On the latest announcement conus moves are VRP period. PR has PCS available to them. The AC has visibility on every single move. Wouldn't you think he'd have more important things to worry about? We've been short pilots for years. When we can't fly 95,000hrs/yr, we magically have "Fast Track Hiring." AMO apparently has now its own polygrapher.
Maybe we should have done this years ago? This pilot shortage is done on purpose. The AC loves to "Redline" every office. It's his MO. Say it isn't so! |
OAM was “the job” to get 10-20 years ago. I was thrilled to get it, and have now fairly recently left for much happier locations and flying.
Prospective recruits, a key factor to ask your recruiters is “are you a Pilot or an Enforcement Agent?” The overwhelming majority of the Pilot recruiters do not have a pilots license. Most recruiters are “company men” who would do anything/say anything to get you in the door...unusually so that they can get the transfer or other duty assignment that they need to escape their most desired (sarcasm) border town location. The posts by experienced OAM pilots are true, accurate, and should be a warning to you all against this move in your aviation careers. If you desire a mostly non-flying job, in a undesirable border town, working for detached managers (not leaders & don’t fly with you), for less pay than most flying jobs ...well then I will not attempt to stop you. The aircraft you will fly: C206, King Air, Helicopters will all leave you as undesirable to even regional airlines. Flying the P3 is not yet attainable (almost exclusively former Navy qualified P3 pilots with multiple tours), and the DHC8 has been planned for being scrapped. Even then, both of them don’t translate well to more than a regional airline. Let’s see, work all month 5 on / 2 off for a max of 8 days off each month? Airlines guarantee 13+ days off each month. OAM is going to making you do LEAP standby on your days off (illegal) and then you can’t be unavailable. So much of this OAM job currently blows, and the leadership is either uninterested or incompetent to react to organizational change. I predict OAM flying will dissolve in the next 5 years. Commuting to work: NO! Flying a 172 to work: NO! Not going to work for you...mess that up one time. There are two private airports in the Keys (Sugarloaf and Tavernaero) - you cant afford the others. Then Key West. Anyway...I’ve even tried to fly into Homestead, and the base has a firm no for you because you work on that base. OPS isn’t commuter friendly. So, yeah you can fly into Homestead General which is a 40 minute drive away. You would be better off driving in from the keys. If you attempt to drive in from Broward County (North of Miami), anticipate 2.5+ hour commute added to a 10+ hour day, weekends can be even worse. Miami Branch is located in Homestead and is now the Branch known for the worst morale and retention of all branches except PR. I know people in Miami, they would be happy to warn you. |
CBP’s top Pilot recruiter just quit to take an airline job at Kalitta.
Recruits: Please contact me with the name of your recruiter and I can tell you if he is a boat driver, supervisor, or an aircraft sensor operator. You deserve to be provided accurate information. |
Originally Posted by Shifty101
(Post 2808160)
Well I can assure you, what you have heard is rumor and most of what you are claiming is not accurate
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y8hcfTFVJ9k |
Rumor alert!!!
Apparently the SSR is hitting our paychecks 5/12! I'll believe it when I see it. |
King Air time leaves you undesirable for even Regionals?
