Airborne law enforcement (ALE) officers work within police and other agencies’ aviation units, using aircraft to conduct and assist operations, ranging from routine patrols to search-and-rescue (SAR). The Department of Justice estimates about 350 of the 18,000 law enforcement agencies in the U.S. use airborne assets daily, but many don’t disclose aircraft and personnel numbers for security reasons. Daniel Schwarzbach, a senior officer and helicopter pilot with the Houston Police Department, and executive director/CEO of the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA), explains the path to these exciting careers.
How to Become an Airborne Law Enforcement Officer
Key Takeaways:
- Airborne law enforcement (ALE) units provide critical air support for various police missions, including patrols, search-and-rescue, and ground assistance, utilizing both rotor and fixed-wing aircraft, typically crewed by a pilot and a Tactical Flight Officer.
- To become an ALE officer in the U.S., individuals are usually required to be sworn police officers with several years of ground patrol experience, and pilots generally need at least a commercial license, though some departments offer internal flight training.
- ALE officer salaries are typically based on police rank with additional incentive pay, and the field is evolving with the increasing integration of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), which are also operated by trained pilots within aviation units.
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