They are continuing with the hiring process to get you to that point of a job offer and start date at FLETC. From what I have read though, once you get to FLETC you are locked in for quarantine for two weeks, than begin the 5 months of training and are not allowed off base or to have visiters the whole 5 months. Not sure if you are allowed to bring your girlfriend with you?

WacoQCF I see you are already there.. or were there? What was the July announcement? A hiring announcement? I am curious now when the last person interviewed in OKC and got a job offer?

Do you have a QCF? My dad has an RNF and we are in the process of bringing it back to life, really like to fly it.

Was going to throw this in that last post but after ten minutes you cant edit posts..., I have never flown an open cockpit yet, ton of Super Cub time but no biplane, have to get the Warner 110 rebuilt, maybe going with a bigger 145 and finish recovering it.. will be a couple years but cant wait to fly it.

I have now taken 2 polygraphs. One that was well over 70 questions and the cbp one. Just be honest, literally. If they say you are hiding something. Say exactly what thoughts are running through your mind. I mean exactly. You saying "nothing" or "I've never done blank" is not being 100% transparent and getting defensive does not help either.

Just my 2 cents. Complete honesty is telling them exactly what your thinking.

Former 9 year AIA; they had a hiring announcement that closed in July and I was curious if any pure civilians were offered an interview.

Yes, I fly a 1931 Waco QCF2. :)

Just FYSA...I went to OKC in February and was offered the job on the spot. My original class date was the end of April. Now I go beginning of September. Just some information and timelines.

I was a "straight civilian" and interviewed in OKC 2 weeks ago. Currently waiting for a class date for the academy.

I hate to beat this question up cause I know it's already been asked but I know things change also so I dont think it hurts to ask these days. Also looking through the thread is tedious cause it's so large.

I have pretty much filled out my application paper work but one section has me stalled and that's the locations for new hires. Im dual rated. I fly Blackhawks as a reservist and I fly CRJs for my civilian job. I basically would like to.fly 60s (or Astars) and fix wing if I have the opportunity (not entirely opposed to flying the drones...atleast I think im not)

What locations offer flying like I'm looking for and a decent area to live in with kids (I understand that is subjective but we all have common sense)

I have considered the Puerto Rico location for I am understanding that they fly a lot but as a reservist I think I will have a very hard time fulfilling that commitment and there is no KCM to get me to do drill and the like so I think it's a bad move for my situation.

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Congrats! What base and what aircraft?

San Angelo/UAS

The expect further clearance was EOD after FEB 2021?

We were told as soon as they have class dates to assign. They aren't sure when they will get those dates.

Thanks

.
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Civilian as well. I'm doing my medical and PFT1 this week.

UAS at Sierra Vista and San Angelo
 

I was recently referred and given the option for San Angelo or Sierra Vista as a fixed wing only guy. Is there anyone currently working at one of these locations that can give me the day to day? Is it UAS only?

do you know why the require 1500 and to do a flight check if they are just going to put you on a UAS?

Because you could be moved into an aircraft at some point?

This brings up a question.. I was going to reply to the why to they want 1500 hours and a checkride.. my answer was you are flying a turboprop about the size of a Cessna Caravan single pilot IFR at flight level 500 or more. But I am not sure if that is correct, is that the typical mission? I would bet we are single pilot but are we taking it high all the time?

Thanks

You will get more complete answers soon from those who have worked with and/or flown Predator's, but the type of UAVs that CBP flies don't go up to FL500.

"U.S. Customs and Border Protection was reported in 2013 to be operating 10 Predators and to have requested 14 more.[41][42] "

Here is a link to the Wiki article on the Predator
:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genera..._MQ-1_Predator

Here is the fact sheet with some stats:
Performance
Maximum speed: 117 kn (135 mph, 217 km/h)
Cruise speed: 70 kn (81 mph, 130 km/h) to 90 kn (100 mph; 170 km/h)
Stall speed: 54 kn (62 mph, 100 km/h)
Range: 675 nmi (777 mi, 1,250 km)
Endurance: 24 hours[1]
Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)

And MQ-9s Predator B:
U.S. Homeland Security​[edit]




U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Predator B





CBP's Predator B




CBP's maritime variant of the Predator B, named "Guardian"




File:CPB UAS Sample Surveillance Video 02282008 .theora.ogv
Play media

A CBP Predator B helps direct border agents towards a migrant group crossing the US-Mexico border, c. February 2008

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operated nine MQ-9s in August 2012. Two were based in North Dakota at Grand Forks Air Force Base, four were based in Arizona, at Fort Huachuca and one was based at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.[80] These aircraft were equipped with GA-ASI's Lynx synthetic aperture radar and Raytheon's MTS-B electro-optical infrared sensors.[81] CBP also had two maritime MQ-9s called Guardians, based at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida and Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas.[82] The Guardians were equipped with the SeaVue marine search radar; their electro-optical infrared sensor was optimized for maritime operations.[80] The CBP operates one MQ-9 Guardian jointly with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) out of land-based stations in Florida and Texas.[83]

