FLightle

Hey guys,

I know that if you're Army/Army Guard or Reserves (ANG/Air Force read down) you probably also shadow the APTAP forum but just curious who on this board is former/current Army Guard pilots.

I'm looking for tips on how to max out the benefit of guard/civil flying at the same time. Some of you guys out there know the tips Im talking about. Since I'll be doing it (FLARNG), I'm curious who's got suggestions as to what community of civil flying is best for someone in my position. Corporate/135? Airlines?

If you're Air Guard please sound off, that's something I would love to do. Hopefully if there are enough of you that reply we can get a sticky for this one. Perhaps maintain it as a forum record of who is in the NG/Reserves....

Forest J. Lightle
1-111th GSAB
Cecil Field; Jacksonville, FL
CH-47D

Blackhawk

There are a bunch of pilots from triple sticks that can probably help with this as well.
I have had success flying for a 121 regional airline and flying for the Guard. The way my airline sets up the schedules, I can sometimes get paid for flying Guard and airline at the same time. E.g.- bid for a line that is only worth 40 hours when I am doing AT; I drop half the month for AT, then swap out the other trips for ones worth more money/hours. As long as I build my line back to 40 hours for the month, I get paid guarantee.
Feel free to ask specific questions.
So did you have to get emasculated when you went to the 47 course?

FLightle

Well, I'm still in the 47 course but almost done. Tonight was my first night of NVGs... ... dang. What is "triple sticks" ? Another forum/org?

The Chinook is awesome.

Thanks for the info!

-Forest

Blackhawk

Ahh... you must be new to 1-111th. Triple sticks, 111... get it? At least we used to call it that back in the 90s.

FLightle

bump bump.. there's gotta be more of you guys out there!

FLightle

unbelievable.....

L-1011-500

I am in the Air Guard and also fly commercially. I was with ATA from 1996-2002 and then some of the non sched under belly MIA operators. The Guard has been the place to come back to when the wheels fall of the part 121 bus. I have been on a continuous MPA tour for over 2 years flying in support of the Afgan/Iraq mess. I can't tell you how grateful I am to have had the Guard to bail me out. In all the years I have been doing both I have seen some commuters be gracious with military time and some not. Most of it depends on how you play the game. If you drop orders on the airline all the time short notice then they tend to not play nicely in return. ATA was a great place for military time. I faxed them the UTA order for the year in advance and I tried to bid accordingly and they met me half way. I worked for a while at Amerijet in MIA and even with an order faxed/hand carried/and mailed they still made it as difficult as possible. Then charged me double the sick call time for the time I missed. One pay period I actually flew 54 hours(65 hr gar) and was paid for 45 hours after they deducted 5 hours a day for the 4 I missed for the military. To this day if I ever see them get a goverment contract I will be writing my congressman. Anyways the best bet is whatever works for you and your family. If you work for a commuter and are based at the same airport as your flying unit you got it made. I know guys who are on reserve and are at the Guard doing RUTA/AFTP's on the same day. I now am in ground school for a 747 operator and hope this one works out. If not I might have to give up and become an AGR fulltimer. Even though I much prefer the lifestyle in commercial aviation the AGR gig pays much more than 90% of anyplace you can work anymore. If you have anything else PM me.
Best of luck to you.

MOK-

Flightle,

You come across Tod Searcy out there?

H. Younge, 85-47 Gray hats

Rotorheads

I am a full-time AGR Air Guard guy. Used to be a regional Capt. Liked the regional flying, but love the pay, benefits and flexibility (read RETIREMENT PENSION) of a 20 year military career. I am on a ultra long term LOA with the regional and plan to go back eventually. You are correct, I do lurk in the shadows on this forum, keeping tabs on how "the industry" is doing. When I see CEO's raiding the hard earned pilot retirement pensions of the Ch. 11 Legacy carriers under the giles of, "It will save the company"; it just makes my stomach churn. If you want to commute to LA, you might look at Offshore oil rig support (PHI, Era, Air Log, et al). Some offer 2 on/2 off and $54k/yr to start....

FLightle

Gosh, that name rings a bell!!! I'm not sure where I've heard that name though. Is he a Guard guy or a guy at Ft. Rucker?

-Forest