UAV slots for NAVS???

[ktulu34535]

I just read that Navs with Comm Pilot Licenses can apply and recieve UAV slots.

Anyone know what the airlines have been saying about UAV time? Is it worthless?

Have any pilots or navs out there recieved UAV slots out of UPT/UNT?

 

[BeechScrub]

While I can't speak for the Air Force, the airlines don't count time flying MS Flight Simulator (if they did, I'd have thousands of hours), so they probably wouldn't think much of trying to count UAV time as total time. However, if you were an experienced pilot trying to get a job with an airline, I would think that flying UAV's would make an interesting line on a resume or story in an interview to help get you an edge.

 

[Tweetdrvr]

I think I heard something about UAV drivers actually talking to ATC and all the normal stuff that pilots do, until they reach the secret area and go silent to proceed with the mission. So, if you can get violated for busting an altitude and not complying with ATC instructions, then you should probably be able to log it as time. You are in charge of the aircraft and make decisions, only you are doing it from the third person instead of sitting on the pointy end of the nose.

As always, call a FSDO to get an answer, if you get an answer you like, get it in writing because opinions vary from FSDO to FSDO. The closest FSDOs to the UAV locations would probably be best able to render an opinion on the issue.

Predators are single engine piston driven, so you probably wanna hold out for the UCAVs that are jet driven.

 

[JimNtexas]

I'm retired USAF, but my sources in the Air Force tell me that UAV for navs is a follow on ALPHA assignment, not something that you would get out of UPT or UNT.

Here is an offical page on the subject:

http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/alf-tank/E3-JSTAR-UAV/uav.htm

I tell you one thing, I'd rather be a UAV operator in Nevada or Northern California than spend a year on the staff in Korea!

UAV time (like Nav time) is worthless for any civil flying purpose, although I understand it counts as gate time for the Air Force for both UAV pilots and navs.

One question I've asked without an answer is this: If the rumors that UAV squadrons will get T-3 or C-12 aircraft for proficiency training come true, will the commerical pilot navs get to fly them? (I kind of doubt it, especially if they get C-12s).

 

[Boxboy]

The AF tried to lure people into UAVs with a typical carrot like this one (C-12 or T-3 or whatever) for years. When they tried to convince me, my commander told me that they'll have T-38s for us to fly on the side-kinda like the ACE program that used to exist in old SAC. I'll believe it when I see it on the ramp. What a joke!

 

[ktulu34535]

thanks

Thanks for the interesting replies... I was pretty sure it would probably not be worth anything in the civilian world but just wanted to see.

Kind of good that its not an initial assignment... I can get a tour as a real nav somewhere, do my best, try to get a pilot slot and if not, could get a UAV slot where I could finish out most of my ADSC without getting deployed (that's if I despise my job or something lol)

I would think you could word UAV time in a way that could sound good to many companies. Just because you aren't in the cockpit doesn't mean that you're not responsible for a multi million dollar ac and directly responsible for the success of the mission.

 

[YeOldeProp]

To add on to Boxboy's post about the proverbial carrot dangling out in front of the gullible. Had a great commander down at Hurbie years ago that explained that the carrot was always the first thing everyone looks at. Some jump right after it, but the smart ones stay back and look at that carrot for a bit. Then they see the big picture...the carrot is actually hanging by a rope (and therefore could be a noose to tighten around your neck and hang you), which is attaching it to a stick (which could be used to beat the living he## out of ya). Thus, you get one good and two bad things that could happen to you.

But, the history of the UAV originally had pilots and navs involved (so they wouldn't take too many pilots from the ops squadrons). After a few accidents (datalink problems, computer dumping and buttonology errors, a few crosswing landings via remote control, etc.), the aviation leadership decided to make it all pilots. Not sure why...but they did. For those trying to build hours in their early years, not such a good place to be (but definitely at the front lines doing a very good mission and very popular with the frontline commander/troops). For those at the end of their "usefullness" to the USAF (passed over, tired of the rat race, whatever...), it's not a bad place to end a career if your heart's not set on the airlines. A whole lot of commercial applications being developed for the system, and a whole lot of operational expertise needed in the governmental and civilian sectors with this new technology...sort of the old "retire and show up the next day with a contractor at equal or better money doing the same job".

So, looks like the aviation community is spreading out just a little bit more...

 

[JimNtexas]

"ould get a UAV slot where I could finish out most of my ADSC without getting deployed "

Why do you think you wouldn't deploy? UAV squadrons will probably deploy more than manned airplane squadrons.

 

[talondriver]

A friend of mine who worked at the UAV Battlelab saw a plethora of opportunities to work for the contractors for some high end money. If I was a UAV "pilot" I'd be looking that way after my mil career.

 

[JimNtexas]

"the aviation leadership decided to make it all pilots. Not sure why...but they did."


I suspect the actual decision was to use rated officers rather than enlisted operators, as do the other services.

In any case, that's no longer true, UAVs are available for navs with FAA commerical and instrument tickets, see the USAF page referenced above. Certainly in the Global Hawk you don't need a real pilot, because the plane autolands.

UAVs crash a lot no matter who is pushing the buttons. Bert Rutan has some interesting statistics on the unreliablity of UAVs. He points out that if the U-2 had the same loss rate as the Predator then we would have run out of them years ago.

I've worked a little on landing software for UAVs, it's a tricky problem.

 

[Boxboy]

I spoke with a dude from my squadron who was "volunteered" to Indian Springs ("UAV base"). He told me that they do indeed depoly and usually end up with the army/ground dudes living in barracks and enjoying MREs. One would venture to guess that many of the UAV drivers are out in the desert now. If that rocks your boat, by all means.... go for it! I hear that if you volunteer for this assignment, you can get a guranteed "good deal" follow-on assignment. Oh $hit.... I'm beginning to sound like AFPC. Somebody just shoot me!