The United States Department of Homeland Security initially ordered one Predator B for border protection duty, referred to as MQ-9 CBP-101. It began operations 4 October 2005 and crashed in the Arizona desert on 25 April 2006. The US's NTSB determined that the crash's most likely cause was pilot error by the ground-based pilot, inadvertently shutting down the UAV's engine by failing to follow the checklist.[84] During its operational period, the aircraft flew 959 hours on patrol and played a role in 2,309 arrests. It also contributed to the seizure of four vehicles and 8,267 pounds (3,750 kg) of marijuana.[85]

A second Predator B, called "CBP-104" (initially referred to as "CBP-102"), was delivered in September 2006 and commenced limited border protection operations on 18 October 2006. The president's FY2006 emergency supplemental budget request added $45 million for the program and the FY2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill added an additional $20 million. In October 2006, GA-ASI announced a $33.9 million contract to supply two more Predator B systems by the fall of 2007.[86] On 16 February 2009, the program was further expanded to include patrols of the Canada–US border.[87]

On 14 October 2013, an MQ-9 began patrolling the Manitoba portion of the U.S.-Canada border. The UAV is based at Grand Forks Air Force Base and will watch the 400 km (250 mi)-long border. The drone will not carry weapons and needs permission to enter Canadian airspace. U.S. authorities fear that drug smugglers, migrants, and terrorists may exploit the long border. The use of the unmanned surveillance aircraft is an enhancement of the partnership between U.S. and Canadian agencies.[88]

In January 2014, Customs and Border Protection grounded its UAVs temporarily after an unmanned aircraft was ditched off the coast of California by the operator due to a mechanical failure on 27 January 2014.[89]

I would say this question pretty much answers itself.

To add to Diver’s post: you can add mission management & dynamic risk assesment to all of that. You are being hired to fly an extremely complex aircraft, owned by the taxpayers, in direct support of high level national security operations. I would say 1500 is low to even understand the weight placed on your shoulders.

Thanks guys, found some info here https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-She...0/mq-9-reaper/

https://i.imgur.com/uqS0x5G.png

The article link with the MQ-9 is the second halve of the post.

Are the operating specs - especially altitude - different between the -1 and -9?

Nevermind - it looks like PA16 answered that question with a fact sheet.
News to me - I didn't know anything but a Global Hawk could et up to FL500.

That is impressive performance for a TURBOPROP with a 900 hp engine!!
The X-47s stats which show it to be a lighter UAV with a Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5C turbofan, 3,190 lbf (14.2 kN) thrust only has a service ceiling of FL400.

Those of you that are in the application process. Just a heads up: got an email saying the earliest I could get an academy class date is Summer 2021 as someone who completed the pre-hire process four weeks ago.

OUCH!
A year till class?
I’m sure that makes it very hard to plan unless you have a current job that you can just ride out for 12 months.

That sounds like the government all right.

Not exactly the same, but reminds me of the 14th month wait I had from being accepted on my Air Force Officer selection board to actually showing up at OTS.

CBP requires 1500 hours, so that all pilots have the same ability to move to other locations as the needs of the service change. At the rate we destroy aircraft, one must maintain flexibility.

I got the same email. Any idea how many folks are in the pipeline?

oooh, sounds like story time! :D

The bottom for everyone applying. Keep everything up to date. If something becomes lost or misplaced in your packet. Just reproduce and resubmit. The app process is much better than years past but not without many faults. Keep the faith, apply and go about your daily lives as if you were NOT waiting for this job. Hundreds of us waited YEARS to get on board! Many things are in play right now, politics, election, hiring freeze, possible continuing resolution, Fletc backlog etc. The organization desperately needs you. Stay the course.

Yep. Hoping for some fresh info after the fiscal year changeover coming up as well.

Trust me. Don't show up for your helicopter check ride with a burrito lunch. It is a good story, actually.........

Hey does anyone know are new hires going to the predator or the C206?

If you go to Sierra Vista you will bounce the 206 for currency. In San Angelo you’ll fly the PC-12 maybe a third of the time.

Thank you.

When you're not flying what are the typical duties?

Is Puerto Rico the closest base to Miami? What is a typical day like? And finally is 100k a realistic 1st year salary?

thanks

Homestead is closest to Miami, then Jacksonville. Puerto Rico may be the closest that is currently hiring.

$93156 is what the first year pay is plus nights, holidays, and Sunday pay may get close to 100K

After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Homestead became a Reserve Air Base. Last time I heard it was active was for airlift after a disaster in Haiti.

Not sure what your point is?
Miami Air and Marine Branch is located at Homestead.

Ok thanks, which aircraft do they fly out of homestead? and when you are not flying what does a typical day look like?

Thanks I really appreciate it.

King Air 350, Astar, UH-60

Shift work, 5 days a week. Fly some days, firearms and other training some days, work on collateral duties other days. Home a majority of nights but TDYs to other locations for anywhere from a couple days to two weeks typically.