Naval Flight Officer time

[46Driver]

F18- FDX,
Thanks for the gouge - especially on FedEx. We spend a lot of time flying students to Memphis on cross countries and you can imagine where the Lieutenants and Ensigns want to go to party (it ain't Beale St....)
I am in the regionals now and have been flying a Dornier Regional Jet for the past year (and yes, the pay really, really, really sux - the reserves are a lifesaver). I fully understand that I have to get the minimum amount of fixed wing time - considering upgrade time it is going to take another 3 years. The million dollar question is: After I reach the required mins, will my 3000+ turbine helo hours be regarded favorably or am I still at a fatal disadvantage to someone with 1000 more fixed wing hours but less total time overall?
Thanks again for the info and I'll try not to slow y'all down on the Memphis ILS (we can get the JetRanger up to 130....)

 

[F18-FDX]

46,
The fact that you are already flying w/the regionals is awesome, I thought you were still on AD. And, as concidence would have it, THIS MORNING I flew with a prior USAF guy who had most of his time in CH-53s! He started out as a the USAF equivalent of a SERGRAD and instructed for several years in the T-38, then ended up flying helos for a long time. I think he had to bump up his hours a bit after retirement, then got hired here 5 years ago. FedEx loves military, so you would probably have a better chance getting on here with "just the minimums" than other majors out there. But then again, I would say why would you want to go anywhere else? I love everything about this company and am more than happy with my decision to come here. Last year everyone was asking me why I was going to FedEx, now they are all furloughed and asking for recommendations. Anyway, you're definitely on the right track, good luck and let me know if I can provide you any more info.

 

[InHot]

Yo, 46 Driver!

Bubba,

My first interview when I retired was with American Eagle (yuck). I was offered a job (turned it down), however during the HR interview with a 20 something yr old pimply faced wuss, the guy looks at my flight time and says: "I see you flew helicopters." His inflection and demeanor made it clear that it was an ACCUSATION ! It was incredible, I felt as though I had to defend having flown helos!

Now, when I meet a prospective employer and he asks me about my background, I proudly announce my helo experience. I then explain that I relaized early on that there was not a tremendous demand for gunship pilots in the civilian sector and I decided to make myself more marketable by getting out of helos and obtaining FW ME time.

Moral of story: some uniformed dweebs consider helo time as a negative. Don't let them do that. "Best defense is a good offense." List that ugly 46 time proudly and go on the offensive! (you got to admit it ain't a pretty flying machine).

(we can get the JetRanger up to 130....)

. Reminds me of a time flying a Cobra on a PAR into El Toro. The controller asked me to slow down because I was overtaking an F4 ahead of me. I was doing 160 kts, just because I could. Must have P.O.'d the F4 driver!

Good Luck & SF!

 

[DCAA320]

Helos

Same thing happened to me in my SH-60B at North Isalnd in the GCA pattern, was asked to slow down cause I was eatin up an S-3 in front of me






Reminds me of a time flying a Cobra on a PAR into El Toro. The controller asked me to slow down because I was overtaking an F4 ahead of me. I was doing 160 kts, just because I could. Must have P.O.'d the F4 driver!

Good Luck & SF!

 

[Vicman]

In Hot..

yeah i second that....helicopters can do everything + more than their FW counterparts.. i.e. tracking airways, instrument approached and holds until flare to hover. I'll admit that learning to hover beats everything i've done in FW..RW is exciting and challenging and i'm trying to get a reserve/guard slot in FW or RW..hopefully RW. i learned to respect the chopper and those who've flown them and i'm quick to defend RW time to my friends/ FW cohorts.

regards.