http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/index.php?app=blog Community Blog List Syndication Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:03:34 +0000 baseops@flyingsquadron.com (Baseops Forums) IP.Blog 60
The summit was nicely put together and the Tampa Convention Center was a great (upscale) venue to hold this event.

The exhibit hall was gigantic and had the usual booths such as Sportys, Pilot Mall, Garmin, Jepp, ERAU, etc. Additionally, the FAA was well represented - I spoke at length with the folks at the FAA Safety booth (www.faasafety.gov). Here I was shown (in detail) all of the features of their new website with a ton of information, bulletins, self-study topics, and more. I was searching for material/sources of safety information for the Aviation e-Newsletter that I am trying to kick off, and I think I found quite a bit here. I also spoke with Mr. Steve Smith (former AFSOC pilot) at the FAA Sunway Safety Booth (separate from the FAASafety booth) that was dedicated specifically to runway safety, preventing runway incursions, etc.

I saw one particular product from a small vendor that captured my attention - it was the flight bag that is made by Brightline Bags (www.brightlinebags.com) - this is a great product that is just the right size, has plenty of separate compartments / dividers, and seems rugged enough to last. It has a separate compartment that will fit 2x Dave Clarks (or perhaps 1x NVGs). Also, the pubs compartment is perfectly sized to fit sectionals / high or low charts without having to crinkle them or bend them. And the bag's two sections actually zip-apart into two separate bags (if you don't need to carry all the pubs for instance).

In the near future, look for the 1st issue of our Aviation e-Newsletter.

]]> Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:40:00 +0000

• If you are a frequenter of these forums, you probably noticed we upgraded/changed our forums software. We now are running the latest (and greatest?) version of Invision Power Board. There were a few growing pains / glitches in the transition. Unfotunately, it was bad timing when I chose the same few days to upgrade the forums as well as stand up the new website (next bullet below). The forums seem to be up and running properly - albeit with a few differenences (such as external links not opening a new window, etc.) MTF.
• I've been working on transitioning the Aviation Jobs listings from the baseops.net site to a new site (with more features) since late April 2009. We finally flung opne the doors to the new site last week: www.guardreservejobs.com -- we moved all of the existing baseops.net jobs to this site which is running a completely brand new "engine". This site, with its robust database back-end, offers similar features that job portals like Monster.com offer such as a searchable database; filters to find the exact job you are looking for; employers post their job vacancies direct (and have full-control over their listings); job seekers can create free accounts, save their searches, and even upload resumes. Check it out!
• Unfortunately when we upgraded the Forums to the latest software, it became instantaneously incompatible with the Baseops Wiki section thus for a few days actually forcing the Baseops Wiki (TDY Gouge) off-line. Well, I was able to resurrect the Wiki and you can now access it again, although it is read-only (you cannot edit it) at this time. Pending a patch from the folks at IPBWiki... MTF.
• We finally resolved a forums bandwidth issue around noon today (eastern time) -- looks like the forums have become so popular that we have succeeded in busting through the 100GB (per month) cap! I have upped the bandwidth cap and look forward to doubling or tripling that bandwidth soon with the support of our loyal users.
• I'd like to see more photos posted in the online gallery - looks like you crew dogs are slacking out there. I also hope to see more links to UPT videos and other morale boosters and sources of pure comedy.
• Keep the gouge and updates coming - I will post anything you submit along with your name/unit/class patch as a "thank you".

v/r
baseops

]]> Sun, 26 Jul 2009 20:10:00 +0000
I have received many messages from users that are 1.) angry 2.) feel violated 3.) want to inflict painful revenge 4.) concerned about the site's security.

There is reason for concern - but in the right context. This guy was a spammer - a pretty clever one. There are many out there; Russia (or at least .ru domains) are a hot bed for illicit online activity. Also, one must assume that since this site is in the www domain that it is accessed by all nationalities for any and all purposes (good intent as well as dubious ones). If we keep our head on a swivel and ensure what we post is neither classified nor sensitive, we can protect ourselves. Lastly, one must always be cautious before clicking on links - that is probably superfluous advice at this time, but noteworthy nonetheless.

