Flying for the CHP

[Agaveman]

I have some questions about flying for the CHP, and I am hoping there are some CHP pilot's that would be willing to share some of their knowledge and experience.

1. I already have my private pilot's license (with a tail wheel endorsement and about 150 hours of flight time) as well as the A&P mechanic certificates. Would the CHP be willing to pay for my continued flight training, or be willing to pay me to continue my flight training? I have heard rumor from other officers and even from my BI that one of these two options might be possible.

2. I begin the CHP Academy March 6th and will obviously be giving my 100% concentration to becoming a CHP officer for the next 6 months (plus the 1 year probationary period), but after that what are some things I can do to begin preparing myself to be competitive in applying for a position as pilot for the CHP?

I am very excited about starting my new career, and even if I can't get in with Air Operations I have many other aspirations within the department I can pursue. However my desire is to fly for the CHP, so I want to do all I can to ensure this becomes a reality. I would be willing to fly helicopter or fixed wing depending on the answer to question #1.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[lomotor]

I'm currently getting my pilots license in fixed wing. If you really want to fly for the department it is on you. You can start as flight observer and maybe they will let you get some hours in as PIC for hours purposes. As far as the department paying for you, keep dreaming. It's just like being a motor, if you really want to do it the department will help you obtain that goal but as far as getting the run out and such, open your own pocket book. C la vie.

[RodeoChippie]

I was a fixed wing flight officer a while back and when I was there the pilot training program was non-existant. I don't know if you can get any hours as a flight officer now. That program did exist at one time. Your tail dragger time is a good thing but not an issue any longer since the Dept no long flies the 185. I've never heard of the Dept paying for your continued flight training. Those that got their license did it all on their own. I wouldn't worry too much right now about being a pilot. Your plate is going to be pretty full for the next couple years (assuming you graduate, make it off of break in, and make probation) If and when you make probation check with the folks at Air Ops about getting on the eligibility list.

[Your Mentor]

No kidding. You have at least a year and a half of training and apprenticeship before they'll even consider you for Air Ops (six months for the Academy and a year as a rookie). Actually the rule says you have to serve in the field for at least two years first but that rule is always broken at the end of probation.

[Officer_Grady]

keep your nose clean, do your job and try not to get into any traffic accidents and write a good report. The less anyone knows about you will make your opportunity into whatever detail you want easier. Just don't think after you make it out of the academy, you have a spot in the planes, nothing is a given.

[Agaveman]

Thank you very much for the information. All I have been getting through the grapevine is rumor and what-not. I am glad to hear from some pilot's so I can have an informed approach as to how I pursue my goal.

Plus this takes the pressure off so I can concrentrate solely on becoming a CHP officer rather than learning both CHP and aviation simultaneously.

Thanks for the input!

[RodeoChippie]

Plus this takes the pressure off so I can concrentrate solely on becoming a CHP officer rather than learning both CHP and aviation simultaneously.


Thats a good game plan because if you can't make it as a road dog you won't be flying one of our aircraft. Most likely you will end up a Sgt!:biggrin: Ha! I don't care who you are....that was funny!

[propeller26]

The dept just recently lowered the min requirements for pilots. The dept requires that you have your commercial and instrument ratings and have a minimum of 300 hours. They have also reduced the the two year road requirement down to one year, and you can start applying with only six months of road time. As far as the dept paying for your ratings, it is possible, because there is a program in place known as the pilot training program. However, you must already be assigned to an air unit as a flight officer and be in good standing. I was the first to go through the training program, but I was in a unique position. I had all the hours, but I did not have my instrument or commercial ratings. Myself and one other flight officer from another unit went through the program, but the third person got their ratings paid for by the state, but wasn't able to pass the dept's standards when his training was completed. After that, they have put the program on hold and are reevaluating it. It seems that the easiest way to get on the pilot eligibility list is to get your ratings, and most likely by that time, you will have the 300 hours as required. There are quite a few openings for fixed wing pilots in Southern Div and there seems to be a shortage of qualified helo pilots throughout the state. I think the cost of rotary training is prohibitive for the average officer. Most of the current pilots were former military. Representatives from Air Ops put on presentations for each graduating class, and gets info on cadets that currently have their licenses, this is a good time to get more information. As far as being a pilot for the dept, it is one of the best jobs offered. Although we make more than the road officers, we get very little overtime. Many of my old motor buddies make more with their o/t than I do.

