Becoming a Police Pilot
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Age: 59
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You just need to think of the number of Police forces in the UK and there's not necessarily one for each county; some share. Let's say there's an average of six pilots who can be rostered at any one time for each unit (and that's a high estimate). It means there's not many positions available in the first place. Neither will it pay anywhere near as well as the airlines although I suspect job satisfaction is 100 greater!
Air Ambulance would be similar statistics but with the disadvantage that you have to clean the helicopter afterwards!!!!
Cheers
Whirls
Air Ambulance would be similar statistics but with the disadvantage that you have to clean the helicopter afterwards!!!!
Cheers
Whirls
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: in a skip
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I really don't know where to begin in trying to answer your questions, and if it weren't for your age I'd probably think that this was a wind-up.
However, I'll try and deal with some of the points, giving you an allowance for your - inevitable given your age - naivety.
To fly commercially you will need a commercial licence. This will require you to pass a class 1 medical. The medical requirements for the forces are generally higher than that required to fly as a civilian pilot, but you still have to meet certain standards.
To obtain a PPL (H) you will require a class 2 medical, but I would suggest that if you have any intention of making a career as a pilot it would be more sensible to take the class 1.
As for your obtaining a PPL, this, assuming you can pass the medical, is down to aptitude, dedication and funding, but this will most definately not allow you to do any form of commercial flying. As for joining the police to fly helicopters, the pilots they use are civilian pilots and are not required to be police constables.
Please don't take offence at my next suggestion, it is meant with the best intentions.
At your age, you would be best concentrating on studying to obtain the best A-level results in appropriate subjects such as maths, physics etc. This is much more valuable to you and is more likely to prepare you for your future career - whatever that might be.
However, I'll try and deal with some of the points, giving you an allowance for your - inevitable given your age - naivety.
To fly commercially you will need a commercial licence. This will require you to pass a class 1 medical. The medical requirements for the forces are generally higher than that required to fly as a civilian pilot, but you still have to meet certain standards.
To obtain a PPL (H) you will require a class 2 medical, but I would suggest that if you have any intention of making a career as a pilot it would be more sensible to take the class 1.
As for your obtaining a PPL, this, assuming you can pass the medical, is down to aptitude, dedication and funding, but this will most definately not allow you to do any form of commercial flying. As for joining the police to fly helicopters, the pilots they use are civilian pilots and are not required to be police constables.
Please don't take offence at my next suggestion, it is meant with the best intentions.
At your age, you would be best concentrating on studying to obtain the best A-level results in appropriate subjects such as maths, physics etc. This is much more valuable to you and is more likely to prepare you for your future career - whatever that might be.
Last edited by the beater; 28th Sep 2007 at 23:16. Reason: Crikey, there were no replies when I started typing the above!
I often see ads for Police pilots but the hours requirements always makes me wonder. What would be the difference in flying ability of someone who had done 2500hours TT, mainly as instructor in an R22 and say someone who has done some commercial/instructing and some offshore multi crew multi eng, and only had <1500 hoursTT. From my point of view there is no difference between the two really. Except one of them may hold an IR?
Is it an insurance bulls**t requirement or is it purely to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak?
I always wanted to fly for the police but my lack of hours always put paid to it. I'll never have NVG experience, or low level probably, but aren't these skills which can be learned and for someone with the correct aptitude, maybe the whole hours thing is a bit off.??
Just wondered.
Is it an insurance bulls**t requirement or is it purely to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak?
I always wanted to fly for the police but my lack of hours always put paid to it. I'll never have NVG experience, or low level probably, but aren't these skills which can be learned and for someone with the correct aptitude, maybe the whole hours thing is a bit off.??
Just wondered.
There are no limits
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Shrewsbury, England.
Age: 67
Posts: 505
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Don't forget the other requirements - PIC, Night, Night PIC. A pilot with >1500 has probably had time to accrue this time but we are also loking for someone with a range of experiences so 2500 as an R22 instructor means a lot less than someone with 1500 gained on singles, twins, turbines, day, onshore, offshore, night etc etc.
