noumenon

Great Instructor. Hands on, as required, to correct deviations in the cockpit. Charming Southern accent made it hard to ignore oral instruction.

It was about 4 hrs total, 2 flights including the checkride. 1536 plus 400 for the DPE fee. I stayed at the Navy lodge 20 minutes up the road, good rooms for $80 a night. Drove over on a Tuesday, left DT at 1 o'clock on Thursday to drive home.

Downtown sent out Piper Twin specific gouge and notified me well in advance (3 months). I then followed up about a week out to confirm. Big picture, the gouge will be extremely similar between the duchess and the twin Comanche, other than different V speeds and the Twin being fuel injected. I felt like the GK on day 1 was a bro check to see if I actually cared enough to study prior...they are doing a review to make sure you are indeed the knowledgeable aviator they believe you to be due to your military flying background. The ATP tabletop portion covered a diverse area of information, but I wasn't asked anything about a light twin or the Piper that I didn't know from the gouge or the Instruction given day 1. Study the gouge, and get a copy of "Everything Explained for the Professional Pilot," this book is your one stop shop for all things you want to learn quickly in an easy to read format. If you are willing to show up prepared with a positive attitude, and take their program seriously while remaining humble--this is your place to go. I was flying with a 22 yr old getting schooled like it was day 1 of pilot training on the first day. I chair flew the stuff she taught that night, stressed appropriately until the alcohol kicked in, and went to bed early. Day 2 = ATP in hand, and happy happy happy. I repeat, you will NOT feel over prepared, but you will be prepared for the check ride. Not a walk in and walk out with a ticket kind of place, but I am confident they can get you where you need to be. Rest assured, if you need additional time in the light twin, they will provide it or even recommend it to you. IF they recommend it, I'd suggest you take it...if they don't think you need it...go to the check ride. PM me if you want more info, happy to help.

I did the ATP in the Twin Comanche at Downtown Aviation. If you need recent gouge, PM me. BL - YOU WONT FEEL OVER-PREPARED walking out to the airplane, but you will be prepared. If you show up prepped, should be a smooth first day, and on the second day...you will fly the airplane to the standards of the ATP practical. If you're a semi-proficient mil pilot you SHOULDNT have anything to fret about. It was the right place to go for the money...$1950 for the ticket including the DPE fee. My prep was about 10 hours on the front end, and then 3 hours on Day 1 after the first flight.

Anyone been to Downtown Aviation in Memphis lately? Looking for gouge/study guides. They've added a Piper Twin Comanche so gouge specific to that would be helpful. Please PM if you can help, thanks!

Stick, I'm congratulating you for having the courage to punch despite being on the "path." You made your mind up, followed your convictions, and it worked out. You will be missed brodimir putin, take her easy.

check your personal messages.

True...while I can't find anything specifically saying that VSP is a required first step (legality) in reducing forces, it seems best to think of it that way. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title10/pdf/USCODE-2011-title10-subtitleA-partII-chap59-sec1175a.pdf --for anyone interested, here is the law of the land. Worth getting familiar with a few things from title 10 these days IMO.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20131114/BENEFITS02/311140038/Pilots-pass-up-225-000-bonuses Rut Roh...

The term Gucci originates from the issued flight bags the original -10 guys (circa Barksdale/March/Seymour etc.) carried with them to the airplane. At the time...the shoe fit. From a space available reference: no glass...manual TOLD, airplanes beat to $h!t, smelled like piss and only 'hot cuz they're deployed'...a lot. Still the most comfortable military airplane I've been on, felt like an airline flight. Hate to hear this might be going...from a planner's perspective this airplane has an extraordinary ability to save CAS in the AOR. It was always the 'best' choice for the CAOC when you needed a plan to support navy/air force/heavies...to include the mighty herk. -130 crew stuck in Lajes for 5 days due to winds...-10 crew came through, drank heavily, and then offered to hang with us to refuel after 30 minutes of flight to get the tanks full...came through the next day unbeknownst to their mom at TACC...got us home. Very good dudes.

