UAV time logging

[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!!

 

[RJP]

Good for you! A CRJ is a much better choice than a predator....

 

[bssthound]

'Preciate it, man.

BTW, your signature line is the funniest Borat episode since his guide to dating on the first show.

Booyakasha!

John

 

[talondriver]

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!!

I hear ya.

But not all navs have their ATP/comm/inst/type/yada ratings with airline objectives and see this as a post mil career lead-in opportunity. The six figure salary (rumor) working for a contractor (patooey!!) may sound good to some.

Oh, the CRJ over the predator sounds like a no brainer choice...unless you're a furloughed major airline dude who ranks that up there with crossing picket lines.

Oops...didn't mean to set off another tangent bomb.

 

[bssthound]

Ka-boom!!!!

The six figure salary (rumor) working for a contractor (patooey!!) may sound good to some.

Absolutely. However, I prefer living in Dallas to Whateveritis-stan where I understand a lot of predator guys are. Besides, I've already gone the contractor route. I left to be a Reserve Bum when I realized I'd have to look in the mirror to shave every morning.

Oh, the CRJ over the predator sounds like a no brainer choice...unless you're a furloughed major airline dude who ranks that up there with crossing picket lines.

But I ain't . . . . . . Besides, where else is a nav gonna get 1000 turbine PIC?

Oops...didn't mean to set off another tangent bomb.

Hey! Is it just me or are my eyebrows singed off and my hair a crispy little chunk? Yeah, I shouldn't have picked up that tangent bomb!! See what happens when you leave something where a nav can get to it?!

Speaking of tangent bomb, I fully understand you're not so much addressing me but just a regular nav in general. It's just that when it was mentioned to me a nav had to have at least a comm/inst. I hope that's changed so that someone who does want to do it is able to.

 

[talondriver]

But I ain't . . . . . . Besides, where else is a nav gonna get 1000 turbine PIC?

True. You're not the first nav I've heard of doing the commuter thing. I admire y'all for doing it the "not so easy way". Good Luck.

 

[dtfl]

Predator

I was deployed to a location with some UAVs during OEF. As far as I know - this was the case then - the Pilots flew the aircraft during takeoff and landing. They had enlisted sensor operators that tracked targets, etc. AND...anytime weapons were employed - it wasn't military folks sitting in the trailer. That will most likely change.
A few guys I know got Predators..rumor was they were "trying" to get a couple C12s. The one guy got a KC10 after he left...which is what he wanted. The other guy is now an Ops officer of a Spec Ops squadron.
I am sure one day there will be a debate about UAV time. I am sure there will be further debate about giving UAV pilots medals for aerial accomplishments.

BSSHOUND - I work upstairs from you..BTW in the 403d
I personally think the episode where Borat interviews the Karate instructor is the best...when he explains how his friend got attacked by a Turkmenistan giant...who "broke his anus"

 

[bssthound]

Ouch!!

when he explains how his friend got attacked by a Turkmenistan giant...who "broke his anus"

Which is exactly why I don't want to end up piloting a UAV in some "stan" country. I don't need anything broken, especially my anus!!

 

[Pistlpetet]

The Army has an enlisted MOS for UAV operators. I once had a PFC whine to me that he should get pilot wings also.

 

[RJP]

'Preciate it, man.

BTW, your signature line is the funniest Borat episode since his guide to dating on the first show.

Booyakasha!

John

Respek!

 

[RJP]

when he explains how his friend got attacked by a Turkmenistan giant...who "broke his anus"

Which is exactly why I don't want to end up piloting a UAV in some "stan" country. I don't need anything broken, especially my anus!!

Good one!

I still prefer the country music episode. "My sister, she is number two or three prostitute in all of Khazakstan." Porter Wagoner: "Well, that's a talent, too."

Nice...I like.