REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Police Department is recruiting volunteer pilots to participate in its Air Support Unit, RedHawk1.
Pilots must be at least 21 years old with at least a private pilot’s license, current medical certificate and at least 300 hours of Pilot in Command flight time in a fixed-wing, general aviation aircraft, with significant time in a Cessna 172. Pilots will fly the department’s Redhawk, a refurbished 172 (similar to the one pictured below).
Volunteer pilots will be required to pass a background check, drug test and interview, as well as explain their reason for volunteering and their flight experience. They will also be required to pass a flight test.
Those selected must be able to fly at least one five-hour shift a month and participate in trimester safety meetings.
The Air Support Unit, using volunteer pilots, many of whom are retired law enforcement officers, and a specially outfitted Cessna 172 provides patrol and surveillance support to Redlands Police officers and special units on the ground.
The Air Support Unit flies between 700 and 1,000 hours a year in a variety of duties, including patrolling the city’s streets, neighborhoods and canyon areas, assisting ground units, and providing surveillance assistance to specialized units.
The Air Support Unit also provides support through a mutual aid agreement with the Fontana Police Department.
To volunteer, send an e-mail with your qualifications and contact information to [email protected] or call 909-798-7681.
Pilots of government owned aircraft are not required to have FAA certificates at all!
http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_00-1_1A.pdf
Typical government excepting themselves
Needs a FAA waiver. Civil Air Patrol has one for example. Without the waiver though, it would be a violation to log the time as a private pilot.
awwww, if it’s a good idea, FAA probably won’t like it.
This doesn’t apply specifically to the story, but usually police pilots are officers first and fly as an assignment. As such, they are not specifically paid as pilots and are not required to have a commercial license. However, many if not most departments with an established aviation unit require their pilots to have a commercial license because it’s just better to have that higher level of training. The FAA also gives waivers to law enforcement on FARs concerning minimum altitudes and the like. This sounds like a great program, especially with some retired cops doing it.
I am in Greece, may I join you? I personally find this idea fantastic !!!!!!!
It is odd that they say they fly 700-1000 flight hours a year so why would they need volunteers? Law enforcement decisions require quick thinking and accurate decisions, something I feel would be hard for a volunteer to learn without law enforcement experience. It’s good they employ retired cops but why not train some of their own to fly. Seems like a better idea to me instead of saving money with volunteers
Joe,
Volunteers will be flying a 172 not running around in a squad car. They will be flying boring patrols and reporting on what they will consider suspicious. Or they might be dispatched to look at something.
I flew hundreds of hours like this for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. You always train for special ops and once in a while you may be able to use your training. Other wise it’s boring patrol flying, reporting in every half hour.
I assume this is flown under part 91. The FAA in their infinite wisdom has said in the past that flight time can be considered compensation.
Agree. FAA would require the pilot to hold a commercial certificate. A private pilot would have to pay a pro rata share of the operating expenses (e.g., fuel cost) since this is not a charitable event.
Jenny,
Not so, you can volunteer your services, under part 91, as a private pilot. Look at the EAA Young Eagles program. Private pilots give free rides to kids, sometimes receiving a break on gas from local FBO’s. I believe PHILLIPS refunds $1.00/ gallon if you use their card at a PHILLIPS FBO. ALl good with the FAA .
Stu,
I think the difference is that volunteer pilots flying the Young Eagles are either bringing their own airplanes or renting airplanes at their own cost. EAA does not supply airplanes for the YE pilots. Since pilots are paying for the cost of the flight, private pilots, meeting EAA YE requirements, can carry out the operations.
In this case, PD provide the airplane, funded by tax payers. I will be interested to know what FAA has to say.
The bigger problem is who pays for the fuel and the maintenance on the plane. Even if volunteering the cost of the plane, fuel and maintenance not born by the PIC are clearly not allowed for non commercial pilots.
I’m sure the lawyers and FAA will figure it out. The CAP has a similar arrangement.
I still think it’s a great idea.
Great idea, civilians helping stressed law inforcement. I flew for the Coastguard Auxiliary. Very satisfying and saved the Coastguard a boat load of money.
I’m sure the police will do a good job of veting and training applicants. Wish I was closer, I would volunteer.
You’re not flying for hire.
No different than CAP.
I believe this would be considered holding out for services. So a commercial certificate should be required. Aside from that I would worry about the quality of the people who are willing to fly for free. Seems like a risky idea.
Why risky? There is no pay, it’s there airplane. Day or night VFR I don’t see the problem.
The police dept will train and decide each applicants abilities. Great way to give back to the community.
My idea too, Stu. Cheers from The Netherlands!
Great idea to give back to the force and community. Plus free flight time in someone else’s aircraft. I wish I wasn’t 1000 miles away, I would do it.
A lot of private pilots (like myself) find that as life happens, flying money falls lower and lower on the priority list. My kids eat all of my flying money. I keep telling them to get jobs so I can fly but nobody wants to hire 5 and 6 year olds. Something about child labor laws. None of that changes the fact that I would love to spend some time in the air if I could afford to. With hourly 172 rentals pushing the cost of a used car payment it just isn’t reasonable to stay current. All I would be paying for is keeping my log book current. Bit having the opportunity to put half a day in the air every month at little or no cost would change that entire picture. Any additional currency requirements would rarely cost more than a modest date withy wife. And that occasional trip to Catalina for lunch with the kids would be a little more within reach too. None of that in any way diminishes my ability to safely opperate a 172 in southern CA. Unfortunately I live on the other side of the country now or I would jump on that.
Great plan! We should set this up in Europe, too.