If you feel up to it, apply. There are plenty of openings around at the moment.
If you feel up to it, apply. There are plenty of openings around at the moment.
helimutt,
You're absolutely right that the skills can be learned, but flying on operations with 2 observers (or doctors/paramedics/patients) is not the right place to be learning them. It almost certainly seems unfair, but military flying has so far been the best way to accumulate the time and experience required (night, low-level overland) for police and HEMS flying.
Police authorities and HEMS operators are there to provide a service to the paying public; flying training is not currently included in that service. However, if the industry continues to lose pilots with the required experience then the public may have to fund the extra training involved to bring operators like yourself up-to-speed. It'd be interesting to see how it'd be organised - perhaps an opportunity for a flying training operator to put an exploratory bid in to the Home Office
You're absolutely right that the skills can be learned, but flying on operations with 2 observers (or doctors/paramedics/patients) is not the right place to be learning them. It almost certainly seems unfair, but military flying has so far been the best way to accumulate the time and experience required (night, low-level overland) for police and HEMS flying.
Police authorities and HEMS operators are there to provide a service to the paying public; flying training is not currently included in that service. However, if the industry continues to lose pilots with the required experience then the public may have to fund the extra training involved to bring operators like yourself up-to-speed. It'd be interesting to see how it'd be organised - perhaps an opportunity for a flying training operator to put an exploratory bid in to the Home Office
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Liverpool based Geordie, so calm down, calm down kidda!!
Age: 60
Posts: 2,051
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes
on
6 Posts
Remember, other than your 6 hour conversion, you do not get training time on a day to day basis. Every flight is live and can be in pretty demanding weather conditions from day one. On the job is not the time to be learning low level operations!! Once every 6 months you have an OPC (test) and that hour is the only 'training' you get. So after demonstrating all the profiles, emergencies and handling skills, there is little opportunity to be formally taught anything.
That said, the market is losing pilots faster than they are being employed. Higher wages elsewhere is luring experience away. In the not too distant future, the entry requirements may have to be lowered just to put bums on seats. Have a go, you have nothing to lose.....
That said, the market is losing pilots faster than they are being employed. Higher wages elsewhere is luring experience away. In the not too distant future, the entry requirements may have to be lowered just to put bums on seats. Have a go, you have nothing to lose.....
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: UK
Age: 47
Posts: 1,595
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As has been pointed out since the salaries are not high enough to keep pilots employed on a permanent basis in Police aviation there is always a need for new pilots and this means you also can get employed with 1500hrs and no
real low flying experience. From what I have seen it depends on many factors why they might employ a "risk" without the textbook experience. I would maybe call it a mixture of desperation and forward thinking.
If it's your dream to fly for the Police one day don't let anyone stop you!!!!!
What you do need is experience on twins and night (single or twin) flying onshore.
real low flying experience. From what I have seen it depends on many factors why they might employ a "risk" without the textbook experience. I would maybe call it a mixture of desperation and forward thinking.If it's your dream to fly for the Police one day don't let anyone stop you!!!!!
What you do need is experience on twins and night (single or twin) flying onshore.
There is also a certain attitude required, an openness to suggestions and the ability to take well intentioned advice.
I'm sorry if you dislike the reply but this attitude tends to come with age and for some not at all.
I'm sorry if you dislike the reply but this attitude tends to come with age and for some not at all.
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: in a skip
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I apologise for upsetting you regarding your age, but stand by what I said. The advice about exams and education is advice that I would give to anyone who is still in school, and I do not think it unreasonable that I assumed that your education was not complete. A lot of students aged 16 have not completed their A-levels, so congratulations!
It was also, I would reason, given your mention of medical matters - and my not having a crystal ball - fair to assume that you had not undertaken an aviation medical. I would strongly suggest that you upgrade to a class 1 before you spend any money on flight training. I've met a few people who have had nasty surprises!
