champpilot59

Any day is different than the next. I did a special medical flight test today. I have a 709 later this week. Later this month I have a 293, 297, 299 check and a 339 check pilot observation later this month. That's if there is no accident while you have the bag. The jist is that there is no normal day. The one constant is that there is more work than there is time. Some days it's all paperwork, some times you aren't in the office for an entire week. It's a decent job but it can be tedious at times. The government bureaucracy can be frustrating. But if you have a family, the schedule flexibility can't be beat.

MidwestXLguy

You just know you're going to put in eight hours (unless you take leave), that's the only given.

Last week, I was in the office for two days, doing paperwork. Travel reimbursement, records from a three day airshow, a couple of requests for military overflights (when a parade or football game requests the military send something, we fill out a form). I am an 'on the job' training (OJT), so spent some time with a new guy working on a congested area plan. One day was an initial CFI (he failed, as he couldn't tell me what to do on a proficiency review (BFR)) and he couldn't really teach. As I had the entire day blocked, it gave me time back in the office to answer emails, work on ops specs for a 135. I spent a day of travel to a location where a 135 operator was at FSI. Spent the next day watching a ground school and sim session, traveled home the third day. Monday of this week, I had planned to take the day off, but decided to work last minute (have to attend a funeral later in the week, so wanted to be off that day instead). Called a guy who had a medical test flight scheduled and was able to move it to Monday. That took about four hours (with travel, prep, then paperwork), then spent some time doing travel reimbursement, paperwork from the sim eval, etc.

Are you getting the paperwork theme?

Biggest adaptation is constant change. You can go in with an idea that you're going to get A, B, C done. If an accident happens and you get tagged for it, you can be out the next three days and you don't get the stuff done you had planned. I worked in industry for 30 years, so I know the perceptions, but this alone explains why sometimes things take a while. I can mentally plan to do an RVSM and MEL on a particular day, but stuff happens and it doesn't get done.

I've learned to deal with it, but others can't. I have a new guy and it is eating his lunch. He gets frustrated that his 'plan for the day' never seems to come to fruition.

I like the variety. One day next week we're doing a road trip and site visiting two proposed heliports and a seaplane base. I need to view six ag operators spraying, so I'll have a couple of days in the car chasing around the state looking for them. As you can gather, there isn't a typical day.

20sx

Thank you for the responses. I've been looking a bit more at the general aviation side since they seem to have a lot more "domiciles'" to work. Sounds interesting working GA.

I miss my dog

You must be qualified for both if you're considering both? If that's the case, I'd advise you to apply for both listings. Lots more GA jobs than AC jobs but you never know who might see you first. Opens more chances of getting a location that you want as well. If hired for AC you can always apply for GA and make the switch later, although that seems to be fairly rare since the AC jobs are much less work.


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20sx

Yes, I'm qualified for both. As you say, there aren't as many AC jobs. Have been offered a few, but too far away.

BizJet

I qualify for both but I'm only applying for GA. One is I really only want the local FSDO and two AC seems a bit boring. I rather spend 5 days a week running around the state like crazy then sit in a office doing OPSpecs or sim evals.

When I was in the FSDO a month ago I asked what the red backpacking bag was for. My friend said it's the go bag for accidents and it was his turn to babysit it. He didn't seem to trilled to have it. Does that put you on call 24/7?

PerfInit

Yup, accident standby is normally one week a year (or more) in rotation. ASI's are not a first responders, so not really duty time while hoping the phone wont ring...

I miss my dog

In my office you sign up a month at a time to be on call for accidents. Voluntary but some offices may assign it on a rotation.


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pilotmec

We were assigned in rotation from Wednesday to Wednesday. We didn't have a lot of ASI's so generally got the bag twice a year. Rarely got it a third time.

neck

Questions for current ASIs....
1. Are you required to have a medical if you work on the Air Carrier Ops side?
2. What are the ASI jobs available for those of us without a medical?
3. If someone is hired as an ASI Air Carrier Ops, where are you assigned? I ask because the job posting for 1825 says multiple locations throughout the U.S.
4. Finally, once hired, how long and how often are the training sessions in OKC?

Thanks