UnlimitedAkro

hey HJS, how about the F-16 info?

Danzig

Does the ANG require their pilots to have 20/20 vision without corrective lenses?

Slice

ANG has the same medical requirements as the active duty. I believe it's 20/70 correctable to 20/20.

Danzig

Yeah, I just talked to a recruiter acquaintance. It is as follows: Distance 20/70 correctable to 20/20. Near 20/20 uncorrected.

hjs1971

Not exactly sure what info you are talking about...

I stand corrected, Hawaii is pretty much stood up in their C-17 squadron but they are an associate unit so not sure what their manning might be...I do know the HIANG really likes locals...Alaska is standing up theirs as well but they are not yet operational...once again, you better be from AK or know someone there AND you better not like seeing the sun for weeks on end (except of course when you are in the desert and just want it to go away!)...As previously stated, if all goes well, from selection to fully qualified is at least 2 years, IF YOU ARE LUCKY and there are no hold ups along the way (expect a few).

planecrazyjenn

I talked to the HIANG last time I was TDY out there about a loadmaster slot, and yeah they do like locals due to aircrew flight/training requirements. I guess they are doing that guard/active deal that several units are going to...seems to be working out well from those I've talked to. They hadn't yet received any aircraft, but had the sim up (boy was that sweet!) though from what I hear they are operational now. If they found the right person from out of state though I'm sure they'd take you...especially if you have the means to commute (ie being an airline employee) Give it a shot, worst that can happen is they say no.

McBoeingBus

For a bit more information...The Guard/Reserve is the safest way to financially secure a road to the majors. You should never need to fly an RJ. You'll get paid well in training and most airlines understand you as a known quantity. Following training, you will usually have a few months of a full-time paycheck to get familiar with the airplane. Usually the heavy guys will get more flight time faster and give you a quicker path to the airlines. However, there are times that I wished that I had flown an A-10. You will need to decide what your perfect airplane in your perfect city would be and then compromise. I'd send resumes out to every base that I'd consider. Generally, the reserves are not as prone to in-breeding and more likely to hire you without a dozen contacts in the squadron, but not always. The biggest test that you will have to pass is the personality one. Good luck.

hjs1971

I second most of McBoeingBus' comment...I will add that there damn well better be some patriotism in your blood because spending a year in the desert "just to get to the airlines", is reeeeaaaaal hard on anybody.
Also, I know lots of guys that went to the Guard to get that airline gig, 10 years later, they got a full time slot and they are a Major making $120k a year and home 345 nights a year...jumping off that gravy train for $25 an hour at USAir is nearly impossible to do...

ChinookDriver47

Just proves my original point about flying for the ANG. It's thick with nepotism plain and simple. I gather that many a unit has lost what otherwise would be excellent pilots because they didn't "know" someone. The fact that you drink beer with the DO or CC means nothing about one's piloting abilities.

hjs1971

If you look at my unit, I can give you a handful of examples of the nepotism that CH-47 is talking about but I can also give you 25 examples of guys off the street that got hired because of good pilot skills/good interview skills. Every unit is different...Certain places (especially those outside the CONUS) have problems with people doing whatever it takes to get their pilot wings then once they have them, doing whatever it takes to get back to where they are from. If I was in charge of hiring somebody, I wouldn't want to spend millions of dollars to get them their shiny silver wings only to have them crying everynight 'cause they miss MaryLou back in Podunkville...just my $.02, YMMV.