Surely you mean if that is all you have maybe, but plenty of our guys and the ISR companies aren’t having any trouble going to straight to the majors, or in the case of a few with the biggest thing they have flown is a King Air; to the Regional! Hell....even one of our DISPATCHERS with only the minimum piston twin time just got picked up :-))) |
Flying the P3 is not yet attainable (almost exclusively former Navy qualified P3 pilots with multiple tours), [/QUOTE]
Completely untrue here. There have been about a dozen folks within AMO transfer to Jax and CRP that are now flying the line and not prior Navy. I encourage all to apply that have some significant fixed wing time and a good attitude for learning. WE NEED PILOTS THAT WANT TO FLY THE P3! The DHC8 has been planned for being scrapped. Even then, both of them don’t translate well to more than a regional airline. [/QUOTE] Really? You can't be serious! |
Originally Posted by RCpilot2018
(Post 2809059)
Flying the P3 is not yet attainable (almost exclusively former Navy qualified P3 pilots with multiple tours),
Completely untrue here. There have been about a dozen folks within AMO transfer to Jax and CRP that are now flying the line and not prior Navy. I encourage all to apply that have some significant fixed wing time and a good attitude for learning. WE NEED PILOTS THAT WANT TO FLY THE P3! The DHC8 has been planned for being scrapped. Even then, both of them don’t translate well to more than a regional airline. [/QUOTE] Really? You can't be serious![/QUOTE] Part 91 King Air and DHC8 Pilots are minimally qualified applicants to the “majors”, usually offset by their military experience. A straight off the street King Air or DHC8 candidate will be right on the level of the CFI with wet ATP. Not being in the 121 world will be a setback Setting those arguments aside - are you also going to defend the morale and quality of life aspects? How about time off and 12 year pay scales? So, please provide us your demographics; are you a P3 Pilot or a AEA/AEO? My strong recommendation is to avoid the smoking turd that is OAM. Of those I know who have gone to airlines, not one has seen it as anything close to a mistake. |
Originally Posted by WacoQCF
(Post 2809144)
[/I]
Completely untrue here. There have been about a dozen folks within AMO transfer to Jax and CRP that are now flying the line and not prior Navy. I encourage all to apply that have some significant fixed wing time and a good attitude for learning. WE NEED PILOTS THAT WANT TO FLY THE P3! The DHC8 has been planned for being scrapped. Even then, both of them don’t translate well to more than a regional airline. Part 91 King Air and DHC8 Pilots are minimally qualified applicants to the “majors”, usually offset by their military experience. A straight off the street King Air or DHC8 candidate will be right on the level of the CFI with wet ATP. Not being in the 121 world will be a setback Setting those arguments aside - are you also going to defend the morale and quality of life aspects? How about time off and 12 year pay scales? So, please provide us your demographics; are you a P3 Pilot or a AEA/AEO? My strong recommendation is to avoid the smoking turd that is OAM. Of those I know who have gone to airlines, not one has seen it as anything close to a mistake.[/QUOTE] Waco, Check your PM's |
I know two pt91, civil only, king air guys who went to Alaska airlines in the last year, and I don't even know that many people. Both were 2500-3000hr TT. So I'd say any turbo-prop PIC time is helpful at this point.
|
PR question
What makes PR such a bad place to be stationed? The flying, the area, the facilities, the supervisors...? I'm thinking about PR and I would like to have a realistic picture before making a decision. Thanks.
|
Originally Posted by outcast27pa
(Post 2809788)
What makes PR such a bad place to be stationed? The flying, the area, the facilities, the supervisors...?
No, yes, no, yes.
Originally Posted by outcast27pa
(Post 2809788)
I'm thinking about PR...
Don't. |
Originally Posted by emersonbiguns
(Post 2810344)
No, yes, no, yes.
Don't. |
Don't call me "Shirley."
Sorry, I just couldn't help myself. I'm sure several on this board are too young to recall the movie. |
How are airframes picked? I see that CBP has a wide variety of planes and a few drones. I think the work would be interesting but I don’t want to fly a drone. (I have thousands of hours of military drone time and instructor qualified) I left the drone world to fly regular planes and if there is a chance they would assign this I don’t even want to apply.
|
Originally Posted by tonsterboy5
(Post 2811291)
How are airframes picked? I see that CBP has a wide variety of planes and a few drones. I think the work would be interesting but I don’t want to fly a drone. (I have thousands of hours of military drone time and instructor qualified) I left the drone world to fly regular planes and if there is a chance they would assign this I don’t even want to apply.
|
OP Quote: "Let’s see, work all month 5 on / 2 off for a max of 8 days off each month? Airlines guarantee 13+ days off each month. OAM is going to making you do LEAP standby on your days off (illegal) and then you can’t be unavailable."
I drank the same Koolaid. Of those 13+ days off per month, plan on spending your day off commuting home and a day off commuting back to work. Then there are the times where you are involuntarily extended and lets not forget the winter cancellations and you are stuck in your base. Those 13+ days quickly dwindle down to 4 days, but at least its not all the time. There is no consistency and your body pays the price for that. Many rotor transition guys figured this out pretty quick and bailed. If you live in base, that takes some of the pain away, but it's still pain. I'll take an underpaid government job any day over flying for a regional. |
Originally Posted by grumpydwarf
(Post 2812179)
OP Quote: "Let’s see, work all month 5 on / 2 off for a max of 8 days off each month? Airlines guarantee 13+ days off each month. OAM is going to making you do LEAP standby on your days off (illegal) and then you can’t be unavailable."