[dw]

The dept just recently lowered the min requirements for pilots. The dept requires that you have your commercial and instrument ratings and have a minimum of 300 hours. They have also reduced the the two year road requirement down to one year, and you can start applying with only six months of road time. As far as the dept paying for your ratings, it is possible, because there is a program in place known as the pilot training program. However, you must already be assigned to an air unit as a flight officer and be in good standing. I was the first to go through the training program, but I was in a unique position. I had all the hours, but I did not have my instrument or commercial ratings. Myself and one other flight officer from another unit went through the program, but the third person got their ratings paid for by the state, but wasn't able to pass the dept's standards when his training was completed. After that, they have put the program on hold and are reevaluating it. It seems that the easiest way to get on the pilot eligibility list is to get your ratings, and most likely by that time, you will have the 300 hours as required. There are quite a few openings for fixed wing pilots in Southern Div and there seems to be a shortage of qualified helo pilots throughout the state. I think the cost of rotary training is prohibitive for the average officer. Most of the current pilots were former military. Representatives from Air Ops put on presentations for each graduating class, and gets info on cadets that currently have their licenses, this is a good time to get more information. As far as being a pilot for the dept, it is one of the best jobs offered. Although we make more than the road officers, we get very little overtime. Many of my old motor buddies make more with their o/t than I do.

How common is it to get your ratings and not pass the Department's "tests". Our internal standards must be greater than the FAA, if pilots can pass the FAA certifications, but not ours. I don't mind shelling out the money, but it would really suck to do so and then fail to meet our requirements.

[1982]

It happened in my unit. It's too bad though since he put a lot of money into his training.

Nick

[gofly]

Very interesting topic (for me especially) and I'd like to add a few questions that, hopefully, you guys can answer.

Can you go into a little more detail about the department's training program? What types of maneuvers are taught, what are the tolerances?

Are the CHP pilots who teach the new CHP pilots CFIs? (I don't think they have to be in this situation but I was wondering.) As an aside, for aspiring pilots, if the CHP pilot is an instructor then sometimes the observer can legally log training hours and gain experience for future ratings in certain situations. I'm not sure this is what the CHP would want but it would be FAA legal.

What class medical is needed to work as a CHP pilot? Is flying for the CHP considered commercial flying or can the work be considered "incidental to the job" of being a CHP officer? (I understand the REQUIREMENT to be eligible for the position of pilot, CHP is commercial pilot with instrument rating, but I'm not sure that the actual job requires a second class medical.)


To everyone working on their certificates or ratings: don't stress about any of the tests too much. By the time you are doing your exam you should be overprepared, if you have a good instructor. If you are not confident and capable when you are taking a test then you weren't ready for it in the first place. But it all comes down to the instructor. Make sure you have a great instructor THAT YOU LIKE. It's the most important thing about learning to fly. And there are so many great instructors out there that there is no reason to be with someone you are not happy with or who is not going to make you a great pilot.

thanks.

good luck...be safe

[16528]

I'll take a stab at this and maybe Edgerton will jump in too..

Are the CHP pilots who teach the new CHP pilots CFIs?
I think the officers who are taught go private..

As an aside, for aspiring pilots, if the CHP pilot is an instructor then sometimes the observer can legally log training hours and gain experience for future ratings in certain situations. I'm not sure this is what the CHP would want but it would be FAA legal.
The majority of the pilots I know are also CFII's

What class medical is needed to work as a CHP pilot?
Second Class

Is flying for the CHP considered commercial flying or can the work be considered "incidental to the job" of being a CHP officer? (I understand the REQUIREMENT to be eligible for the position of pilot, CHP is commercial pilot with instrument rating, but I'm not sure that the actual job requires a second class medical.)
I think the dept. operates under part 91..

If you know the FAR's, you know the dept. is exempt.

Hope this helps,

from a rotorhead

[propeller26]

Each unit has a training pilot who must be at least a CFI, but most unit training pilots are CFII's. As far as having a flight officer that is a pilot and flying with a training pilot and logging of that time, the dept does not allow that (in most instances). As for the maneuvers, they are straight out of the FAA Commercial standards, however, the dept standards are much stricter. There have been quite a few people that are qualified to enter pilot training that do not make it through the entire training curriculum. Like I said, the dept standards are pretty high.

The Dept requires pilots have a class II and flight officers have a class III medical.

As far as the written tests, they are difficult and will show how well you really know your material. The material covered is very vast, ranging from dept policy, FAA regs, and aircraft specific data.

The dept operates under FAR Part 91, however, a case could be made that we are public use aircraft and therefore don't have to comply with the FAR's. This argument would be better applied to the helicopter as the airplanes routinely transport civilians, which eliminate them from operating as public use. It is a very convoluted subject.

[gofly]

Thanks for answering my questions.

good luck...be safe