Today’s airborne law enforcement (ALE) pilots perform more than police work. At the California Highway Patrol (CHP), law enforcement is halfway down the list of aircrews’ seven missions, superseded by emergency response, homeland security and rural roadway patrol. “All these missions are about public service,” says Lt. Mike Sedam, commander of CHP’s Office of Air Operations, whose 88 pilots operate 15 fixed-wing and 15 rotor aircraft.
How to Become an Airborne Law Enforcement Pilot
Key Takeaways:
- Airborne Law Enforcement (ALE) pilots' roles are expanding beyond traditional police work to include diverse public safety missions such as emergency response, homeland security, and search-and-rescue.
- Reflecting this shift, the Airborne Law Enforcement Association (ALEA) rebranded to the Airborne Public Safety Association (APSA) to be more inclusive of these varied missions and collaborating agencies.
- While the number of agencies operating public safety aircraft has grown, employment opportunities for pilots remain largely static, with typical requirements including a bachelor's degree, law enforcement experience, and specific flight qualifications.
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