PM

Last stand of the Legacy...AMC wants to divest itself of slick TFIs in 2015. An adequately vetted rumor, anyone with more insight?

GC/Liquid, Another point of view. Lot of talk about that bottom 25% being easy to identify...only easy to identify given the current performance measures and reward system. Lot of folks here agree that YES, it's easy to indentify that bottom. Rethink the whole performance measurement and reward system, and the bottom 25% will change. "The people who are closest to the work, know who's doing it". -Jack Welch. As a hook, this video mentions AWC...

GC This is one pilots point of view. Tracking that we should remove emotion from this discussion, but in that statement I feel we're missing something valuable. Real leaders understand that we are never dealing with individuals just evaluating this decision from a financial point of view or in black and white, even if the bean counters are just looking at money and end strength numbers. I value realism and appreciate the bean counting realism you're offering, but it's a little out of touch. If the bonus isn't the place to show appreciation for a pilot's service, then please use this pilot's forum to find the words it's missing. For example you touched on it with keep the faith, but then erased it with the thank you for your service pilot pansy, that sucked and I know you're better than that. Our inspiration still lies in the warrior ideal, and we need leaders than can inspire that image in our folks, so they can go out and confidently prosecute the mission, bonus or no. This talk about the mission and the people, and finding the right balance of numbers that the nation needs to meet emerging threats from a statistical point of view misses a lot of the quirks that can't be quantified. IMO, we've created entire staffs to work issues that would not exist if the Air Force could inspire it's people by giving them an image of a future that they could project themselves on without cringing, gah. The bonus, why does it exist? The answer to that question seems innumerable but ultimately it's because A1 won't start with the people, its most valuable resource. A1 is starting with numbers to fix the numbers. Start with the people, and you'll end with the mission complete and we'll be thankful all the while. If the retention numbers go up for 11Xs it might also be because Welsh is inspiring, and the bonus is a sideshow that will catch a few on the fencers, but for the most part it's just extra. Check out Steve Jobs here talking about the future of Apple and its people, start at 7:40. It's a message you began to touch on, stick around till at least 12:55. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GM4tAXacpVE It's all about end strength numbers and money if I hear it correctly, we'll address the problems as they arise. My opinion is that the Air Force has failed to inspire it's people beyond the initial sacrifice without incentive, and that's a problem the Air Force cannot address with more money at ANY time, hell attempting to fix it with money is part of the problem! If leaders could inspire us all with their words and offer the quality of life that would make the word of the day gratitude there would be no bonus. However, offering a cynical remedy for the disease of cynicism isn't much of a cure. There is a more positive way, just get creative. A1 doesn't have the cajones to get rid of the bonus, that's how cynical A1 is. That 225K$ could be spent on a tremendous educational experience sending every 11X through a great school at the end of their commitment and make the covenant more valuable, while emphasizing the first 10-12 years as a chance to develop tactical expertise without that dreaded AAD distraction. It would be a transition. It would give Airmen a break at a breaking point and invest that same money in a less cynical way. It has the added benefit of getting our message and real leadership experience out in the university setting, attracting and inspiring even more future leaders. It would give folks the chance to add value to their cranium before they go back to ops or staff. That would be a positive message and a score for leadership and the development of critical thinkers. A hell of a sell to congress and a great message to young people wanting to have more options when they don't have the pleasure of serving any more. Thinkers and doers sir, that's what we need, the combo of art and science--develop it. We're worth something more thoughtful. The take it or leave it, there's the door mantra is so cynical, we want leaders that are worth our service and motivate us to follow. The decision to stay or go for a pilot whose commitment is up represents a turning point not only for the individual, but for the entire Air Force that will exist with each individuals continued service, or without it. We mercs will try and evaluate this decision with heartfelt gratitude and more grace than Big blue evaluates us. We'll try and ignore the 3 AM wakeups with tremendous anxiety and myriad images of an uncertain future, the snapshot of the kids and spouses faces that run through our minds with every deployment and just make it a financial decision. All I'm saying is that if you've come to preach to Nineveh, I hope you've spent time sounding the deep in the belly of the whale.

