Getting Out Plans?

[AlbieF15]

HH,

Easy for me to say...I'm working, but if you want to be an airline pilot you have got to be available when the hiring happens.

Will that be in 2 years...5 years....who knows?

I'd work as hard as I could to get a part time/full time ANG/Reserve job. C130 units historically need folks, as guys leave/quit once they are secure enough in the airline careers. Fighter units are tougher, but not impossible. There are also some non-flying ASOC type jobs out there...an option for money/security if you could find even a low paying flying job to keep you current while you wait for the next wave.

Good luck--it ain't easy right now...but eventually things will change.

 

[T1bubba]

I think it's funny how all these Navy dudes are running to the AF. They're finally realizing that if you want to fly, join the service that does the most flying, not the most sailing.

You're absolutely right. That's why I'm joining the ANG!



T1bubba

 

[BacktoAA]

HoursH,

I assume you're also at Enid, America. I know of at least one of your brethren that has come over to the Light side here on the Tweet side and is flying white jets for another 3 years vs. sailing. I know of a couple of others seriously considering it. Man, I would sure give that some thought. You can do that for 3 years, still sock away some $$$ (or fly for Comair????), and then come to AA and be only 110 #s junior to me (or wherever, I'm defenitly not saying AA is the place to be!!). Not having a full-time job sucks. Trying to find one now will even suck harder. The reserves worked good for a year, but now looking at 3-5 out, it's back to active duty for me.

Good Luck!

 

[FL510GV]

Type?

HH, Disco, et al,

Don't buy a G-V type... it'll cost you around $40K and there are less than 150 G-V's in the world that have civilian pilots. I have nearly 1000 hours in the G-V (C-37A) and a lot of contacts... but not being available has cost me some jobs (wasn't even interviewed because of availability date) with the G-V. I separate in Nov. and go to training in Dec for Barney, so I am still not really available. The G-V is a great type to have, but you have to be able to jump immediately... no one who needs a G-V or other business jet pilot can/wants to wait 90+ days for their pilot.

Get out so that you can jump!, or, stay in so that you can put food on the table? My Reserve job is a great way to keep serving (we are at war, right?), keep current and put food on the table... I just can't jump quite so high, but at least I can jump (like Larry Bird).

Check out www.pilots4rent.com, there is an American 777 Captain who's retiring who just bought a G-V type and wants a job. Who's going to compete with that?

 

[pony251]

Hourshore, I feel your pain. I finished a cruise on the TR in March and dropped my letter the next month. 159 days straight at sea absolutely blew. I got hired by Atlantic Coast(regional) and the ANG to fly a-10's. Haze grey and underway is no place to be. The money is horrendous the first year but I saved up for it. The ANG will help once my package makes it thru all the wickets. After you get over the pride thing, going to the AF is a pretty good deal. Everyone is right in that you need to know somebody to set you apart from the crowd. Air Inc conference sealed the deal for me to get an interview. Dude, it is a tough place to be. You have to be very humble with the civilians because all your military stuff doesn't mean jack sh!! to them. Good luck

we've got it suitcased,what could possibly go wrong

 

[Skyrunner]

Try not to chase the buck

I was AD for 11 years. All 130s. Going to an ANG 130 bum job. All my buds decided to stay in because of the money (mainly healthcare). I love these guys and respect them, but they are staying in for the money, which, IMO, should not be a strong reason to stay in. If you want to continue serving and fighting wars, great. I just don't want to hear these guys complaining when the airlines start hiring again and they are locked into an ADSC.

Stability of a guard job is my priority. Same place and steady work. My kids get to grow up with the same friends and attend good schools. Besides, Home Depot is hiring. Now I finally have an excuse for my wife of getting my dream job, working full-time with power tools and driving a forklift.

Regards,

SR

 

[CCDiscoB]

Pony251 Wrote:

After you get over the pride thing, going to the AF is a pretty good deal.

You Navy guys crack me up. You make it sound like you're stepping down from a Cadillac to a VW. Like I said earlier, "I think it's funny how all these Navy dudes are running to the AF and ANG." If the AF is so bad why don't you guys just go to the Naval Reserve?

 

[KC-10 Driver]

HoursHore,

If you can line up a guard/reserve flying job (even as a part timer), you should get out if that's what you want to do.

I've been a bum on two different occasions, and I've always made more than enough money to feed my wife and kids. The worst part of troughing is buying the major medical insurance for a family (and I live in NJ, among the highest insurance rates in the nation). If you are single, it's almost a no-brainer.

Of course, every unit is different as far as letting you work. But, whenever it became apparent that the squadron purse strings might be tight for a while, I would find work outside my unit. You can always freelance, so to speak.

In my case, I pulled shifts in the host unit's active duty command post as a duty officer (the active duty AF paid my mandays). On another occasion, I volunteered to do five weeks at Ramstein, Germany working at the AMC command post there (that was an awesome assignment -- Germany in the middle of the summer & my family with me).

What I'm trying to say is that if you are single, and find a guard/reserve job to pay the bills & stay current, you should get off active duty if that's what you want.

Take the leap, and don't look back. You want to be available when you win the airline-job lottery!

Good luck.

 

[KC-10 Driver]

Oh yeah, it wouldn't hurt to find that Sugar Mama too!

 

[orioncontract]

I couldn't resist!

CC
The Navy Reserve has standards--you guys get our rejects!

All seriousness now, we're joint down my way, and the differences come down to this (stand by for oversimplification):

Air Force has the money (no expensive ships to spend it all on), so you have a better lifestyle (build the golf course and Q, then beg for some more $$ to build the runway and ramp). Navy/Marines share the money (and the Marines definitely get the short end of that "deal"), but have the freedom to act (no Supervisor Of Flying looking over our shoulder) specifically in regards to regulations (if it does not specifically say we can't, then we can). The Air Force guys kind of find Navy flying liberating so to speak, but don't appreciate the amenities.

We've had a few go AD AF, but of the four going/gone, three are/were helo looking to build multi time via blue uniforms and O-4 pay rather than regionals. The three gone miss our flight regs.

Kew Gardens has hired lots of guys from our wing (I think about 10 in the last year and a half, probably about 80% of the guys getting out, in fact--half AF, half N) but the new computerized system has put a kybosh (sp?) on the mafia connections (just in time for me--yea!).

HH
As far as the boat goes, I am so with you on that shooter crap. My wife puts it this way--"If you're not flying, you're not happy, which I just don't feel like putting up with." Not to mention that the whole crappy senior Navy leadership culture is a complete turnoff to me--entirely different generation, with all the wrong priorities, both professionally (too much careerisim/bobbing head syndrome) and personally (hooray--six or more months away from the family hanging out with the fraternity brothers/fellow alcoholics. Jeez, don't you people have a WIFE and KIDS? Ohhhhh, you don't care; I get it now.).

I start Comair when they call and am sending out resumes with anyone local in case they don't. I'll get my flying fix either way because I was selected for the local reserve unit. Hopefully that will be better than the 18 hour days shooting someone else off the front end to go have fun sticking it to the intolerant zealots. I'm pretty sure it will be.