Life as an Air Force Airlift / Cargo Pilot

[akmountaineer]

I'm considering joining the AF and pursuing an airlift / cargo track, and I was wondering if there are any AF pilots on this board that can provide some insight into what it's like being a pilot in this sort of environment, and perhaps what day to operations are like, and how the schedules and duties differ from the world of commercial aviation. Thanks very much for the information.

 

[Mamma]

If you become an AF heavy pilot, get ready for a lot of fun, challenges, and pain. 26 hour crew duty days, TDY half the year to Germany, Qatar, Kyrgzestan, or Kuwait. It is a rough life, but rewarding. These days if you want to be a flying whore, you can get about 700-800 hours a year. C-17s go out for about 2 weeks a trip and then you are home for about 2 weeks then back out. I imagine this will all go down a little as more 17s are built and units open up.

 

[CUEBOAT]

akmoutaineer makes it sound as if it is a simple as just signing up. This is the type of airforce flying I am interested in also. How does one become an AF heavy pilot? any help is appreciated.

 

[akmountaineer]

akmoutaineer makes it sound as if it is a simple as just signing up. This is the type of airforce flying I am interested in also. How does one become an AF heavy pilot? any help is appreciated.

Cueboat, you can find everything you ever wanted to know about getting into the AF and a lot more at: http://www.airforcelife.net/

 

[akmountaineer]

If you become an AF heavy pilot, get ready for a lot of fun, challenges, and pain. 26 hour crew duty days, TDY half the year to Germany, Qatar, Kyrgzestan, or Kuwait. It is a rough life, but rewarding. These days if you want to be a flying whore, you can get about 700-800 hours a year. C-17s go out for about 2 weeks a trip and then you are home for about 2 weeks then back out. I imagine this will all go down a little as more 17s are built and units open up.

Thanks for your input, Mamma. After the two week trips do they give you some time off to recoup, or is it duty as usual?

 

[Mamma]

You will have a desk job like scheduling or training. You also have sims, classes, local proficiency flights, and misc TDYs' for training. It is always busy. But like anything, you get used to it. Usually they give you about 4 days off after a 2 week trip. Sucks if you get back on a Friday because the weekend eats 2 of them.

 

[Flyprdu]

That's a great journal website on OTS and beyond.

First one I've seen that has videos.

Outstanding.

 

[stonewall]

akmoutaineer makes it sound as if it is a simple as just signing up. This is the type of airforce flying I am interested in also. How does one become an AF heavy pilot? any help is appreciated.

Eat a lot. Eventually the only way to get you into the cockpit will be by greasing your hips and putting a twinkie on the dash. Good luck!

 

[dtfl]

Or you could swear off male children (due to the Gs), tighten your face, throw CRM out the window and be the only guy in the bar that thinks you are really cool - and fly F16s and make comments like this SEAD pilot just made.
Don't worry as a cargo pilot you still get more real combat time and any fighter, except the A-10.
And yes Magnum I have a hell of a lot more time than you over a combat zone....putting actual lead on a target also.

 

[Skyrunner]

Eat a lot. Eventually the only way to get you into the cockpit will be by greasing your hips and putting a twinkie on the dash. Good luck!

WEDGE

 

[AlbieF15]

...I'm awfully proud to have flown the F15, and even did some air to mud stuff (sort of) in an OV-10...

That aside, 2 of my best buddies from UPT flew C141s out CHS for 4 years and did some awesome stuff. Flew POWs out of Lebanon, flew DVs into/out of Russia, Panama invasion, aluminum airbridge for Desert Shield/Desert Storm, SOL (special ops & low level stuff), etc etc. Bottom line is "heavy drivers" did a lot of great work and had a blast too. At the time, as young Lts and Capts, they didn't do a LOT of additional duties so when they weren't busting their butts flying across time zones they had more time off that I did as a FAC in a psuedo-fighter squadron build around the TAC model. 2005 may be a lot different than 1991, but overall it seemed like a great life to me.

As an interview coach, I've heard some remarkable "there I was..." stories from Navy and AF heavy types about trips into some wild and exotic locations. I have heard a ton of combat stories from C130 guys going into the various AORs in the mid-east. I've got my "I led a 10 ship OSW package" stories, but nothing like the NVG blackout landings into Baghdad stories I've heard. One thing 18 years in the AF and ANG has taught me is that our old Uncle Sam does a heck of a good job getting almost everyone into the fight eventually, so follow your heart, do your job, and understand you may be getting shot at even if you are flying a "sissy plane" like a transport. I spent the last 13 years hoping to get to shoot at a Mig, Mirage, or Sukoi in the wrong place at the wrong time, but it just never happened. Meanwhile, a lot of non fighter types from my UPT went on to go around the world in harm's way, doing some pretty exciting stuff. DO NOT GO TO HEAVIES THINKING ITS A "SAFE" JOB. You don't load chaff and flares on those jets just for pretty posters. (See Goose17 for details on this...)

