USMCFLYR

In my past community I could spend a total of 6 hours for a 1.0-1.3 hr flight. After that near full day for that litttle flight time I still had a regular full time job with the ground duties that propfails alludes too. Even when on 6-9 month deployment - the flying increases - maybe flying twice a day - and SOME of the mundane paperwork might get left behind for a little while (don't worry - it is still collecting in your inbox whether it be on your desk or in your Outlook account). There is no doubt that military flying involves a lot more than just strapping on an airplane.

I wholly support the deep soul searching before joining the miltiary. I believe there are many misconceptions about military flying and the duties involved - both CONUS and OCONUS. Even if you only spend your initial commitment (10 years now?) and then get out and pursue some other career (airlines, business, law, etc...) then I wholly support that person too and would never look down on them. That individual has given more in those years than many others will in a lifetime and I appauld them for it, thank them for their service, and pat them on the back on the way out the door.

When I was in the FRS, my class had a grizzled LCDR going through a Cat III or IV syllabus with us. He called the class together on late afternoon for a meeting at the O'club at NAS Cecil Field. Come to find out that he just wanted to sit down with each of us and make sure that we each knew what we were getting into by choosing this line of work. It was funny when he looked at each of the 3 Marines in the class and said "I don't think we ever have to worry about you [.....] guys, but the rest of you better get your head on straight" I guess in the GUlf War he had been around some fellow pilot(s?) that all of the sudden had a change of heart when it came time to do the job they had been trained for. I don't have patience for that type of person myself.

USMCFLYR

Aloha

Gents,
Don't buy into "Capt Code Pink". He's just trying to get a rise out of you. I doubt he ever served - If he did he would know that the profession is not about "killing for a living". I wonder if he makes the same argument about our police force? I'm certain in his eyes any state or federal employee is just part of the "evil empire" that is out to get him.
Lighten up francis,
-Aloha

bunk22

Love a good train wreck and there's not much more to say concerning CaptFuzz's funny post.

I say, if one wants to use the military as a stepping stone to the airlines, go for it. Just know you will serve 10 years before you can punch. Long time and the flying could be good or bad. I had so many months with VRC-30 and VAW-120 where logging 10 hours was a good month. Most of my flight time came with deployment or dets...then 50+ hours could be the norm. The training command is a place where it's much easier to log 40+ hours every month.

forgot to bid

How much flight time does a carrier pilot get on a 6-month cruise? Deployment? Whatever you call it.

And speaking of the Navy, I think one of the Navy IPs on here said about 50-60% of pilots are going to the helicopters, is that the case? And don't you still get fixed wing time (King Airs) mixed in with that?

What about the USAF and UAVs, how many pilots are going to that? A Captain I flew with not too long ago said the number was over 50% and his son was flying them out of Vegas. How long are you committed to UAVs or any plane for that matter?

What I'm getting at is if someone was told, "oh if you go military you don't have a lot of flight time and now with UAVS and helicopters you have less flight time for the airlines" but from my talks with airline recruiters ex-military pilots are handled differently then regionals. Regionals you measure pilots experience in thousands of hours of Part 121 PIC while military is military and at the end of 10 years you're just as much in the running given the "quality" of the flight time and the mission performed.

rickair7777

Depends on the airframe. A typical strike/fighter guy can accumulate 1500 hours during his initial obligated service. That is why most majors require 1000-1300 TPIC. Other airframes usually get more time.

Given the number of helos we have, that sounds about right. If you don't like helos, join the AF.

The realistic number I have heard is about 10% or less, but some UPT classes may get hit harder than others. A lot of UAV pilots got switched from other airplanes, or their guard/reserve unit converted to UAV's.

All services generally have about a ten year commitment for pilots, including training. The have not come up with a different (lower) commitment for UAV pilots but I imagine they will if they eventually go to a "UPT Light" for unmanned folks. the pilot community would like to stick with standardized training for all pilots, but I'm sure the bean counters will eventually force the issue.

FlyBoyd

Ding Ding Ding Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!!

USN FTS or USAF AGR in the training command is the best deal going IMO. It has allowed me to make it to 20 years while staying in the cockpit and avoiding most of the standard pain.

But....We only train people to go somewhere else and train to kill people. That is like three degrees of separation from actually killing so in order to get my fix, I hunt the homeless on the weekends

USMCFLYR

I thought the commitment was 10 years AFTER winging? I remember the **good 'ole days**. My commitment was 4 years after winging. I'm not even sure if I could have made a 10 year commitment. I gotta hand it to those guys nowdays.

Bunk - 50+ hr months My biggest month EVER was 45 hrs and I tried, boy did I try

I'm pretty sure that every community out there beats out the strike fighter community in the Navy and Marine Corps, but I'd like to see some type of spreadsheet on it because I don't really know for sure except through informal conversations.


USMCFLYR

FlyBoyd

USAF = Wings + 10
USN = Wings + 8

bunk22

It's certainly dependent on the community as to what flight time a carrier pilot gets on cruise.

I believe the number for the Navy is around 45 +/-5% who go helo's. For the Marine's, it's around 70% or so...at least that's my understanding. I was a primary flight instructor not to long ago and that's the number I saw in a brief or two.

bunk22

Well, strike/figher guy versus prop guy. My best month was during OEF, November 2001 I logged 121 hours in that month. Best FRS month was 70 hours during FCLP/CQ.

At the end of my first sea tour, I just broke 1300 hours total. I logged around 275 hours my first deployment and around 400 on my second. I had about 200 out of flight school. I spent 12 months on two deployments and 3.5 years with VRC-30. So in 2.5 years of non deployment, I logged around 425 hours, about 170 hours a year.

I know while I was at VRC-30 as a DH, we had a few JO's finish their 3 year tour with under 1000 hours total. Just one or two, most had between 1000-1300 hours total. I think part of the reason I had what I had was for my first two years, we flew nights at the boat and thus flew many an hour in the night FCLP pattern. Once we went day only, the FCLP time was cut by at least 3/4.