Law enforcement and firefighting agencies of most counties and large cities operate a wide variety of aircraft on missions of public safety and service. If you're thinking about flying professionally, your timing is excellent. Aviation is booming. If you think the parade has passed you by, you may want to think again. Many men and women now flying regional airlines and corporate jets didn't even start pilot training until they were over the age of 40, when they felt a career change was in order.
Pilot training is a blend of academic study and in-flight instruction.
Academics for your private pilot certificate equate roughly to a college semester of study. Toward the end of your training, your instructor will schedule the FAA written examination required for your private pilot certificate. You and your instructor begin your flying lessons by learning how to preflight the plane for airworthiness. Federal regulations require a minimum of 40 hours total flight training, and half of this must be solo flying time. These hours, however, were established decades ago, when lightplanes were far less sophisticated and flew slower, traffic was lighter and there was less need to know air traffic control procedures.