"future manning problems"

Well you won't get a job with any police force using words like "Manning"! If you want to get past the interview the correct term is "Staffing" :yuk::yuk::yuk:

The ad says £45,000 + benefits. It might be worth the effort, it beats the 'dole' and as I understand there are a lot of unemployed pilots at the moment.

I'm pretty sure that that has never been the case. Granted the majority of Police pilots are ex military(approx 75%), but, it's not a given that an ex mil guy will get the job, as I'm sure Silsoe Sid could tell you. The advantage that the ex mil have is that they are a known quantity in terms of training and experience.

The ability for low speed/hover flight at high altitudes will be an advantage for that particular job.

Mighty Gem surely ex mil pilots can only be a known quantity -to other ex mil pilots

The Met have just advertised for a police helicopter pilot:

Police Helicopter Pilot - 1401320129 - Flightglobal Jobs

It should be quite an attractive job, although the requirements are quite specific too. All those police pilots who have kept their IRs current form a queue.

Presumably, they will organise/pay for the type rating for the EC145

The comments about post 2014 are interesting re: a new agency i.e.NPAS.

Any bets as to whether the Met boys will be paid less or everyone else will be paid more..........

MPS
 

Helinut I watched in MPW website and I could not find any info about pilot position. Do you know how to apply there?

Regards

XS,

If you click on the link in my thread it goes to a page that then has an "apply now" link on it (via the flight global website)

The 'apply now' button redirects you to the Met Police careers website where there is no reference to the pilot position.

I have spoken to the MPS careers people who said that the vacancy has been published too early on Flightglobal and will not appear on the Met Police careers website for a few days yet.

In short - be patient and keep checking at www.metpolicecareers.co.uk

Mr. R

Thats right hands_on

I believe you are correct on both. You cant have 500 hrs low level onshore unless you are mil or ex, and they probably know by now (by name) who they will hire for the job.

I will fill in the application scheme anyhow :ok:

i applied for this twice before and both times got a letter complementing me on the quality of the application, but NOT inviting me to interview.

"is it because I not ex-mil ?" i think so

Ex mil masons and who you know.
 

Its a salute thing you know. A bit like the funny handshakes :=

You either have the experience they require AND they feel you will fit in with the other members of the unit - or you don't and won't.

Really? Previous pipeline or powerline inspection experience might help.

123 -

Why don't you put that last post in your application, maybe they don't know that FIs fly at low level too. They may also not realise that offshore guys shuttle at low level, you may actually be doing them a favour.

Or, you can live with it as it is. There are many jobs that I would love to have been able to do but couldn't, and sometimes it is hard to grin and bear it, but that is the way it is. When you become the decider in a flying operation then you will get to choose.

Just for clarification, 500 hours low flying as an FI or shuttling in poor weather is not quite the same as 500 hours military low flying.

Tam

Nice post Tam. Some people have no idea about military flying.

Flying circuits in an R22 and shuttling in a 225 is not quite the same as following, yet staying hidden, from a car full of explosives half way across a country, through various control zones and the middle of a city? Or sitting in the hover for 3 hours watching a back door? Or flying NOE on a 50:000 map and never getting lost (without GPS) etc, etc.

Instructing civilian ab-initio students is challenging in its own way and so is offshore shuttling but there is a reason that Police prefer pilots who have been taught certain skills and have honed them flown in various operational theatres.

If the advert is correct in this statement, why not pay Footballer salaries?

Pas :}

I didn't say that only pilots with military backgrounds were better at Police work. Equally they are no better at any other type of civilan flying.

What you and others seem to fail to realise is that when a Police unit is looking at recruiting a pilot then a candidate with 1500 hours of varied military flying will always be a more attractive proposition than a 1500 hour civilian flight instructor or offshore pilot. This is purely because the ex-mil pilot will be a known quantity and has been through a proven system, has military discipline instilled, has a varied flying background and generally will be someone that will fit in with Police operations.

Also other members of the unit will undoubtedly know the person or can find out a great deal on the military grapevine. One of the most important aspects of a succesful, small, ASU is that a person fits in. If they don't it can be very uncomfortable experience for all concerned and a bad apple can be very difficult to get rid of.

BTW I may be ex-mil and and ex-Police pilot but I now fly offshore and in a previous life I instructed as a civilian on the R22. I don't tend to comment on aspects of the industry that I am not familiar with.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Most companies in the police/ambulance industry are prepared to employ civil or military trained pilots. My old company PremiAir did and so do my 'new' company (our chief pilot is not ex-mil). Direct employ has done the same. They interview and select the person they see best suited to the job. The majority are ex-military.....................:hmm:
It is the person, not the background

Sorry for boring you JT. Of course it is the person but that is only apparent at the interview stage and you won't get there unless you have the background.