You might want to update your salary info for major airlines.

NB Capts make about $225/hr at lower end of scale. Thats $200k+ a year. Plus whatever add ons like 401 and profit sharing.

Plus OT. Which can add as much as 40%+ to the annual baseline W2.

I’m thinking he was talking mainly regional pay scales here guys.
Everyone knows if money is your motivating factor then a mainline job is where it is at for a vast majority. :cool:

Correct. That is why I included 1600 hours of flight time. No ups/mainline taking anyone with that low of time. A regional airline captain can't even come close to what I make and I'm sure doesn't make what AMO pilot make. Keep the conversation going. The more info available the better.

If he's got 1600 hours of mostly piston time then no way he's getting to a major any time soon. Which I'm pretty sure is the point of him posting this. CBP, or any federal job, keeps him in similar pay scale and his 10 years of time already "served" credits, although obviously not to the Law Enforcement portion.

To cpagdog, have you looked into other federal jobs like Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife, and National Parks? All three of those have had multiple openings over the last year on USAJobs and may also give you what you're looking for.

1600 hours total. 500 in learjets with sic type in a Lear 45 BUT I haven't flown since 2009. The part that caught my eye about AMO was they just dropped the 100 hours in last 12 months. I mean that alone could be 15k versus just spending money to get current and try for AMO. I am not trying to shill AMO. I'm just a guy trying to get back to flying without taking too much of a pay hit and I figured I'm half way to one pension, might as well finish it.

And all the other flying jobs I've seen on USA jobs require the 100 hours last 12.

Thanks

The 206 mission in McAllen is planned for 4 hours of flight time. It is 99% a border mission with an investigative or other type mission thrown in there on rare occasions. You have 1 pilot and 1 sensor operator. From what I recall they primarily fly it at night, because the sensor is more effective.

The aircraft itself is pig due to the drag and extra weight created by the mission package. There was also a rash of engine failures at AMO. Not sure if the problem has been ID’d and corrected, but there were guys refusing to fly them at night or with a threat of IMC because of concerns over MX.

McAllen does a have a slick 206, but that is used as a time builder/trainer for guys prior to moving to the mission capable 206’s.

Hope this helps. I think most guys can understand wanting to finish out your retirement. Also this job would be better that runnings dog at the POE. However; if you are expecting job satisfaction... just heed the warnings from others and go in with eyes wide open.

That requirement has been either amended or dropped by a number of federal agencies. Another trickle down of the pilot shortages at some levels.

Fixed......

Great info gang! I wish I had an easier decision. The TLDR

Been DHS 10 years (like to finish pension)
Current job base pay Max is 102,000 (no leap) and average min 500+ overtime a year
No flying here at all
Not current and definitely not 100 in the last 12
But would love to get back to flying and not taking a pay cut would be nice

Kind of a bummer everyone seems to say AMO is not great...what about after 5 years and you can try to transfer out of the border locations, any better?

And I have yet to see any other pilot announcements waiving the 100 hr in last 12, I'll keep watching though.

Thanks again for all the Intel!

Sorry to hear that has not been resolved . Your information has been invaluable and is the reason I have not applied yet.

Thanks for all the great info!

If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been at your current duty location? Ive read 3 years eligible to request from hard to fill locations, 5 year more likely to transfer, but understand its all needs of the agency. At least in DoD, if you hated your post, odds are you would be gone in at least 3-5, less if you tried hard enough. As always, thanks for your candor.

EDIT: Just remembered your post a few pages ago, im guessing you are still having friction with that potential transfer?

. Check your PM. Thanks

AEA/AIA position
 

Hello. I’m new to this forum and I was reading this thread and I have a question(s). I’m planning on studying for my helicopter pilot license through a college program. Since you’re hiring student pilots as AEA, how many hours would be needed to qualify for this position? I’m planning to get my private, instrument, commercial and CFI.

Yes! Is there a flight requirement for these student pilots.

I have searched the last 10 pages or so to find this answer. Will CBP pay for a Comm Multi Add on?
Also, I see that PR/ CAMB pays 25% extra off of base salary for RI, is PR a good place to live with a family? Ive talked to one guys saying that his family is faring very well. I just wanted to get a consensus from anyone that is currently there. Ive also always wanted to fly turbo props and I love the Dash 8.

