P-3 Engineers

[bertengineer]

Marine Corps KC-130 Engineer

One thing I loved about my job when people asked what a FE did. I said " It is kind of like a stage-coach driver. I have to direct the two asses in front of me!" Hey for you navy guys, I Flight Instructed with a guy named bob sutton...former P-3 Engineer, now he can spell pilot and teach students in P'cola FL.

For the military pilots...don't get offended by my statements. I did my 20, now it is your turn.

Semper FI

bertengineer

 

[Barnie]

A fellow Engineer just sent this to me and I had to post it. Couldn't have said it ANY better myself. Most of the pilots I flew with were Reservists and did double duty in the commercial airlines world so they were pretty sharp but still would ask my input on technical issues. Barnie

This is from 1080+/- 2. He wrote:
Egomania in any of the 3 seats was ridiculous. Yes it's ultimately the
AC's decision, but in the P-3 world, knowledge is power, and I knew
very few pilots who had enough systems knowledge to over-ride a GOOD FE's
recommendation and not answer to the old man. It boiled down to the
idea that an OFFICER wasn't going to let some ENLISTED scum critique his
performance. It's a team effort, but even a PIC isn't going to put me
into the side of a glacier or into the drink no matter how much
authoritai he may or may not have. I had a good working relationship with 99% of
the pilots I flew with, but I didn't pull punches with the 1%, and they
are the ones who get the bruised vaginal lips when the FE makes a
smart-alecky comment.

Enjoy your power trip while it lasts! And thanks to the cool pilots
who returned the respect that I gave to them.

 

[thebluto]

Relax, folks.

IMHO, pilots don't get the in-depth systems knowledge because there isn't enough time during the day to stay in the books. Pilots get to see a lot more khaki-wearing time and have so many other non-flying tasks. The disassociated sea tours, DH meetings, board preparation, duties (I especially loved the fact that I had to inspect the barracks trash dumpsters and recycling bins as part of SDO). The list goes on.

Plus, FEs get to fly their whole careers. How many pilots do you know that have stayed in the Navy with over 5000 hours? I think I met 1. I met quite a few FEs who were somewhere near the 10K point.

But, everyone has some cross to bear. I knew a number of highly talented FEs who got $crewed by the Navy when it came to Chief's boards, etc. And, I wasn't too impressed with the crew's living conditions in places like the Mannai Plaza. Everyone has a certain amount of $uck to deal with, but we're all playing on the same team. Can't we all just have a group hug?

By the way, I hear that Customs is really hurting for FEs. Some of the guys are deploying up to 21 days a month. There is a hiring freeze on right now. But, when that goes away, I'm sure the FE floodgates will open.

 

[SMOE]

Another former (USAF) FE here. Many of the comments/observations here went/go on in the AF as well. It was a great ride for 20+ years as long as the egos were checked at the crew door (in both crew positions).

Barnie, I have several friends who are PFEs in the civilian world. It would appear the key to getting hired is blind luck. I was in your boat. Plenty of opportunities while I was active duty that all dried up when I retired. So.... I chose the pilot option. Here's what I know of for PFE opportunities:

Southern Air
Evergreen
Kalitta
Lynden Air Cargo
Gemini
Polar
Omni
JAL
All Nippon
Lufthansa Cargo
Planet Airways
Kittyhawk (I think)
Capital Cargo

If your interested in working overseas, you may want to try PARC Aviation or IASCO. They are crew leasing outfits that accept apps from PFEs.

Good luck...

 

[1080+/-2]

Sup...

I think there is a good working relationship between the pilots and fes. I like pilots, but I don't like superior attitudes. I definitely don't miss the caste system that the military has in place.

Whatever, we're all aviation professionals with a role to play. If we play nice and all get along, it makes it a lot more fun.

C-ya

 

[P3 Tweek]

Barnie

Barnie, you're my favorite kind of P-3 FE. Flew with several FE's just like you. We would have made a GREAT P-3 crew. Thumbs up also for `1080+/- 2'.

Tweek - ex AX2 P-3 IFT

 

[E-handle]

Too much fuel?

The only time I ever had a problem with putting on a little more gas was when it was bounce hop on a Friday back at home base or any bounce hop at Cubi Pt!

 

[P3 Tweek]

Avitar

E-Handle...you need an avitar. A nice P-3 doing aerobatics around hangar one at NUQ would be nice! I'll give you a call this weekend.

Semper Fi,
P3 Tweek (AX2 tweet)

PS. Wasn't max continuous TIT on the T-56-14 1077?

 

[E-handle]

Max continuous

Tweek, max continuous on the -14 was 1049 degrees C. Only got to use this setting once for about half an hour. I could tell you where, but then I would have to kill you!