There are a few more parameters that I can tweak to crank up the security of the site, but it comes at a cost to the user (less freedom of movement, etc.) Hope it doesn't come down to that - but I will do it if I have to...

Just goes to confirm what we already know, Russians are good at two things - Spam and Mail Order Brides.

Feel free to comment below.

v/r
BASEOPS]]> Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:27:00 +0000
I just finished a complete re-write of the Baseops.Net home page. To the casual observer, it may look nearly identical to the old home page. Upon further review it is a bit less cluttered, and a little better organized (based on the sheer volume of content presented). What I did was write the page from the ground up -- this time completely in notepad just for the heck of it -- and I used .CSS for my formatting. This did several things: a.) reduced the page size by at least 67%, b.) followed the standard convention in the use of CSS to separate mark up from content, and c.) let me bring me modernize my coding a bit (thru the use of CSS) - especially in light of the various heckling that my primitive code received...

Bottom Line: the page should load up quicker, and (hopefully) is better organized. All future new flight planning links will initially appear in red (for a limited time) bringing the users' attention to the change(s).

Some other changes coming down the pipe:
-A complete revamp of the aviaiton jobs section - I solicited feedback on my project proposal to the units posting job announcements and received overwhelming support. The new interface will be completely interactive (like the monster.com interface) in a searchable database.
-The message forum software has a new version currently in beta form, but to be released with plenty of new features... MTF...

As always, comments, suggestions, gouge submissions, recommendations are always welcome!

V/R
BASEOPS]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2009 01:26:24 +0000
We have our graduation dinner tonight, it's a formal deal, us in mess dress and so forth. I guess it's an awards banquet, but whatever. I have to get into the penguin suit one more time!

Anyway, I think this will be my last entry in my blog, I don't see a need to spill the beans on the rest of my life, I'm sure the SERE guys already have enough to hang me with when I go! Thank you to every one who wished me the best and supported me through this process. I first logged on to Baseops.net forums in 2002 when I started the process of getting a commission in the Air Force and becoming a pilot. Now, here I am 7 years later with Air Force pilot wings on my chest, about to head off to my dream plane at my dream base. Overall, it's taken 13 years since I stepped on the yellow footprints at MCRD San Diego (almost to the day), and there's not a single thing I would change, from the route I took to get here to the time line itself. I've received nothing but good advice from this place (Baseops), and I really do hope that what I've written will take some of the "stress of the unknown" away from those just starting the process of getting their wings, and return to Baseops some of what it gave to me. Bottom line: work your butt off to get here, it's worth it.

I'll still look at the comments on here, and if anyone reading this has any questions in the future, you can PM me too.

Thanks all!

Period.]]> Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:30:00 +0000
4 Formation flights

2 <Simulated> Air Drop flights

2 <Simulated> Air Refueling flights

1 Co-pilot flight

Then you have assignment night. If you assign to a plane which does air drop, then you have 3 more air drop flights, another co-pilot ride, and an air drop checkride. If you track to a tanker, it's the same except you do 3 air refueling rides and an air refueling checkride. If you FAIP or track to a plane which does neither (UAV, U-28, MC-12, C-21, etc...) then they just pick which track you finish out on. I did air drop since I'm going to the C-17, and let me tell you, air refueling flights are WAY easier to plan and fly!

Anyway, I had my checkride today, did very well, and now I'm done! Next Friday is graduation, where we actually get our wings, but for all intents and purposes, I'm done with UPT!! Woohoo!]]> Sat, 07 Feb 2009 02:48:00 +0000
Woohoo! Going to Charleston baby!!!]]> Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:02:56 +0000
We're also in the process of filling out our drop requests at the moment. Should be interesting to see what happens!]]> Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:59:41 +0000 Finally go my Nav check out of the way before the holiday break last week. I did extremely well and am very happy, hopefully that will make up for my dumb mistakes on my Trans check! When we get back from the break, it will be straight into formation and Mission Fam (simulated air-refueling and air-drop flights). Only 4 weeks to Assignment night on Jan 29th! Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:51:17 +0000
The days are still about the same, show up at 0800 or so if your not flying and hang out until 1300 or so, or show anywhere from 0700 to 1200 if you are flying.

Back to it!]]> Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:07:08 +0000