I drank the same Koolaid. Of those 13+ days off per month, plan on spending your day off commuting home and a day off commuting back to work. Then there are the times where you are involuntarily extended and lets not forget the winter cancellations and you are stuck in your base. Those 13+ days quickly dwindle down to 4 days, but at least its not all the time. There is no consistency and your body pays the price for that. Many rotor transition guys figured this out pretty quick and bailed. If you live in base, that takes some of the pain away, but it's still pain. I'll take an underpaid government job any day over flying for a regional. Second, since when does commuting take all day on an off day? Most places have commutable trips, available to most seniorities at least on one side of the pairing (if not both), so commuting occurs on a work day most of the time. And even if it is the next morning, you get home and still have most of the day at home. And in the rare event you get extended to a day off, you get paid...a lot. And depending on the company you work for, after being extended you then have to work less if you drop a trip or a reserve day for the same compensation since you likely just got 150-200% for the extended day. Commuting to reserve at a regional (or most any airline) sucks. Don't get me wrong. And the airlines are a cyclical industry. But if the government doubled your pay tomorrow and begged me to come do that job, I still wouldn't do it. Guess I'm glad someone's willing to, though. |
Originally Posted by grumpydwarf
(Post 2812179)
OP Quote: "Let’s see, work all month 5 on / 2 off for a max of 8 days off each month? Airlines guarantee 13+ days off each month. OAM is going to making you do LEAP standby on your days off (illegal) and then you can’t be unavailable."
I drank the same Koolaid. Of those 13+ days off per month, plan on spending your day off commuting home and a day off commuting back to work. Then there are the times where you are involuntarily extended and lets not forget the winter cancellations and you are stuck in your base. Those 13+ days quickly dwindle down to 4 days, but at least its not all the time. There is no consistency and your body pays the price for that. Many rotor transition guys figured this out pretty quick and bailed. If you live in base, that takes some of the pain away, but it's still pain. I'll take an underpaid government job any day over flying for a regional. More typical is 18 days off, with mostly commutable trips, ie commute on first and last days of trip, not on days off. Getting involuntarily extended is theoretically possible at some, not all, airlines. I'm getting close to 20 years in industry and have never been extended. And that includes a fair bit of reserve. Junior reserve at regional will suck if you commute. |
Originally Posted by grumpydwarf
(Post 2812179)
OP Quote: "Let’s see, work all month 5 on / 2 off for a max of 8 days off each month? Airlines guarantee 13+ days off each month. OAM is going to making you do LEAP standby on your days off (illegal) and then you can’t be unavailable."
I drank the same Koolaid. Of those 13+ days off per month, plan on spending your day off commuting home and a day off commuting back to work. Then there are the times where you are involuntarily extended and lets not forget the winter cancellations and you are stuck in your base. Those 13+ days quickly dwindle down to 4 days, but at least its not all the time. There is no consistency and your body pays the price for that. Many rotor transition guys figured this out pretty quick and bailed. If you live in base, that takes some of the pain away, but it's still pain. I'll take an underpaid government job any day over flying for a regional. |
Originally Posted by BeatNavy
(Post 2812208)
...but would you take an underpaid government job over flying for a major? You're comparing the worst pay/schedules in an airline career to a government job where your pay and schedules won't get that much better over time....
|
Originally Posted by USMCFLYR
(Post 2812308)
Yes..... :D
All joking aside, I got tired of living out of a suitcase and was happy to get back in the military and take a break from the airline grind. Every job has its pros/cons, and airline life can be as frustrating as any other job. Everyone’s situation is different, and luckily there are different flying jobs for everyone’s preference and family situation. But every time I’m dealing with government BS, I remember why I quit the first time. The pension, healthcare, and security sure is nice though. |
Originally Posted by BeatNavy
(Post 2812342)
Well, you also decided to join the department of the navy, so the judgment is already in question. At least you joined the men’s department though ;)
All joking aside, I got tired of living out of a suitcase and was happy to get back in the military and take a break from the airline grind. Every job has its pros/cons, and airline life can be as frustrating as any other job. Everyone’s situation is different, and luckily there are different flying jobs for everyone’s preference and family situation. But every time I’m dealing with government BS, I remember why I quit the first time. The pension, healthcare, and security sure is nice though. |
Originally Posted by grumpydwarf
(Post 2812179)
OP Quote: "Let’s see, work all month 5 on / 2 off for a max of 8 days off each month? Airlines guarantee 13+ days off each month. OAM is going to making you do LEAP standby on your days off (illegal) and then you can’t be unavailable."
