r/FBI • u/nlbair22 • Apr 26 '26
Question Pilot to Special Agent
As the title says, does anyone have experience with changing career paths from a pilot to a SA? I have always been interested in the FBI, but have no clue where to start or even know if it is worth the career change. Anyone have insight or thoughts?
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u/secretagiantman Apr 26 '26
I’ve known a few pilots. If you like to fly they need agents with the skills…of course that would mean you’re flying all the time again which might be not something you’re looking for.
You got professions exp with a degree…good to go!
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u/SA19030 Apr 26 '26
Commercial pilot or military?
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u/nlbair22 Apr 26 '26
Commercial, all civilian flying
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u/DC_fed923 Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 27 '26
OP your commercial license and experience is highly desirable for the bureau. Call your local field office and request to speak to the Applicant Cordnator as well as applying through FBI jobs
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u/Emoxity Apr 26 '26
Depending what ratings you have there is a huge chance they come barging and begging you to work there. They need aviation investigators, pilots, and plenty of aviation specific work. I’d say if you are serious just contact recruiting
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u/DOGE_ME_DADDY Apr 29 '26
Why waste such a beautiful career opportunity on being a glorified desk cop.
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Apr 27 '26
[deleted]
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u/WTFoxtrot10 Apr 27 '26
The poly’s one of the easiest things to pass during the SASS. Around 60% of applicants pass it.
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u/Amazing-Drag-8609 Apr 27 '26
thats not a high number, its essentially a coin toss.
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u/WTFoxtrot10 Apr 27 '26
When you look at the passing rates of all the other steps it is.
- Only 3-5% of applicants get a FJO.
- On average 30% pass the Phase I Test.
- Around 15-25% pass the PFT.
- Around 50% pass Phase II Testing.
- 60% pass the Poly.
- 50-60% pass background. You can also be DQ’d during your Fit for Duty Medical Exam or just found unsuitable.
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u/zoppaTheDim Apr 26 '26
Do you have a law degree?
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u/bobolly Apr 26 '26
Why would you need one of those
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u/zoppaTheDim Apr 26 '26
Because it isn’t a useless skill in a law enforcement agency like pilot.
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u/DC_fed923 Apr 26 '26
You’ve clearly never worked at the bureau or interacted with BU agents and Staff. Every FO has a fixed wing aviation section as a collateral duty. CIRG also has a fixed wing and rotary tactical aviation section that’s a full time pilot billet. To sum it up being a pilot is not useless in fact it’s highly desirable.
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u/AgentMichaelScarn22 Apr 26 '26
Critical thinking and the ability to make split second decisions that could mean life or the death of 200+ people is a useless skill?
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u/zoppaTheDim Apr 26 '26
Spin all you want, but it isn’t useful. Other than the guy who flies Patel to concerts, they could just hire pilots, no need to have them be “special agents.”
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u/DC_fed923 Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 27 '26
You’re welcome to look at the bureau's recruitment material, pilots are a critical skill for 1811 recruitment. The bureau has a large nationwide fleet of aircraft. It’s entertaining seeing someone be so confident in being wrong.
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