Also called: Air Support Officer, Aviation Unit Pilot
Flies helicopters to track suspects, search for missing people, and support officers from above.
Police pilots fly at night with infrared cameras, spotting fleeing suspects hiding in backyards or lost hikers in the woods. A tactical flight officer beside them runs the camera and radio. Some units do hoist rescues too.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 6 years after high school. Police officer experience plus commercial helicopter pilot license; many come from the military.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Military, Certification. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Aviation, Criminal Justice.
Growing about average (about 3% over 10 years). Police and detectives 2024-34 (approx.); specialty units are small.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Cheap 911 drones now handle many searches police helicopters once flew, so fewer pilot seats by the 2030s.
Classes: Physics, Geography / map reading, Precalculus, PE / fitness.
Official data: O*NET occupation 53-2011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.