Classic. Very true.

Then they have the nerve to question your loyalty when leaving before 20. I question their loyalty to us when they stick most behind desks too much and usually at the end of our career.

All they have to do is mandate some good flying before the end of 20. They had a "Phoenix Aviator" program that did, as a test, and it was cancelled because the leadership didn't like it.

All the surveys, studies and busiwork can't change the fact that the solution is known and easily implemented. The leadership just doesn't want to go down that road. They want "proof" their plan is better. They want you to think they care about the problem and are "doing something" about it.

Sorry General, that's just not going to cut it and we're leaving.

Oops, nevermind.

Desk job...no Sh$t!

It's worse in the Navy, where you are a "naval officer" first and an "aviator" second. Unlike the AF, we (aviators) are in charge of ops, maintenance, administration, everything on the squadron level.

First squadron - about 60% flying, 40% ground job.
2nd (super-JO) - 40/60
3rd (Department Head) 15/85. And I still managed 100hr/mo on the deployment, so you can see I was a busy MoFo!

I'm bailing after 14 years - not going to screen for command due to timing issues (not getting my Department Head ticket punched in time due to a logjam of O-4's at my squadron) and I don't want to have a full-time ground job on a boat while they flog 6 years out of me until retirement. Heck, I couldn't pull an IA until I dropped my letter, then mysteriously have popped 3 times (off the hook because they are all outside my get-out date). Go figure.
Reserves are more interesting at this point.....

Spongebob

What is an IA?

No kidding. Everyone knew that already, that it's worse in the Navy than in the Air Force. I guess the Navy never heard that old addage: Jack of all trades, Master of none. That explains a lot!

An IA is an Individual Augment... Basically it means that they pluck you from whatever job you're doing and send you to Asscrackistan or Iraq for 6-9 months on some staff living out of a sleeping bag. Usually this comes right after you report in to your shore tour after being gone on cruise for the last two years. Love the military myself... but can't wait to retire.

You must be mistaken if you believe that us AF types don't do the same. We are in charge of all that stuff on the squadron level as well except maintenance because our maintenance falls under a different chain of command.

I echo everything all my AF airlift brothers have said on this thread. If you want to fly for a living, it gets much more difficult once you reach O-4 in the AF (about 10 years in). Not to mention the ridiculous amount of BS you have to deal with. The leadership at the O-5 level and above are more concerned about stroking each other and looking good to make rank than in doing what is right for the mission.

Herc, I don't disagree with you but political stroking for career advancement is not a phenomenon unique to the military.

As a 19 year dude looking backwards, I would say that it appears to me that the USAF says: do your PME, do a staff tour and you will make Lt Col, probably be an OPs O and at least compete for Sq CC.

I think back on all my buds who filled their squares (PME/Staff), kept their noses clean and stayed in, and they ALL made 0-5 and a larger than anticipated number of them ended up Sq CC's.

You may not want that career path (I didn't) but there's other ways to fly fly fly and skip the blow jobs. ANG/Res!

Well, I might disagree on that. A good friend of mine who is furloughed from USAirways now works for Atlas. He is based in London and has to make his own way there for his 19 day deployment every month. That 19 day stretch usually gets extended another few days. He then has to make his way back home, on his own time. That is the life of a junior Atlas pilot. He can take recall to USAirways and makes the same to more money with a lot more time at home. Easy decision really.

The guy who posted about the foreign freight operators hit the nail on the head. They are the ones that are ahead of the game with the growth in air cargo. Just look at what is happening in China and India. Lots of new freight start-ups. Those along with the established players will do very well.

This is just another area where the U.S. Legacy's have dropped the ball. Only NWA Cargo does any meaningful business. Under-belly freight on international passenger aircraft is a huge revenue source that gets almost completely ignored by the legacies. That is why the best international carriers have only widebody aircraft. They carry lots of cargo. Can't do that with a 757 flying across the pond.

Typhoonpilot

So who paid him this time to skew the data in their favor?