How often military pilots fly
05-09-2011 | 03:40 AM
#11
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From: FAA 'Flight Check'
USMCFLYER/Crewdawg, thanks for the clarification. Are flights (excluding ferry/x-ctry) in the fighter world short due to the nature of the mission you practice for? i.e. it doesn't take too long to fly to the range and drop a few bombs and RTB; practice air-air fighting?
It would not be unusual to burn 10,000#s of gas in 0+45!
Lots of sorties in the F/A world - few hours compared to other communities on average.
USMCFLYR
05-09-2011 | 02:50 PM
#14
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From: FAA 'Flight Check'
USMCFLYR
05-09-2011 | 04:58 PM
#15
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From: Baja Vermont
In the AFRes C-5 unit we had loads of guys clocking 40-60 hours a month, every month for the last 10 years. Mostly 7-10 day trips. All quality time, too. Upgrade to A/C in two-three years, then PIC heavy jet time.
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05-09-2011 | 06:24 PM
#17
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From: Boeing right seat
"How much do you fly" is really a loaded question.
"Hours" is what many people chase when it comes to finding the next job.
"Sorties" is a pretty good measure too. Better than hours when it comes to how much time you spend "preparing, flying and debriefing"... though you may have fewer "hours".
In U-2 land (to include the T-38), you will fly about 2 times per week when not deployed,... more if you are aggressive on picking up sorties.
"Hours" is what many people chase when it comes to finding the next job.
"Sorties" is a pretty good measure too. Better than hours when it comes to how much time you spend "preparing, flying and debriefing"... though you may have fewer "hours".
In U-2 land (to include the T-38), you will fly about 2 times per week when not deployed,... more if you are aggressive on picking up sorties.
05-09-2011 | 06:55 PM
#18
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From: FO
USCG fixed wing assets are overmanned right now. Helo guys getting 30 hours a month, Herc and Falcon pilots 10-15 hours a month (at some stations). 144's probably 25-35 hours a month.
05-09-2011 | 07:33 PM
#19
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From: Midfield downwind
The reason for that was the 2004-2007 timeframe in Iraq, where fighter AEF deployers were performing 4-6 hour sorties of "pipeline patrol" and similar non-tactical missions. The result was that there were some guys tagging 1,000 hours on their FIRST OPS TOUR, yet had little to no tactical prowess because so much of that time was on these AEF sorties.
05-10-2011 | 02:56 AM
#20
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From: Boeing right seat
While "sortie count" may also not be ideal way to quickly track experience, I believe it is significantly better than "hours".
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