I drank the same Koolaid. Of those 13+ days off per month, plan on spending your day off commuting home and a day off commuting back to work. Then there are the times where you are involuntarily extended and lets not forget the winter cancellations and you are stuck in your base. Those 13+ days quickly dwindle down to 4 days, but at least its not all the time. There is no consistency and your body pays the price for that. Many rotor transition guys figured this out pretty quick and bailed. If you live in base, that takes some of the pain away, but it's still pain. I'll take an underpaid government job any day over flying for a regional.
Originally Posted by grumpydwarf
(Post 2692371)
I have found that the airlines are not a fit for me and I am going to go back to flying helicopters. Has anyone considered the same? If you have any info on who is hiring (non-CFI work), please post the information in this forum.
Thanks. BTW since you like kool-aid perhaps you can volunteer to be a recruiter. You already know how to twist the facts. |
Pepper spray
Do I have to get pepper sprayed again at the academy? Looks like pilots don't carry spray regularly. If so, anyone heard of medical waivers for corrective eye surgery guys?
I see there is a 1.5 mile run at the academy, which is fine I guess...if you like running... Are there annual, or some sort of recurring PT standards that I will have to conduct throughout my career as an AIA? In other words, when I'm pushing my late 50s towards the end of my career, do they still expect my old ass to be conducting running tests? Thanks in advance! |
They are quoting me about the MAXIMUM 8 days off per month at CBP. From time to time we were put in Standby or forced to work our LEAP period. It is happening in Miami again.
I personally work 17 days on, 15 off and have never been extended. Between several “guaranteed days off” and absolutely justifiable fatigue calls, extensions really are voluntary. As far as comparing time off from CBP to my airline: I just completed a month where I worked 4 days for training only and then spent the rest of the month of April OFF. Look forward to June where I have qualified to take the entire month off....but wait ....there is more! After taking off nearly all of May, all of June, I believe with careful bidding I may work (I said WORK) 8 days of July, maybe less. I know 60 days in advance what my work days are, and I have nearly 100% control of when I am off. The CBP Supervisors own you: Did you know about the 4 month unaccompanied training you go to? Did you know about the fact that you sign an involuntary transfer “mobility agreement” to any station in the agency? Did you know that if they force move you, CBP Pilots are not in the Federal Agency home buy out program? Supervisors: In the government the slogan “f up to move up” applies. I know of ONE good Supervisor who is vocal about only surviving his last two years, because he can’t afford to quit. Work Schedules: At one point recently we worked rotating day/night shifts between each week (with only 2 days off to acclimate). We routinely had less than 4 days notice to know on Wednesday if we were working on Sunday (can’t plan or have a life), and had so many pay and work rules violations that nearly every “line” pilot in the entire branch had filed grievances with OPR or “internal affairs”. OPR set up interviews in our branch for two weeks due to the number of interviews and violations. I could go on...but I don’t trust you will get the point. We even had a shiny new hire who came in as his Supervisor’s yes-man. No really, anything it takes kind of guy...it was inspiring. In less than two years he was jaded, quit, and went to the job he swore he had ZERO interest in - airline pilot. Another former USCG guy came in with the same positive “I’m gonna change this place because I am a leader” attitude, maybe 3 years he was frustrated and at another airline. Even the head CBP Pilot recruiter just left for Kalitta. It’s what the FBI calls a “clue”. Others took on “Acting Supervisor” roles (glorified hall monitors with a discipline quota). It should have given them a great shot at promotion to Supervisor. EVERY one of them was bypassed for promotion, and EVERY one of them quit or transferred in frustration. But fine - tell me I don’t know what airline or CBP flying is like. You’ll be a CBP Supervisor in no time. Heck I’ll write you a recommendation. PR or MIA would be great for you. 🤣. |
Originally Posted by Brown Shugaaa
(Post 2812933)
Do I have to get pepper sprayed again at the academy? Looks like pilots don't carry spray regularly. If so, anyone heard of medical waivers for corrective eye surgery guys?