I often think that the best advice that can be given is to forget about being a pilot. It's not that I think it's a bad career, and I've certainly done alright out of it, but more a case of knowing that the types of persons making it happen are those types that have what it takes. The types of person not making it are those that let advice sway them one way or the other, so if you're going to do it it's going to happen however welcome or not the advice you get is.
The bottom line is this; if you want it to happen you've got to make it happen and at your age (oh s
t, sorry, couldn't help it) this could involve going down to the recruitment office and seeing what the forces can offer and what is required from you. It's unlikely that you will earn enough in the next few years to fund a CPL yourself.
Just one more thing.
The advice that I give is my personal opinion, and whether you agree with it or not, it is given with the best of intentions. I've been offered a lot of advice over the years, some of which I've not heeded, but it was all gratefully received.
Best of luck with your career.
TB
It was also, I would reason, given your mention of medical matters - and my not having a crystal ball - fair to assume that you had not undertaken an aviation medical. I would strongly suggest that you upgrade to a class 1 before you spend any money on flight training. I've met a few people who have had nasty surprises!
I often think that the best advice that can be given is to forget about being a pilot. It's not that I think it's a bad career, and I've certainly done alright out of it, but more a case of knowing that the types of persons making it happen are those types that have what it takes. The types of person not making it are those that let advice sway them one way or the other, so if you're going to do it it's going to happen however welcome or not the advice you get is.
The bottom line is this; if you want it to happen you've got to make it happen and at your age (oh s
t, sorry, couldn't help it) this could involve going down to the recruitment office and seeing what the forces can offer and what is required from you. It's unlikely that you will earn enough in the next few years to fund a CPL yourself.Just one more thing.
The advice that I give is my personal opinion, and whether you agree with it or not, it is given with the best of intentions. I've been offered a lot of advice over the years, some of which I've not heeded, but it was all gratefully received.
Best of luck with your career.
TB
The Original Whirly
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yeah...most people think that sixteen year olds are "kids" and don't know anything about life, and that we are "jokes"... but in actual fact I have been looking into flying since I was 10, but never looked into Helicopter flying...hense my (I thought..) sensible question.
I think you misunderstood the beater's reply. He was actualy amazed at how little you appeared to understand, and was only fairly kind to you because you're so young! Had you been my age, I suspect he'd have flamed you thoroughly, basically telling you to get lost, read LASORS, and come back when you had got some basic information right. Am I right, the beater?
You see, Adam, maybe it was late when you wrote your post, but it came over as you knowng b***** all! It sounded as though you thought you could get a PPL(H), and then fly commercially, without even a very stringent medical. Now, I've seen your other posts, and I know you've looked into flying and know a bit about it. But almost no-one else on Rotorheads does. And this forum isn't like Private Flying - most of the regulars are professional helicopter pilots, have little patience with wannabes, and think a thin skin is something that tangerines have. So if you want to post on here, that's fine. But you'll need to learn to put on your mental armour when you turn on your computer, and accept this rough and ready lot (oooo, they'll flame me for that
) for what they are. They know a lot, and you can learn a lot on here, but they won't be gentle with you...or not for long.Good luck, whatever you decide to do.
Avoid imitations
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
Posts: 14,573
Received 422 Likes
on
222 Posts
Having to listen to many folk saying "You'll never make it - you'll never be good enough, you won't pass the medical, the exams or the interviews, etc, etc", is one of the occupational hazards of trying to become a professional pilot.
Most of us have been there, in my case, thirty five years ago. However, do listen to the advice in between the negative comments, there is some good stuff here.
Good luck.
Most of us have been there, in my case, thirty five years ago. However, do listen to the advice in between the negative comments, there is some good stuff here.
Good luck.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: New York City
Posts: 820
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Adam
One guy got to be a police pilot with only a PPLH.
How NOT to become a Police pilot!
Not recommended.