In a previous baseops post, I argued this subject and I still maintain that the question is invalid--are you an officer or a pilot? I'm sorry, for me that's a formal fallacy. This enters me into an argument which is invalid...the premises of the question are both and always true--I am always both. The only way I can answer this question, whether pushing pallets or paper is by asking myself a higher question--am I a leader? If Yes, then I will make damn sure I am always authentically both an officer and a pilot; or, even better, have the integrity to admit when it's out of balance and correct.

As an exercise in time management I ask the audience to type your MWS into Google and then hit the 'space' bar and see where Google thinks you might be going with your search next, aside from giving you something to do, it may be cathartic if you try searching other folks MWS's. The reasons you're citing when you bring these examples to the table are valid in that they are endemic to a culture of careerism during a decade long war (they are true things), but they do not establish the conclusion that they are causal. I share your sentiments to some degree, but only in the way that some AFA or A&M grads are arseholes, and others are really good dudes. I've seen cross-flow, FAIPs, C-21 dudes join my community and become experts rapidly much the same way that a young FP can be upgraded ahead of peers. Additionally, at least three of the major incidents, wrong field, t-storms, c-5 crashes short had nothing to do with ACIQ MWS newness. The entire crew force is less experienced due to having been 'gut' in 2005-6, and again in 2011. Careerism is a problem, but early upgrades are just symptoms, driven from the top down. Get rid of AAD (UPT WAS my friggin advanced study) and add an unmasked 942 (yep, lift up your skirt boys and girls), then separate pilots from the rest for major's board promotion, two simple ideas to help fight ops cancer. As a side note, and for the love of all things Marlboro, please mother Air Force stop putting the word 'Innovation' in front of me. Innovation--the word in and of itself--is not the solution to our problems even if it provides a little serotonin kick when said by those past 0-4. This, let's do less with less spiced up by the innovation mantra is putting the entire AF on final below glide path--no one quite knows whether to speak up because no one really knows if the dudes driving have SA on what they mean by that word (do they know WE are going well below glidepath?). Hey bosses, a sustainable future is NOT in sight, f#6K!ng go-around. How about some professional common sense as a solution to our problems on short final. We're gonna go to Tampa, we're gonna go to Dover, we're gonna go to Bagram, we're gonna go to Alaska and then we're gonna wash up, we're gonna wash up and then we're gonna go to Scott, walk up in that office and chop that motha f#6K!n desk in HALLFFF....BYAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! Safety checks, getcha' sum!!!

