UAV time logging

[mzaharis]

Dumb newbie curiosity question from a non-military type:

How is UAV time (Global Hawk or Predator) logged? How would airlines or other employers evaluate it?

 

[mmmdonut]

is this a joke?


Can I log Flight Sim 2004 time?

 

[mzaharis]

is this a joke?


Can I log Flight Sim 2004 time?

No, actually not. Sorry if it came off that way. It really is a dumb newbie question, as I stated earlier.

It's just that the Air Force assigns pilots to them. The aircraft are flown, oftentimes with ATC involvement. Still has a stick and rudder, and responds to commands in the same manner as a manned aircraft (it's just that your butt isn't in the seat). The exception would be the Global Hawk, which has considerable autonomous capabilities, including autoland. If you want to taunt me, a more appropriate taunt may be, "Can I log time for flying my R/C model airplane?"

But seriously, given that the Air Force considers it a pilot slot, are you able to log any time for Air Force purposes, and how would civilian operators evaluate that time? Judging by your comment (and assuming you know what you're talking about), I would guess that civilian operators would not give it too much (if any) consideration.

 

[mzaharis]

Actually, no need to reply. Found my answer in a previous thread.


http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=12264&highlight=predator

I would like to know, however, if the AF ever provided some utility planes (T-3, T-6, T-37, T-38, or C-12) to allow UAV pilots to accumulate flying time and maintain currency to some degree. Previous posts indicated that it was considered, but nothing ever seemed to come of it.

 

[talondriver]

The only good thing you get out of a UAV assignment is the connections you make with the contractors in case you're looking at a non-flying second career. I hear the pay is pretty good.

 

[Catbird]

Try Mesa. The majority of pilots over there have been doing it for years. The Feds don't care, it helps lower the wage scale across the board. Hell, I hear they will accept watching "The Blue Max" and "Airplane 2000" as 75% of Indoc.

 

[mmmdonut]

Judging by your comment (and assuming you know what you're talking about), I would guess that civilian operators would not give it too much (if any) consideration.

You'd be laughed out of a room. I wasn't taking a jab at you... but it's a video game... come on.

 

[RJP]

Of course you'll be laughed out of the room if you give a logbook full of predator time (although you'll have actual jet time from UPT!), but hey, the air force, in it's wisdom decided that it's a pilot's billet. It's right up there with ALO or a Pentagon assignment. I wouldn't go so far as to call it a video game but it's definitely about the worst job a rated guy can get in the AF.

 

[RJP]

The only good thing you get out of a UAV assignment is the connections you make with the contractors in case you're looking at a non-flying second career. I hear the pay is pretty good.

You sound like a missile puke. "I have to sit in a silo for a week but, wow, I get to wear a cool, blue flightsuit." There can be nothing good out a UAV tour.

 

[mzaharis]

You sound like a missile puke. "I have to sit in a silo for a week but, wow, I get to wear a cool, blue flightsuit." There can be nothing good out a UAV tour.

I'm an IT consultant, and at a training class, we had an ex-silo sitter teaching the class (no,it had nothing to do with missiles - I believe that it was a development tool, if memory serves). To amuse the class, he told us about the 45 degree tunnel used to escape the underground cell after attack, and how it was filled with sand, ostensibly to prevent the collapse of the tunnel. He made it sound as if you opened the door to that tunnel, you'd be buried with sand before you had any chance of escape. At least, I hear that they pay for you to pursue your masters degree.

The reason I asked the question was because I couldn't understand what would possess someone to go the UAV route, assuming that they joined the AF to fly. Can it be counted as a desk tour? (Again, coming from someone with no military experience.) Are they ever going to provide some "training hacks" for people to accumulate hours and maintain flying skills? Other than guys who want to become middle managment at Northrop Grumman and General Atomics, does anyone actually "volunteer" for UAV assignment?

 

[RJP]

I'm an IT consultant, and at a training class, we had an ex-silo sitter teaching the class (no,it had nothing to do with missiles - I believe that it was a development tool, if memory serves). To amuse the class, he told us about the 45 degree tunnel used to escape the underground cell after attack, and how it was filled with sand, ostensibly to prevent the collapse of the tunnel. He made it sound as if you opened the door to that tunnel, you'd be buried with sand before you had any chance of escape. At least, I hear that they pay for you to pursue your masters degree.

