CG Duty station information

[mudkow60]

Hello-

I am trying to select a Coast Guard duty station, and was wondering if anyone had any info or advice on the following:

San Diego / San Fransisco / Humbolt Bay / Astoria / Port Angles / North Bend / Clearwater / Barbers Point

Thanks.

 

[MaxTorque]

Many things go into such a choice. The personality of the wardroom, the CO, but even if these things aren't optimum, it is only temporary as people cycle through. The mission mix/profile for some of these units do stay somewhat consistent over time. For instance a big unit like Clearwater is going to be a lot different from one of the more sleepy three helo units. SOme units deploy more than others. I have only been to Clearwater and that is big and busy - but very exciting and some great flying - mostly VFR over warm water. If you want to get more weather flying the NW is for you. See what you can learn about the unit mission personality but wherever you and your family prefer geographically normally is the deciding factor!

MT

 

[sardaddy]

Matt,

Please email me or PM me and I will give you as much gouge as I can on each. But in the mean time, has the detailer told you which airframe he is leaning toward sending you yet? that will determine a lot. But from the list you have they are all great spots.

By the way, the H-65 is way better. No matter what a pig iron pilot tells you.

 

[psysicx]

Probably a stupid question but why is there more duty stations for the 65?

 

[sardaddy]

There are more h-65 stations simply because there are more h-65s. And there are more H-65s because they are cheaper and are more versatile. They can be deployed on more ships in more regions than the H-60 can. But the H-60 has a lot longer legs so the stations don't have to be as close to cover the same area.

 

[Falconjet]

?

There are more h-65 stations simply because there are more h-65s. And there are more H-65s because they are cheaper and are more versatile. They can be deployed on more ships in more regions than the H-60 can. But the H-60 has a lot longer legs so the stations don't have to be as close to cover the same area.

Cheaper certainly, but more versatile, I don't think so. The only reason they do more things is because the CG doesn't have any ships big enough to land the H60 on. The H-65 is underpowered and can't hoist more than 1 or 2 people and still make it back to land.

The H-60 has bucu power and call haul about 8-10 folks with ease. Plus, it doesn't deploy on the backs of ships, so you don't have to worry about PopDiv or ship helo.

I would go for the H-60 at all costs. After that, go for geography preference. Remember of course why they call it a dream sheet. The detailer is going to put you where they need you anyway.

Good luck and congrats again Mudkow.

H-65 drivers: Please don't hate me! I only call them the way I see them.

FJ

 

[sardaddy]

"H-65 drivers: Please don't hate me! I only call them the way I see them"

Now why would I hate someone just because they are wrong?

Why would I say more versatile? Because they conduct more missions in more locations and they can be placed on more vessels than an H-60, thus more versatile. You are familiar with the term?

"The H-65 is underpowered and can't hoist more than 1 or 2 people and still make it back to land."

Unlike the mighty HU-25 which can hoist how many people? I forget.

It is so sad that someone who was actually a pilot in the CG has this thought. The H-65A and the HH-65B are underpowered to a point but the HH-65C certainly isn't. It has a greater power to weight ratio than the H-60.

I have flown over 100 miles off shore, rescued four people, and returned to land in an "A" model. In a "B" model I had 10 survivors in the back during Katrina. Granted half were children it was still 10 survivors. And in the H-65C I have done things that H-60 pilots only dream of doing. So your recollection of H-65 power is a bit scewed.


"Plus, it doesn't deploy on the backs of ships, so you don't have to worry about PopDiv or ship helo."

Spoken like a true Falcon pilot. Some of us actually like to deploy on ships and do Coast Guard work. Besides there is no POPDIV anymore.

"I would go for the H-60 at all costs."

So why didn't you? I don't think there is anything wrong with any of the airframes and a new CG pilot would most likely be happy with either of them. The only problem with the H-60 is the lack of duty stations. Five vs seventeen. And if you stay to the point of becoming an OPS boss, your chance of being OPS at an H-60 unit are slim.

Don't hate me, I'm only calling it like I see it. :laugh:

 

[Falconjet]

See Kow, this is what you have to look forward to now, that lively banter between the real pilots in the CG (Falcon drivers), and the other guys they let hang around in the wardroom, the helo drivers. I know that you are a diehard helo driver, and thus will be able to dish it out real good like Sardaddy.

Now Sardaddy, how many times did you have to stop and refuel on your way out 100 miles? How many fixed-wing guys were flying up above you waiting for you so they could show you where the 4 people were and relay the comms for you? How many rigs did you have to land on on the way back to get more gas?

Ok, ok, these aren't fair questions, you didn't build or buy the H65. A former boss of mine informed me by pm that you guys would be coming back with the mighty C model and upgraded power argument, and here you are. Can't believe though that it took the CG 20+ years to figure out that they needed more power for those plastic puppies. Who knows, with a little more power maybe you guys can fill that thing up with survivors more often.

No PopDiv, man I am out of touch, thankfully.

In all seriousness, I have the utmost respect for the helo AND fixed wing aviators in the CG, especially the enlisted crew who put it out there on the line with the pilots everyday and night. Truely an honorable and heroic bunch.

Ok, back to the barbs!

FJ

 

[Falconjet]

Just in case you missed it in my first post, by the way, the only really important thing I said was go for geography and then don't worry about it too much because they are going to send you where ever they want to anyway!

FJ

 

[sardaddy]

I do hope those reading this do realize as falconjet said, this is just banter, I hold no ill will for our corporate jet brethren.

Just for the record falconjet, I did it on one bag of gas, no refuel, no rigs off of Puerto Rico, and the HU-25 "overhead cover" as typically happens, arrived as I was departing scene.

For those of you who are making your requests to the detailer realize there isn't a bad air station in the Coast Guard. Think about which airframe you would like to fly, realizing that due to current requirements you will probably be told you like H-65s by the detailer.

But after that think about where you think would be a great place to go and ask for it. The worse he can do is say no. By the way the current detailer is a falcon pilot so don't be too hard on him.