I was planning on applying after I got back from vacation. I wouldn't mind trying out CBP as a pilot although I see that a lot of people have suggested to just wait for the airlines. Also, I am in OKC every so often, would it hurt or would I be allowed to drop by Will Rogers and maybe get a tour or speak with someone if I happened to stop by?

Thanks for searching for the answer. I have another question. Is the Sierra Vista location strictly a drone site or do they have helicopters too?

Thanks! I noticed the current announcement had Sierra Vista as a location and I want to stay in Arizona. Still gonna work towards my certifications to be a pilot. What’s the average class size for the AMO Academy? Do you get a lot of applicants?

Diverb, if you don't mind me asking, are you both rotor and fixed wing rated? Curious if they would stash a dual-rated dude in a UAS only initial hire spot. Understand needs of the agency, but wouldn't put it past CBP given the chatter over the past 34 pages. As always, appreciate your candor.

Thanks for the reply, Diverb. Always appreciated. Are you able to stay current going TDY or is it not a concern for CBP for guys filling UAS seats? Thanks again.

my apologies for not being clear, I wasn't sure if the guys with rotor ratings stayed current, or have the opportunity to stay current, in helos via TDY trips or if the demand for the UAS job kept them exclusively flying UAS in UAS only locations.

Would CBP pay for a multi add on for FW guys that would be willing to take a Puerto Rico base?


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With that being said, how many hours a day do a person fly? This question also applies to the UAS pilots as well.

I'm a veteran planning on using my GI Bill and other funding to get my licenses and flight hours to qualify. By the way, I find this particular tread extremely useful and thank you to all of you for your input.

Thanks Diverb, appreciate the clarity.

I am a HEMS pilot and just started the process with CBP.
I tried 2 years ago but failed the polygraph.
I have been tossing around the idea of Airlines and CBP and didn't want to rule either out until I knew for sure what I wanted. After reading some of the posts on how things actually are with respect to upper management and being stuck in a border town for years doesn't appeal to me at all.
My eventual goal would be to get to Tucson but that sounds like it would be tough to get to, if I am reading it correctly.

If you have the goods to go to an airline, now is the time. Sounds like you're not too rigid to move to base, that would help your lifestyle tremendously. Don't delay your start at a new future trying to see if CBP is for you.

Would any of the AMO guys on here want to provide a timetable of job offer to 1st duty flight at your unit? I have found a few things, like FLETC listed as 73 days, but just wondering what the real timetable is.

Wow! 8 weeks and nothing but crickets.
For those that care, there's an internal announcement for P3 wannabes.

CBP announced a new AMO strategic vision today. Any AMO pilots see any changes coming in the future? Any updates on pilot life in AMO?

I hear they're opening an assisted living unit at Glynnco for the pilot new hires.

Forum Gold.

Is AMO getting a good stream of new (geriatric included) pilots? I seem to remember reading somewhere that the hiring target was 75 pilots in 2019.

Care to share with the class?

Included? I hear the entire class, the first one they could fill is going to be in January and it is all AARP card holders. The training guys are having to come up with RedMan vs walker scenarios.

Agreed. I'd get out of flying professionally before I make my family endure that 7 (5 for them) year stint ever again. Life's too short to waste away somewhere you don't enjoy. There's other ways to fly for a living if need be.

If they'd change up the new hire practices, they'd attract better candidates. Former AD mil/current reservist, contractor KA350 ISR pilot with TS. I frequently cruise by a the nice little CBP down here in Jacksonville, FL that I'd be willing to hop into, but no go, border towns are not even an option for me. Turned down a Pred offer a couple years ago and about every 6 months I hit up the recruiter just to see if things have changed, and always shot back a canned email reply about TX/AZ/PR/etc, so I'll just keep living the dream elsewhere.

How often does Manassas, VA have openings?

That's not quite right. We are looking for 75 year olds, not 75 pilots.

CBP posted on Instagram that the Citations were retired. Are they getting replaced with anything?

They've been replaced with modified King Air 350's. No newhire location has them - the only fixed wing you'll fly at a newhire location is a Cessna 206.