E2/c2

[skywiz]

Anyone here flown E2 or C2s? If so, how did you like the mission? Aircraft? Lots of flying time? Thanks.

 

[thebluto]

IF YOU CAN, DO IT!

I saw your post on P-3 and EP-3. I'm not sure if you can switch to E-2/C-2 if you're already in the P-3 pipeline. If you can, I'd switch in a heartbeat. Having experienced both, the CV world is much better and has a lot more opportunities (inside and outside the Navy) for you than the land-based prop world. PM me and I'll point you in the direction of some E-2/C-2 folks at NGP.

 

[firstthird]

Good question. Based on my admittedly limited experience with the civilian world, most airlines don't seem to care all that much about your specific military background (except if you were rotary wing and then they tend to discriminate against you in favor of your fixed wing brethern). That being said, a tactical jet guy will get hired with less total time than a P-3 or E-6 guy but they come out with less also. It seems that after a 10-12 year tour, fixed wing military guys are all on the same footing when it comes to getting hired by the majors. The helo guys seem to have to get some fixed wing experience first, maybe at a regional for a year or two, but they don't seem to have to get 5 or 6 thousand hours flying RJs that a pure civilian guy might have when he made the jump over to the majors.

I'm not sure what TheBluto is refering to about increased opportunities. I'm pretty much all P-3s and some VR though. If you are already in a pipeline, I'd like it and make the best of it. All Navy flying will be what you bring to it. Each has good/bad. Some things are more important to some guys than other things, i.e. some guys really want the shore basing whereas other guys want to be a tailhooker, to each his own. But in terms of marketability for the airlines in 11 years for you, I'd put most military fixed wing on an equal plaing field. You'll be a 'known product' regardelss of what you fly. And pretty much all the military planes are multi-engine (shout out to the viper guys) and over the 20,000k max GTOW that some apps ask for, exception being the C-12 or T-34 which tend to be the 2nd tour for some helo guys, once again kicking them in the jimmy. Pretty much sucks that way cause some weeks at selection you need jet mins and a pulse and you're an F-18 guy and other weeks unless you are top 2 of 15 you are flying helos. Helo guys can definitely still get to the majors but sometimes they have a longer, more difficult road through no fault of their own.

 

[T1bubba]

There are a few opportunities for CV folks in the civilian world that us shore based folks can't get, such as subject matter experts for defense contractors and that sort of thing. Many of those types of positions are aircraft specific though, I remember seeing an ad looking for someone with S-3 experience several months ago.

On the other hand there are other opportunities that we get that they don't. For example, I know several folks who have done contract work flying Travolta's 707.

As firstthird said, when it comes to airline hiring any fixed-wing military folks seem to end up about the same. My advice is to choose the platform that you think you'll enjoy the most and don't worry about your future opportunities. After all you're going to be flying whatever you end up with for a long time, you might as well enjoy it.

T1

 

[firstthird]

amen to that.

 

[Hugh Jorgan]

Pat,

The helo community is certainly not the kiss of death. I've never, EVER met a helo bubba that didn't like flying helos. Granted, the path to the majors is a bit bumpier, but not exceptionally. On the other hand, there are opportunities for helo bubbas that us fixed-wingers don't have. Out here in Hawaii, there are lots of helo dudes flying for the helicopter tour companies and making okay money doing so. One of the guys I fly with out here does helo tours on the side and it works out well for him. While on active duty, there are plenty of fixed wing shore duty jobs for helo folks. you'll see that quite soon when you start primary. Maybe half of those guys are rotorheads? There are also station pilots flying C-12's and C-20's and many go on to TAR jobs flying C-9's, 737s, etc.

Just give it your all, get the gold wings, have fun at wherever the needs of the Navy sends you and everything will be cool.

 

[skywiz]

Ques. for thebluto

I am curious why you say to switch if at all possible to carrier? I do have some concerns about P-3s breaking down and hearing certain things about the P-3 having a 40% mission completion rate. I don't know if they are rumours or not. Could you elaborate alittle more. Thanks!

 

[thebluto]

CHECK YOUR PMs

skywiz:
I sent you a PM. I'd be happy to talk to you in person. I'm just across the "C" parking ramp from VT-35.
thebluto

 

[thebluto]

Skywiz, did you switch?

Skywiz, did you switch? One of the CNATRA reps told me someone that was just finishing up King Airs switched their pipeline from P-3 to E-2 this week.

The gouge is there won't be anyone selecting P-3 slots for a while out of primary. The community is shrinking.

E-2s aren't a bad way to go. I know a few E-2 guys who got to cross-train in the F/A-18 as CAG LSOs. I also know a few former E-2 guys who became COs of EA-6B squadrons.

I'm jealous if you switched. I tried to switch a few years ago and was somewhat disappointed in the abrupt culture shock from Carrier Aviation to land-based Naval Aviation. It's just a different breed of folks.

 

[Orionpilot]

Let's see, E-2/C-2 - 6 month deployments on the boat, no perdiem, no beer!

P-3's, 6 month deployments on land with the opportunity to det to other locations, PERDIEM! and a cold beer (or two) after a ten hour mission!

Unless you enjoy long separations from your family while enjoying the accomodations that a carrier has to offer, choose fixed wing land based.

 

[thebluto]

Nice Thoughts, but not always true

I could go on and on about the falacy of how the P-3 community may sound great from the no boat/endless beer party/no family separation/Per Diem perspective. It really doesn't turn out that way in the long haul. If it was so great, people would be lined up around the block to do Department Head tours in both good economies and bad: doesn't happen.

I've seen both sides of the coin and the boat wasn't that bad, P-3s weren't that great. There is pain all over, no matter what part of the Navy you're in.

However, with the rumors of cutting squadrons and the realization that there is no real replacement aircraft, the so-called "party" may be over, or at least, greatly diminished.

 

[skywiz]

Yes

The Bluto,

Yes, I have switched to E2/C2s. I am excited about it. It is an interesting story about how is happened. Ill stop by stucon and be interested to hear about the carrier community. (I don't know too much about it). Skywiz

 

[skywiz]

Pat,

I am currently here in intermediates(vt-35) in Corpus. I did primary here as well. I definitely recommend coming out here for primary if you can. I like it better out here than P-cola. If you are lucky, when you come out here, you may be able to det out to Las Cruces for Contact, PAs, Forms stages of training. Both vt-27 and 28 do that around January and Feb. Its a blast.

As far as the wait goes, get used to it. Pretty much anywhere you go , there is a wait. A friend just finished intermediates (in the T44 for E2s) and he doesn't even class up for advanced down in Kingsville until October. When I started primary, the wait was about 1 month. I have heard there is quite a wait down here though.

 

[thebluto]

Patmack18,Keep treading, it'll come soon

Patmack:
I'm not sure what the flow is like on the API side, but things could possibly start moving soon. We had some really bad weather months in Corpus up until June.

But we're flying like madmen now. Right now, we've got a logjam of 40 students, in just our squadron, waiting to finish formation flights. As soon as they cycle through, there should be a steady outflow from primary until the weather gets bad again come November.

Everything happens in waves. You'll be out of the water soon.

 

[Mentorplt]

Per Diem or Da Boat??

One thing to consider is what your end goal might be. Do you want to be a career Navy dude or airline driver??

If the airlines are your choice, I believe (IMHO) P-3's are the way to go. If you want to stay Navy (all the power to you) then go the boat route.

IP