One guy got to be a police pilot with only a PPLH.
How NOT to become a Police pilot!
Not recommended.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: The North
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the advice... It looks like Helis are out of the equation
Got to give Adam credit though, he held out longer than I thought.
From the original question I had it down 2 to 1 he'll be out by two posts, there goes my tenner!
Considerably Bemused Wannabe
Join Date: May 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just out of interest, why now all of a sudden are Helis out of the question? So there's a lot more to it than you first thought, but there's still no reason why you can't still "go for it"! It's just going take longer and cost more
Anyway matey, good luck...whatever you decide to do
S
Anyway matey, good luck...whatever you decide to do
S
Hovering AND talking
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Age: 59
Posts: 5,705
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Seriously Adam, if I was you, I would think about joining the Forces; at least consider sponsorship by them through Uni and go somewhere with an University Air Squadron (if they still do those schemes).
If you have the aptitude for flying, you'll get some of the best training available; if you're middle of the road, you'll still get some experience for the civilian world and if you don't have it, well, sadly, you don't have it!
However, you should only consider joining up if you have the commitment; don't do it if your only intention is to learn to fly but you should consider it.
Cheers
Whirls
If you have the aptitude for flying, you'll get some of the best training available; if you're middle of the road, you'll still get some experience for the civilian world and if you don't have it, well, sadly, you don't have it!
However, you should only consider joining up if you have the commitment; don't do it if your only intention is to learn to fly but you should consider it.
Cheers
Whirls
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Adam
Mate.... if you could only caste into the future... The last thing I would want to seem is condescending but from experience I have a couple of sides that might help.
First, I blew school out.. I am 36 now and have had to work very very hard for what I have. This doesn't really carry for you because you already have the grades.
I joined the forces and had many chances to take the missed exams but I was way to busy living life and travelling the world and believe me Adam.. you play it right and you can easily travel the world.. I did in just 6 years.. Look into the Fleet Air Arm mate.. You won't get Apaches but you will get loads of travel.. My opinion only, as I have no experience of the RAF or AAC.
One thing I do know a lot about is PMA (Positive Mental Attitude). I have achieved everything in life because once I set my mind to doing something.. I do it. My father always told me never volunteer.. RUBBISH.. Volunteer for everything and do it to the best of your ability.. If the forces is not for you (I joined due to lack of choices but never regretted it..) then study all of the subjects you need to put yourself at the head of the queue when it comes to Bond, Bristows CHC etc etc when they are looking for ab initio's!!
One thing is clear Adam.. You have a lot of choices ahead of you and I wish you luck with whatever you choose to do in the future. Just be grateful that you have those choices... Oh and stop giving in so easily you will never get anywhere in life like that.
SL..
Mate.... if you could only caste into the future... The last thing I would want to seem is condescending but from experience I have a couple of sides that might help.
First, I blew school out.. I am 36 now and have had to work very very hard for what I have. This doesn't really carry for you because you already have the grades.
I joined the forces and had many chances to take the missed exams but I was way to busy living life and travelling the world and believe me Adam.. you play it right and you can easily travel the world.. I did in just 6 years.. Look into the Fleet Air Arm mate.. You won't get Apaches but you will get loads of travel.. My opinion only, as I have no experience of the RAF or AAC.
One thing I do know a lot about is PMA (Positive Mental Attitude). I have achieved everything in life because once I set my mind to doing something.. I do it. My father always told me never volunteer.. RUBBISH.. Volunteer for everything and do it to the best of your ability.. If the forces is not for you (I joined due to lack of choices but never regretted it..) then study all of the subjects you need to put yourself at the head of the queue when it comes to Bond, Bristows CHC etc etc when they are looking for ab initio's!!
One thing is clear Adam.. You have a lot of choices ahead of you and I wish you luck with whatever you choose to do in the future. Just be grateful that you have those choices... Oh and stop giving in so easily you will never get anywhere in life like that.
SL..
