Diverb

I'm not an AIA Pilot, but I do work for AMO as a sensor operator and I should be able to answer most of your questions. I'm not sure on the exact numbers of airframes we have as an agency, but my location last year traded in the Citation for another MEA (KingAir). as far as fixed wing is concerned, Puerto Rico has Dash 8's and the other south Texas new hire locations have C206 & C210's. Grand Forks & Sierra Vista are heavy UAS locations.

AMO is big on sending all new AIA Pilots to the southern border where you will spend a few years until you can apply for a transfer. Example being, last year my buddy who was a sensor operator got hired as a pilot, and he had to transfer to Texas, even thought we are short 2 pilots. Now at his location, his management has all pilots limited to 200 flight hrs per year. Again that's just at his location, other locations may not have any limitation, but I wouldn't come here if you desire 1000 flt hrs a year.

Here is another thread you might want to read if you haven't already.
https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/m...ew-thread.html

Feel free to PM me if you like

kaputt

Appreciate the response. Thanks for linking that other thread as well. It sounds like things aren't at the best state currently in CBP. That's a shame as their mission seems like it has has huge potential.

I personally was not opposed to some of the southern border locations if the flying was worthwhile. But I'm really not interested in having a risk of flying an RPA.

Anyone know anything about US Forest Service jobs??

WacoQCF

I recently left the AIA position, and can tell you that most Pilots are looking to leave given the health of airlines and increased pay. DHC-8's are in New Orleans, Puerto Rico, and Miami and not going away any time soon; RPA's are at Sierra Vista and Corpus Christi and I think North Dakota. Otherwise you will be in a King Air at best, and more likely a Cessna - several more King Airs coming online with super small modified cockpits and squat to pee facilities.

Any Puerto Rico assignment will be a place you want to escape, with high taxes.

Miami is making all new hires run the radar in the back of the plane, and they are very short on all crew positions as they take on early retirements and others like myself who leave well before retirement age.

System wide management is a leading factor in those looking to quit, and many military reserve types have faced outright hostility for doing drills; some of it driven by coworker or supervisor jealousy of the option to leave for a while, the other being supervisors who resent your positions of authority and leadership carryover into the CBP workplace. We had zero camaraderie in the work place, and many instances of people stabbing peers in the back to try to advance to supervisory positions.

Simply, right now I absolutely would send you to Mesa airlines over CBP. When I joined it had the potential to be a really great career.

There are a bunch of AIA "pilot recruiters" who are not Pilots; and a few of my buddies became and later quit recruiting when they couldn't honestly recommend CBP OAM to a transitioning veteran.

kaputt

Thank you for the post. The more info the better to make an informed career decision. I'm currently cross shopping opportunities in pretty much every sphere of aviation.

You mentioned the King Air's. Which aircraft in the fleet are they replacing, and what bases are they going to? Also how many PC-12s are out there, and what locations do they have?

While I probably would not accept an RPA position, I would consider one of the Cessna positions if there was the future potential to be moved over to a King Air, PC-12, or Dash-8.

Do you have any insight into the hours per year most pilots are averaging?

And finally, since you are moving on, where are you headed?

Thanks!

bloomerpilot

Curious if anyone can shed some light on the UAS program. I'm one of the few who might be interested in this. I'm ready to start seeing my kids grow up and don't want to move to the southern border. My wife and I went to school in Grand Forks and would love to move back there. If anyone can give me some additional info that would be great. I've submitted the background check and have physical coming up soon.

Diverb

PM me I will give you a POC for Grand Forks

Clue32

Left about a year and a half ago but the way the federal government works... This depends on the fiscal year, the branch, the budget, and the administration and congresses whim to make more money magically appear.

When I started we were still feeling the effects of sequestration, so many days I showed up and was told only to fly if there was a call for support, some days it was emergencies only.

When I left, my daily marching orders were to fly at least 4 hours a day, every day; unless weather, maintenance or weapons/use of force / safety training kept me on the ground; or there was some wild administrative duty that popped up.

The year before my last I was just under 650 hours. My last year there I flew about 550 hours but was limited by low hours while TDY in McAllen for 13 weeks, otherwise I would have been closer to 700. I had a guy in my office break 900 and another broke 800 that year. I saw a national flying hour report by pilot near the end of FY15 and that showed there were lots... lots of folks on the SW Border flying 400-500 hours.

AeronautP

Any current or recent guys that can share about typical days on the job, and what the schedule is like? I've read a lot of old information, but not a lot of current info out there it seems like.

Diverb

It's going to depend upon what location you get assigned too, but regardless of location you will still have a few days each quarter for firearms (8hr training day) less than lethal training, case law review, ect. Also we have to comply with a lot of online learning each quarter (sensitivity training, culture awareness, you get the drift) so those days will eat into your flying schedule. There's also a communication room duty, which at my office we all usually get assigned to once a week. I can only draw upon the experience at my office, but we cycle 3 weeks of days, then 2 weeks of nights, then back to days, so everyone can stay current at night while maintaining operational readiness. Most of the pilots at my location average about 400-450 hrs a year. Again other locations may be burning up the log book, others not so much.

Hope this helps

DROCK

I'm leaving the military for this reason, not going to deal with this BS.