Surprising to some, the FBI has quite a large aviation unit. Although the FBI does not publish much information about its aviation program, recent estimates have put the number of airplanes at around 80, which means there are probably a couple of hundred pilots operating those planes. Becoming one of those pilots is going to be quite challenging, but if you've got the right qualifications, if you work hard, and if you persevere, you might just find yourself flying for one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the world.

Becoming an FBI Pilot

Complete a four-year college or university degree. If you want to gain entrance into the accounting, computer science/information technology, language or law programs, you must have a degree in those disciplines. If you'd like to gain acceptance to the diversified program, you must have a degree in any discipline and three years of full-time work experience, or an advanced degree (e.g. a graduate degree) and two years of full-time work experience. Study hard and try to achieve the highest possible grade-point average (GPA) you can.

Become a certified pilot. You don't have to be a military pilot, but you do have to obtain your rating through a flight school in the United States. Try to get as much flight experience as you possibly can before applying to be an FBI pilot. Your chances of being hired will be greater.

Complete training at the FBI academy in Quantico, Virginia, to become an FBI agent. To apply you must be a U.S. citizen or a citizen of the Northern Mariana Islands, you must be at least 23 years old, you must have a four-year college or university degree, you must have at least three years of work experience, and you must have a valid driver's license.

Apply for an FBI pilot position when it becomes available. Of course, no one knows when these pilot positions will come up, but if you're already an FBI agent and you have aviation training and extensive flight experience, your chances of getting one of the positions when they become available will be good.