skeeter666
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2005
- Posts
- 127
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You guys have any updates? (Dynamic, L-3, Avenge etc.) I'm applying to all, I have 2500+ mil time, but is my lack of "time in type" a show stopper? Thanks.
Let's put the guts and glory aside here. They are flying King Air 300/350s. Alternates aren't a problem, you are flying as a military contractor so the world is your oyster. The mil will take you in and keep you comfy with PAR approaches, a DFAC and a shower. Also, bad guys shooting at you isn't going to be a problem. You are going to be really high making large orbits looking/listening for these people and you are going to get bored doing it. With two healthy pratts you aren't going to need a sidearm, you'll make it to an airport. Now if both donkeys konk out on ya, well, the paycheck was worth it right? That's why it's adventurous and worth telling your grandkids! If everything was copacetic then where's the fun?
Fly around these areas single engine and low level. That's when you worry about having an AK and/or MP5 and a runaway bag!
There are systems on board to detect when your being painted with radar or taking fire. There is also an armor plate under the seat along with some other equipment "to keep you alive" as they put it, but which they could not give details because I wasn't cleared yet. These are highly modified A/C.
They issue two automatic weapons per aircraft for each and every op- required!.
There's a lot of variability in the type of flying you can get assigned to. If you have a weird sense of humor and you're pretty mellow, you'll be fine. I'm including non DoD/DoS work into this, too.
Whether you carry a gun or not doesn't really matter unless you've got to do some of the weirder stuff. Weirder stuff would include going to a bank to get a sack of cash or otherwise exposing yourself to petty crime.
I guess I'm trying to say it doesn't really matter whether or not you're sent out to fly with a gun. There's more important stuff to consider.
Knowing what I know now, I'd advise guys to look at this:
If the company changes policies on you after you get into the country, are you going to be stuck? If the ******************** hits the fan, can you airline back out? Can you do this without using any of the company assets (drivers, contacts, etc.)?
Consider your transportation and housing. Til you get a month or two in-country, you're going to be living in the compound or other safe spot that you have. Life will be similar to that experienced on an aircraft carrier (luxury aircraft carrier?). If things are going to get under your skin over a week or two, you'll be crawling up the walls in month or two.
Where are your paychecks coming from, and is there anyone who goes to jail if you don't get the pay you're promised? (This won't be a likely factor with DoD or DoS stuff.) If pay isn't directly deposited into your US or EU bank accounts, can you get your cash out of the country? What banking and financial limitations and capabilities exist with regard to your potential assignment?
Evaluate the amount of support your potential employer gives its crews in the field. Compare what they tell you to what you hear from crews, handlers, etc. If there's a big split between what's advertised and what's delivered, be ready for a surprise. How do they plan on getting important parts to the base? How do they plan on taking care of maintenance? Is this realistic? How will parts move from the DHL airliner to your particular airplane? Will you have to hire a trusted local to escort your deliveries past certain authorities/agents?
Look at any other pertinent logistic and political concern regarding the assignment. You'll find that the DoD stuff based out of US military facilities is pretty chill compared to guys flying Dash-7s in Liberia.
If you do finally decide to go, know that you're going to get some nasty and some pleasant surprises. Roll with it, man, and try not to get sick. You'll have a really cool time, if you're whacked like me.
I'll have more info on Avenge in a few weeks.
No intel on L-3, they are a huge company though.