The reason I asked the question was because I couldn't understand what would possess someone to go the UAV route, assuming that they joined the AF to fly. Can it be counted as a desk tour? (Again, coming from someone with no military experience.) Are they ever going to provide some "training hacks" for people to accumulate hours and maintain flying skills? Other than guys who want to become middle managment at Northrop Grumman and General Atomics, does anyone actually "volunteer" for UAV assignment?

The silo thing will give me nightmares tonight. Although you're right that it's one of the best assignments to get your free masters degree from the university of phoenix.

As far as I've heard, if you are banished after your first assignment (nearly happened to a classmate of mine) you'll end up in a predator "squadron". Since they need actual rated guys to fly the things they more or less have to "non-vol" guys to get them. Who in their right mind would pass on even a T-37 IP assignment to get into the "cockpit" of a UAV? Therefore, it's generally not voluntary, guys get that as a next assignment. On a happier note, once you've completed that tour, you're likely to get more or less what you want. As what happens when you finish a tour as an ALO (basically a fighter pilot who gets to go play army and live in a tent for a couple of years) you can pretty much pick and choose your next assignment. If you decide you still want to stay in after that.

 

[mzaharis]

On a happier note, once you've completed that tour, you're likely to get more or less what you want. As what happens when you finish a tour as an ALO (basically a fighter pilot who gets to go play army and live in a tent for a couple of years) you can pretty much pick and choose your next assignment. If you decide you still want to stay in after that.

So, it's not the death of your career. I was trying to figure out what the carrot was. Even if it is non-vol, you need to have some carrot so that the assignee doesn't lose all hope and get a bad attitude.

 

[RJP]

So, it's not the death of your career. I was trying to figure out what the carrot was. Even if it is non-vol, you need to have some carrot so that the assignee doesn't lose all hope and get a bad attitude.

Normally after you've done a s hit assignment they'll let you have something decent. Otherwise the guys would be bailing all the time.

 

[talondriver]

You sound like a missile puke. "I have to sit in a silo for a week but, wow, I get to wear a cool, blue flightsuit." There can be nothing good out a UAV tour.

You sound like a disgruntled commuter pilot.

There are navs out there that may want to hear about the light at the end of a UAV tour...and that light may be in the form of a decent paying job.

I know one furloughed dude who took a UAV assignment over an RJ.

 

[RJP]

Oh yeah, the nav thing. Guess it's good for some then. But ask the next F-16 guy you run across if his UAV was a good assignment. Doubt he'll be as excited.

 

[46Driver]

Its also what you make of the assignment. You could be getting into the ground floor of a new field. Predators are carrying Hellfires, etc - unmanned platforms have quite a few advantages over manned aircraft, foremost is that there is no risk that a pilot could be shot down and held hostage. As much as the pilots hate it, in particular the Air Force, you are going to see more and more UAV use.

 

[Huggyu2]

Heard an interesting fact the other day... there's not a single UAV flying that has 10 landings on it....

Urban legand: I checked around, and it seems in the Global Hawk world, this is untrue. Also, during OIF, there were a lot of Predator sorties briefed at the daily brief, and I don't remember any of them crashing.

 

[pilot_guy]

any of you guys "flying" UAV?

Just asking as I'm a civilian guy about to go to work for a contractor flying a smaller UAV (not GA's Predator) and curious to hear any input on it.

I'll be going to the sandbox (Baghdad Int'l Airport) for 90 days at a time, then rotate stateside for another 90 days. Pay is good, and I'm fully aware of what I'm getting into (prior service guy.) but I'd like to hear from some guys who are actually flying them to know what the working conditions are like.

 

[uavchaser]

Heard an interesting fact the other day... there's not a single UAV flying that has 10 landings on it....

i wonder where these facts come from. at least one predator has been in the air 24/7 for the last 5 years. and are approaching 110,000 hours. with only 100 and some built. they must have some endurance then. usually a predator has at least 25 landings on them before delivered.

 

[bssthound]

RJP said: Oh yeah, the nav thing. Guess it's good for some them.

Not all of us. A possible UAV tour was mentioned to the navs in my squadron who hold comm/inst and ATP ratings. Talk about cockroaches fleeing after the light's turned on! They found us under desks shrieking in horror with the bottoms of our flight suits turning brown and tears cascading from our eyes. Sitting in some God-forsaken trailer in some God-forsaken desert playing with a joystick?? Not no thank you but NO thank you!!