Becoming a Police Pilot
I am surprised that PAS can attract attract 2000+ hour pilots particularly when 500 hour co-pilots are paid 50K on the North Sea
Ah, now you highlight it Mr W, that's exactly what I meant! 
(It's all down to the capitalisation, innit?
But let's not let this thread degenerate to 'my spelling/grammar's better than yours...')
(It's all down to the capitalisation, innit?
But let's not let this thread degenerate to 'my spelling/grammar's better than yours...')
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It is all about suitable experience really. Other than previous police experience, the next best option is considered to be military flying, by those who manage pilot contract organisations. (They are almost entirely ex-mil themselves, and will tend to look first to "their own", as they feel more comfortable this way)
The PAS approach also is assuming that many of the suitably qualified ex-mil guys come with a modest pension, that nicely supplements PAS's pay.
There is a bit of a scrap at present over suitably qualified police pilots. There is a shortage, and the "main players" seem to be advertising more frequently and continually trying to recruit.
If you feel committed long term to police flying, the direct-employed route has better terms and conditions - the employer doesn't have to turn a profit. But direct employment recruitment will look first to contract pilots who have significant prior police experience.
Within the police game, the management of the outfit who are recruiting will always chat informally to the last employer. It is a small world........
Offshore is really rather different from public service flying. As others have said, no one flies helicopters for the money, cos we could all get better paid doing something else. It depends what you want from all that time you spend working.
The PAS approach also is assuming that many of the suitably qualified ex-mil guys come with a modest pension, that nicely supplements PAS's pay.
There is a bit of a scrap at present over suitably qualified police pilots. There is a shortage, and the "main players" seem to be advertising more frequently and continually trying to recruit.
If you feel committed long term to police flying, the direct-employed route has better terms and conditions - the employer doesn't have to turn a profit. But direct employment recruitment will look first to contract pilots who have significant prior police experience.
Within the police game, the management of the outfit who are recruiting will always chat informally to the last employer. It is a small world........
Offshore is really rather different from public service flying. As others have said, no one flies helicopters for the money, cos we could all get better paid doing something else. It depends what you want from all that time you spend working.
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Nicely said Helinut - and I respect Bond for taking on basic CPLs - tied in or not. If you want to get on the NS, then you know where you want to be. I think I'd rather have a 3, 5 or 10 year bond to get that NS position. A couple of grand a year out of your wages to fly a L2 about ? - it's nothing ! A lot of people forget where they started from, especially those that slid down from the mil side. It's tough at the top, and even rougher at the bottom ! 
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T.C.
Then the P2 with 3000hrs, gets a promotion to P1 (with 3001hrs), and is now earning 65k which will increase anually, and with extra roles (training etc) to 85/90k.
I'm guessing the police pilot's salary is fairly stagnant. Taking this into account I would'nt say the salaries are on a par. And if you're a police/hems pilot, I'd be emphasising to the powers that be that they are not on a par.
I agree with you on the job satisfaction bit though! Equal time roster means lots of holidays though! (Work doesnt seem so bad when you've got something to look forward to!)
Then the P2 with 3000hrs, gets a promotion to P1 (with 3001hrs), and is now earning 65k which will increase anually, and with extra roles (training etc) to 85/90k.
I'm guessing the police pilot's salary is fairly stagnant. Taking this into account I would'nt say the salaries are on a par. And if you're a police/hems pilot, I'd be emphasising to the powers that be that they are not on a par.
I agree with you on the job satisfaction bit though! Equal time roster means lots of holidays though! (Work doesnt seem so bad when you've got something to look forward to!)
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Dont get to hung up on the job satisfaction bit with PAOC flying, think of all the time sitting around with nothing to do, then the big shout, and its a 15 min transit followed by 1/2 hour sitting in the hover or going round in small circles. Don't get me wrong it can be fun at times, if you're working with a good bunch, but it can be very dull for long periods and it's not very challenging.
However if it's your local area and you've a nice pension to supplement the poor pay i'm sure you'll manage.
Each to their own
However if it's your local area and you've a nice pension to supplement the poor pay i'm sure you'll manage.
Each to their own
Not every one has a "nice pension" to supplement the poor pay in UK police flying.
The salary differential between contract and Government employed PAOC pilots in the UK has reached 20%.
A united, UK wide, approach could sort this out quite quickly!
The salary differential between contract and Government employed PAOC pilots in the UK has reached 20%.
A united, UK wide, approach could sort this out quite quickly!
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Police Pilots!
Can anyone supply anymore info on this type of helicopter flying please?
Do you need a IR? is a CPL/IR enough, or even is a CPL enough or do you need an ATPL (H)? What kinda of money can they earn?
Do you need a IR? is a CPL/IR enough, or even is a CPL enough or do you need an ATPL (H)? What kinda of money can they earn?
HeliHughes,
This subject has been covered before so do a quick search.
Basically you need:
Minimum CPL(H) JAA/UK (some Units ask for ATPL(H))
No IR
1500+ hours (Some Units ask for more for insurance purposes)
500 hours Multi-Engine Time (may get dispensation if lots of military single time)
1000+ hours PIC
Healthy selection of night hours
Good sense of humour
Ability to sleep during the day after nights
Ability to drink own body weight in tea/coffee
Pay ranges from 34k to 50k.
Better money is with directly employed ASUs but they tend to poach pilots from the contract companies.
Main players are PremiAir, PAS, Bond and Aeromega.
The market is very good at the moment, but you have to have the above experience.
There are lots of pros and cons to Police flying as no doubt everyone is about to tell you!
FNW
This subject has been covered before so do a quick search.
Basically you need:
Minimum CPL(H) JAA/UK (some Units ask for ATPL(H))
No IR
1500+ hours (Some Units ask for more for insurance purposes)
500 hours Multi-Engine Time (may get dispensation if lots of military single time)
1000+ hours PIC
Healthy selection of night hours
Good sense of humour
Ability to sleep during the day after nights
Ability to drink own body weight in tea/coffee
Pay ranges from 34k to 50k.
Better money is with directly employed ASUs but they tend to poach pilots from the contract companies.
Main players are PremiAir, PAS, Bond and Aeromega.
The market is very good at the moment, but you have to have the above experience.
There are lots of pros and cons to Police flying as no doubt everyone is about to tell you!
FNW
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So you want to be a Police Pilot eh!!
The best thing about being a Police Pilot is the rota. My background prior to Police Aviation was corporate and charter and if I had a £1 for every time a weekend was ruined by a last minute flight I'd be a rich man.
Other benefits? An aircraft serviced and maintained with no regard to cost, no commercial pressure to get airborne, very generous weather limits, the list goes on.
The down sides: very long nightshifts (who can honestly say that they are at their best at 4 o'clock in the morning), having your dinner interrupted by some loser who can't cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life and has decided to xxxx the police about on the end of a mobile phone and is threatening to commit suicide. Working with senior police officers who haven't got a clue what the Helicopter can really do.
Hope that helps a bit.
Other benefits? An aircraft serviced and maintained with no regard to cost, no commercial pressure to get airborne, very generous weather limits, the list goes on.
The down sides: very long nightshifts (who can honestly say that they are at their best at 4 o'clock in the morning), having your dinner interrupted by some loser who can't cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life and has decided to xxxx the police about on the end of a mobile phone and is threatening to commit suicide. Working with senior police officers who haven't got a clue what the Helicopter can really do.
Hope that helps a bit.
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Don't forget about having the ability to drink copious amounts of tea and or coffee and be able to complete the Jamie Oliver microwave cookery course and passing with dubious honours