Yes, yes...and then after the Wing all call/CGO development brief the Wing Commander could be barely contain himself...he drew a deep excited breath in as he looked around at his Squadron Commanders, smirked at the Group CC, high fived his execs, chest bumped the Vice, shrugged and said, "APRIL FOOLS!!" At first they laughed uncomfortably, and then the laughter grew and then...hush...they all gave each other that look that reads, "ohhh yea, I feel F'in SHARP in these ABUs today!" --- Of course I'm only kidding and do hope Gen Welsh is moving in this direction, but reading into what the Wing CC/bossman said, there could be a simple yes or no answer to these things...combat experience (yes or no)...IP time...(yes or no). More true is, Wing Executive Combat Experience SouthWasian Vacation or IP time earned while flying with a General (and another proficient IP to do all that pilot stuff). The other stuff...no change from previous boards. I'd say your Wing Executive Pilot Officer's number one push from the Wing CC still outweighs IP time. His/her previous two executive jobs prior to getting close to the wing commander were where he or she earned was given strats based on nothing deploying tough deployments/mission execution but being willing to work in an environment where the weapon system is never discussed and making crap solid edits to you and your buddies OPRs only advances his/her PRF further. Strats...#1 strats, generally go to the Execs...and these mean a lot to a board member...often less more than being a Leader/Pilot and taking care of people as a Flight Commander. It's as easy as this...the current organizational mindset is that at some point in your life you've got to ask yourself a question and then give a retire as a flying lt col/major/MSgt career answer. The Question: Are you an Officer or a Pilot? And for me, that's what's wrong with the Air Force--for me, that question is based on an organizational paradigm bred by folks who have worked in the halls of a five sided building for the last ten years hoping for a combat staff deployment to enhance their combat resume. Well, shoe clerks...I have news for you, we recognize that WE are the solution. We've learned to say NO, that question sucks...I'm a leader. The warrior mindset that the air force needs going forward has already been born. The scream of the twin towers crash were our mother's birthpains. We spent the last ten years of our Laconic youth surfing on an ocean of fuel over Baghdad Babylon and Alexandria Kandahar--a storm of steel riding in from the west on a tidal wave of fuel. We've called down lightning from the mouth's of eagles, and taken parts of men to Europe to be raised like Lazarus. These and other lessons--like the look of children who won't forget the loss of their father or forget their father's time away from home--have taught enough of us that before any containers get checked we need to go to the bathroom, puke up the koolaid, look ourselves in the mirror and realize you aren't an officer or a pilot, you're YOU and by God if you aren't a LEADER it's time to find another J.O.B. to do. We are leaders first--in or out of the flight suit; in or out of the cockpit; not caring who gets the credit for mission results and pushing forward because we won't fail the dude/chick on our wing...we've learned that LEADERSHIP...in the primal, substitution/sacrifice, servant, fall on a grenade to save your men sense of the word is who we are. And no matter how many different schemes the shoe clerks come up with or how many stones the pentagonal freemasons build into our career pyramids, the collective memory of a generation will be carried forward--much the same way it was for Leonidas Gen Welsh, so if he can do anything to turn the tide, all the better. But I know, much as he does, that the best is yet to come...just hold the gap, the immortal politicians are making a run at us now. You want to get promoted be a leader: be so good at your primary, secondary and additional job (whatever you do) that dudes under you and above you ask you the hard questions and verify information with you, only do things you WANT to do and then be extremely good at them, be such a good person to everyone you come in contact with that they want to be around you again because they know how good of an influence you are on them, most importantly SERVE others. After you get those fundamentals down, then go about the business of asking yourself the hard questions...do I care enough about the future of my country to put aside my hatred of what I am about to do in order to remain relevant in this climate. And yes, though it hurts me to say it...that might mean being an exec or doing a masters degree...do something to be given a DP. Finally, don't ever think you've earned it or are better than your bros...luck and timing make up about 69% of everything related to promotion. /rant

http://www.dobbins.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123288744 . The Js to pope is new info, thanks, this article is outdated. Niagara still getting H3s? Reference C-27s, had heard rumors that these were no longer canned as late as last week, definitely rumor but wondering if some state out there just had to have em. All co-pilots currently in FTU stationed at little rock going elsewhere? We are still running them through FTU...im sure they are highly motivated to learn, welcome to the REAL air force. Heard that all of the changes at the rock will take place by end of FY2014.

The J model PFT...backed up through 2014. Two squadrons at schoolhouse would need twice the civilian manning as well? SIMs running 24/7? How likely is a second J FTU? The J/H dick measuring is boring. J is bright/shiny and plenty of perks... Legacy has some sweet locations. It's ok to be Jay, many of my friends are Jay, its the future of tac airlift, everybody is gonna have at least one Jay experience at some point growing up in tac airlift. The legacy dudes just have to accept it. The Aircraft going to the guard from the 53 AS deactivating might add some new TFI associates for the legacy. We gotta go somewhere and j model is a closed door for the most part due to PFT. that said, some dudes already have RIPs for the j model transition currently at little rock. Moving conversation along, seems like dobbins might get J model. Pittsburgh getting more H models, and two more rumored to get H models as LR deactivates and cuts metal. Cant find where this was planned out very well, seems like something that has been in the works for a while but is now getting the asap request from AF and being tweaked by every pissed off congressman. A plan put together in true legacy style, one mod at a time slammed in place with duck tape. The legacy is going out gracefully, something to brief congress...dying for the sins of staffers/shoe clerks across the air force.

Co-pilots coming to legacy herks are being re-routed to RPA/AFSOC and C-130H will become integrated with total force, any more info?