agreed). This has to be hard won, as the Police Observers
are by now well educated as to what Police Aviation is all
about and they may well be paid more than you to boot!
c. Honesty - by this I mean the ability to put your hand up and
admit you f***ed up. Everyone makes mistakes, some never
admit it, pilots always, always should.
d. Enthusiasm - to do any job as well as flying.
e. Willingness to get your hands dirty, and I mean this literally
when it comes to sharing duties such as cleaning the aircraft
and the night kitchen at the end of the shift.
f. Ability to work in a very small team (typically you plus two
Observers)
g. Ability to work as a pilotwith very little supervision. You will
only see another pilot briefly at shift changeover and a
Training Captain every 6 months or so for IFP/OPC/LPC &
Line Checks etc. You need to set and be seen to maintain
the highest professional standards by a most educated and
critical Police crew.
h. Ability to provide vast quantities of tea and cake for the
crew
The above are just a few of what will matter at any interview and
when you start flying for the Police. It is a most rewarding career (if not always in financial terms). As always you get out of it in direct proportion to what you are prepared to put into it. So good luck and keep scanning the back pages of Flight International!
PS What is the current record for length of service as a Police Pilot in the UK? Ten, Fifteen years or more and why do you still do it?