duece123

Anyone on this board fly for the guard and a regional? Do you have any days off ever? Are you happy that you fly for both? Any feedback would be appreciated.

Slim

I'm retired from the Guard and spent most of my Guard career with two different carriers.

Some of the F/Os I work with do both and schedule around each other. When I was in, I scheduled around my drill weekend so I wouldn't incur any pay loss. A F/O I flew with recently flies KC-135s in Kansas. His schedule can be difficult at times but he makes more flying with the Guard than with Comair. A former Comair F/O flies F-16s in the SDANG. He purposely flew as much with his unit as he could and used a lot of government leave time from Comair. So far as I know, neither regretted their decisions.

Although I didn't fly, I never regretted my decision to do 20 years in the Guard. Ocassionally, I had the opportunity to do 2,3,4 day active duty periods with very little notice to Comair. They never gave me a hard time about it.

Fly safe!

L-1011-500

It all depends on who you work for. I flew for ATA until 2002 and they were good about the flying in the guard. Since 9-11 I have worked for some carriers that made it as hard as possible for me to fly with the guard. Amerijet in Miami used to dock me 2x the normal sick day rate if my schedule didn't jive to the military. One of my best friends is a captain at Pinnacle and he's in the guard and it's working OK. Just depends who you are going to work for. Also your guard unit can be difficult to deal with depending on your currency and training events. PM me if you wish as I have over 26 yrs in the Air Guard and have been in commercial aviaition for 14 and it's been a blessing to fall back on when furloughs come(9-11).

duece123

Thanks for the replies. I am about to go to AMS and UPT for a 130 unit. If all goes well (no med DQ’s or don’t wash out) after UPT, 130 qual, seasoning, and a trip to the desert or two, I will probly start firing at the regionals. From what I have heard, it is best to live near your base and commute to the regionals. Like I said before any input would be appreciated. I know I am talking about years away from the present, but I would like to hear about the QOL from some guys that fly for both as opposed to just bumming at their guard units. Seems like everyone I talk to says that you can mil drop trips if you need to, and that the guard should take priority over the regional because they treat you 100x's better and you make more cash flying guard trips anyways.

L-1011-500

Good Luck at UPT. I flew Herc's in AK for 9 years and it's a great airplane. The C-5 is too visible everywhere we go and the crews are way too big at times. It's good that you are planning ahead though. I have been on a Military LOA from my current employer since 2003 and it's been a blessing. I have since been hired by another airline and am due to start ground school this summer. I can retire anytime now but it is a great insurance backup to the airlines. It has bailed me out 2x now from getting furloughed from 9-11 andbeing at a crappy airline (Amerijet). Again best of luck to you.

Slim

Good luck! You're planning ahead and that will pay dividends in the future.

When major airline hiring accelerates (it's cyclical and hiring will improve), you'll have miltary time, possibly aircraft commander time, and 121 time with a regional. That stack of applications is very attractive to most airlines, and is much smaller than the stack of military-only time and Part 121-only time.

I graduated AMS in 1983. If you like prime rib, go to the Copper Cellar. Their's is the best prime rib I ever had. I haven't been back since, though I've been in TYS many times. Comair keeps us out by the airport.

Fly safe!

bigD

Hey L-1011-500,

I am starting up my application for local UPT training in the Guard. The app. is due by this Sept. but training doesn't start for just over a year after that. Local ANG is a F-16 fighter wing. Do you have any advice on how to increase my chances of getting in? I haven't started my PPL yet but plan to within the next couple of weeks. (Up in the air about two different programs and have intro flights for both of them this next week.)

duece123

dude....go to baseops.net, go stuff there for ANG apps

L-1011-500

Are you already in the Guard? That makes the difference in any ties among the applicants. I personally would accept any UPT slot in any airframe(fixed wing) if I could do it all over again. Don't put all your eggs in one basket if you don't make it in shop around for other units. If you live in NY, PA or NJ PM me and I'll see what I can do. Anyways best of luck to you.

bigD

Unfortunatley I live in New Mexico (ABQ), otherwise I would be extremely grateful for any help you could give L-1011-500. I currently am not a member of the guard, is that a huge + when applying? My tentative plan right now is to start working on my PPL and the such and apply to the UPT program. With the hope of accuring enought hours between my private flying and UPT to be able to apply to the regionals when I finish up my ANG training. Thanks for the info.