Does this mean I'd rather fly a KC-135 than an F15? No way! I love being a fighter pilot, having a pickle button and a gun, etc etc etc. However, you might want to ask that Herc or C17 guy how many assault landings he's done into "Injun country" before getting too high and mighty.

But for our SEAD bro...yeah..the block 50/52 is a beast...and thanks for all the suppression.

Party on...

 

[coho92]

11 yr Hvy pilot - It can be both fun and draining. Yes I've stayed in 5 star hotels around the world, had a beer in over 60 different countries, and an incredible "MAC" collection before I got married and watched it disappear during the first 6 months of wedded bliss. On the down side - TDY greater than 180 days a year while flying the line, thankful for a one year desk job where you fly a couple of times a month for local training, 24 hour duty day standard, sometimes a 30+; can be rewarding, once medivaced a 5 day old infant with heart problem from japan to CA, had to stay below 20K to keep cabin alt at sea level, 2 air refuelings (1 night) 14+ hour flight - Child lived!! Now that makes you feel good. Like any AF job, you must be a good officer first and pilot second - but would I trade to fly a fighter - No Way - They're glad I'm there to bring in the beans an bullets and YBYSA I feel good knowing they're plowing a big hole in the sky so I can squeeze my big self into the AOR.


PS
What do you call a fighter pilot with an IQ of 160?

A flight of four

 

[Steeler Fan]

Or you could swear off male children (due to the Gs), tighten your face, throw CRM out the window and be the only guy in the bar that thinks you are really cool - and fly F16s and make comments like this SEAD pilot just made.

1. I know the Fighter guys are teaching CRM--In fact they were looking for an IMA instructor, O-4 type, to teach at Nellis--If only Nellis were closer to PIT...(believe it or not, they were looking for CRM expertise and weighed that more heavily than fighter experience, go figure). I've seen the Fighter community really making a strong push towards completely integrating CRM into their operations. In alot of ways, it's MORE challenging doing CRM between airplanes, but Tanker pilots know this too (large cell formation and Air Refuel), and so do C-17, C-5, and C-130 pilots---Everyone who's smart believes in CRM and uses it. Heavy pilots don't have the monopoly on it.

2. Personally, if I'm going to be flying long missions, I prefer going #1 in a toilet, vs a piddle pack, but that's me. I also think heavy drivers do have more access to Twinkies, and our body fat shows it. Call it an occupational hazard. By the way, don't be like Planet Al, a boom operator I know who used to eat 3 MREs per Southern Watch sortie. He started to become a walking CG problem!

3. Any AF pilot slot is going to be incredibly selective and competitive--Do yourself a favor, PREP for the AFOQT!!! Don't let anyone make you feel that you're rushing to get the test done. Poor AFOQT scores can really make getting selected near impossible.

 

[stonewall]

Lighten up, Francis, it was a joke. I didn't want to start a pissin contest over fighter pilots vs heavy pilots. Ya know, I find when people are touchy and defensive they usually have a chip on their shoulder about something. That couldn't be it, could it?

 

[stonewall]

Coho, that's a good one!

 

[mgg20]

Akmountain & Cueboat- I have just undertaken the 2-year process that it was to get an OTS pilot slot. I'd suggest if you have 2 years left of college to do ROTC if possible. All pilot slots in the AF have become extremly competitive. I was talking to an older guy the other day who said "me and Dan Quayle went to Canada to avoid going, and you're volunteering to". Some people don't understand how hard it is to get. I took the AFOQT in Sep '03 and have a 15Aug class date at Maxwell. For you heavy drivers, if you can remember, after you finish T-1 training, how is your A/C chosen(AD)? Do new guys have to start out on a certain aircraft, or is the the usual term "needs of the AF?" Thanks

 

[AlbieF15]

Here's a fighter pilot truism...

A fighter pilot is perfectly capable of feeling, love, affection, adoration, intimacy, and is capable of a nuturing nature. It is just that these emotions do not pertain to anyone else...

 

[CWGrizwald]

One in the room

How do you know that there is a fighter pilot in the room?

He'll tell ya!

 

[pkober]

Magnum,

FYI, I think the best box nasty is the breaded chicken breast from Lages AB, Azores. Even the brown hard boiled egg is good.

Peace, out

CLAMBAKE

 

[Mongoose69]

What's the difference between a Fighter Pilot and God?

God doesn't think he's a Fighter Pilot...

-Mongoose