I see there is a 1.5 mile run at the academy, which is fine I guess...if you like running... Are there annual, or some sort of recurring PT standards that I will have to conduct throughout my career as an AIA? In other words, when I'm pushing my late 50s towards the end of my career, do they still expect my old ass to be conducting running tests? Thanks in advance! No PT Standards, they have tried several times to drop one on the Pilots. Half would die, for sure. They don’t make the recruiting posters. We had a Supervisor so large he couldn’t fit in the DHC8 cockpit much less a King Air or any helicopter. The message is, CBP can drop new requirements - and has frequently in the past years such as PASS / STAT / STAR / STAR Recurrent / Spanish Academy / ETC that were not requirements when I was hired. It’s just one decision away from doing PT Tests. At age 50, range qualifications in any of our “garden spot” border locations (full body armor), all damn day on the range might kill you anyway. I’ve done it in hip high snow and suffocating humidity. Every Supervisor went to just one gun for qualification - while “line” Pilots had to qualify as Tactical Team Members requiring a 2,3,or 4 gun qualification. Oh, then after “quals” some ‘moto dude’ fresh back from Firearms School will extend your day another 2 hours for made up tactical training that makes the Army look smart. |
Waco,
Check pm's |
Originally Posted by RCpilot2018
(Post 2813767)
Waco,
Check pm's |
Originally Posted by WacoQCF
(Post 2814069)
Send me a PM then...but it would be more entertaining in the public forum. 😬
|
Waco... I’m just curious, can you tell us who you currently work for, to have 17on-15off?
Also, how does that schedule work with the wife and kids? |
Originally Posted by Choppersnplanes
(Post 2816248)
Waco... I’m just curious, can you tell us who you currently work for, to have 17on-15off?
Also, how does that schedule work with the wife and kids? You have to be more senior to get all weekends off. If you're junior you'll probably get one a month on average. The spouse does need some degree of independence, but I assume we're all (ex) mil here so that should be nothing new. When you're home, you're home. Plenty of time with the fam, I'm home on weekdays a lot so I volunteer at my kid's school so I get to hang out with them. |
Reading back through old CPB threads it seems the hiring mins at one point were 750TT.
Was that accurate, or was it like it is today where you could apply at 750 but had to get to at least 1000 before taking the flight assessment? |
Originally Posted by kaputt
(Post 2816838)
Reading back through old CPB threads it seems the hiring mins at one point were 750TT.
Was that accurate, or was it like it is today where you could apply at 750 but had to get to at least 1000 before taking the flight assessment? |
Originally Posted by Choppersnplanes
(Post 2816248)
Waco... I’m just curious, can you tell us who you currently work for, to have 17on-15off?
Also, how does that schedule work with the wife and kids? |
Originally Posted by rickair7777
(Post 2816460)
Almost any airline, especially majors, with a little seniority. Reserve is usually 12-13 hard days off (15 at SWA).
You have to be more senior to get all weekends off. If you're junior you'll probably get one a month on average. The spouse does need some degree of independence, but I assume we're all (ex) mil here so that should be nothing new. When you're home, you're home. Plenty of time with the fam, I'm home on weekdays a lot so I volunteer at my kid's school so I get to hang out with them. For 17 on / 15 off, ACMI is probably the only way to get that reliably. |
Originally Posted by Diverb
(Post 2817545)
Yes you can apply at 750tt but you will need to be at 1000tt for the written/oral/check ride.
|
35% cola and 10% UAS bonus... WOOHOO!!
I'll take that extra 30K! I'm starting to like this pilot shortage stuff. |
Originally Posted by BAJ135
(Post 2818023)
What’s this written you speak of?
The bonus will only serve to keep those already dead set on staying (those too close to retirement). That new bonus would have retained a lot of people 5 years ago when we were telling Eddie Young and “Tex” Alles of a significant Pilot recruitment problem years ago. At the present, compare it to JetBlue or American and both will be making double that $$$ by the 12 year mark. Time off? Nope not even close. |
Originally Posted by RCpilot2018
(Post 2818549)
35% cola and 10% UAS bonus... WOOHOO!!
I'll take that extra 30K! I'm starting to like this pilot shortage stuff. |
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