Bobert
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Posts posted by Bobert
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9 minutes ago, ihtfp06 said:
Don’t worry about it til you get there
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkRather have the memorization done before getting there like I did for IFT.
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Anyone know where to get the latest and greatest bold face/ops limits and any other memory items required for RIQ? I'm not active duty and not stationed at Randolph so if there's a site to download them from or if you can send them directly to me I'd appreciate it.
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3 hours ago, hopeful said:
Why would you get a PPL if you are going to be trained in military air craft?
So I can fly beyond the confines of a remotely piloted aircraft?
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The IFT brief says that training should cover roughly 80% of the PPL requirements. Does your $2k - $2.5k cover that remaining 20%? Or is your estimate for the CSO and UPT pilots who only go to IFT for roughly a month? The URT trainees end up flying more than anyone else in IFT and I'm trying to plan in advance to cover costs and see if its worth getting right after
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3 minutes ago, B.L said:
Honestly dude. Just go to UPT, focus on that flying, finish that up and get your commercial rating. That’s a lot cheaper and better overall rating. Just need to take a test from a local place.
Should've specified. I'm in the URT track for RPA pilot. Although UPT can happen because our unit has manned platforms, more than likely I'll stay URT.
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Anyone know of a place in Pueblo Colorado to known out the remainder of the PPL requirements after IFT is complete? I'm looking to take leave to get that knocked out, preferably on the same air frame (DA20) while it's all fresh. One place I found there was giving me email kick backs, which is never a good sign.
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I'll be leaving AD and going ANG. Didn't choose it as my home station but wouldn't mind it for training. I've done the NM tour and was just wondering the likelihood of going back :`(
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What are the chances of getting Syracuse during the pipeline?
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8 minutes ago, nsplayr said:
I was hired to become an MQ-9 pilot last August so I'll speak to my experience & the particulars of my unit as I understand them. Ask your local unit of interest for better specifics:
- Day to day: A version of the Panama schedule, 3x 8-hour shifts, not in the seat for all 8 hours
- Flying min: 5 sorties a month plus drill minimum for DSGs
- Deployments: No deployments unless you volunteer for LRE
- Timeline: I would estimate at least 1 year if not slightly more to go from enlisted to fully mission-qual'd RPA pilot, between AMS, URT, IQT and MQT
- Age: I was told 35 is the new age waiver limit, with waivers being automatically approved up to that age rather than having to staff paperwork. I can positively confirm that 32 is not a limit since myself and one other guy hired at the same time are > 32 and haven't begun training yet. Cavet - we're both current flying officers (CSOs) so YMMV if you're coming in as an E.
Also note that I was hired in August and haven't started training yet, so there may be a pretty significant lag time between getting hired and even starting that 1+ year process. Luck & timing, the true Gods of the Air Force. I've had a lot of luck, timing not so much...
The main reason I left AD was the endless carousel of deployments with no end in sight. I love helping the good guys on the ground and killing the bad guys, but I'd "been there, done that, gotten the t-shirt" for living in a tent more than a few times. RPA lets me do the mission I love and still sleep in my own bed, so if that's what you're looking for, RPA ops offer some unique advantages over a manned platform.
Hope this helps, good luck!
Exactly the type of info I was looking for. Thanks nsplayr.
Are you in a full-time slot? Just curious because you said they had you on a shift schedule. Does being an RPA pilot play nice with your civ job?
I support the LRE on-call right now as a commo, but I'm glad it will actually be voluntary in the ANG. I've worked in the various SOF and OGA's over the past few years and have gotten enough T-shirts as you said. Was directly supporting the manned platforms this recent trip and enjoy the mission but not the time away. I'm guessing quals like SERE, HAP chamber, jumper, etc mean nothing in the way of accelerating training in the RPA world since you aren't physically there?
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Just now, nsplayr said:
The ANG age waiver process for RPA pilots has recently been revised to allow for older candidates with less paperwork. Something something "pilot retention crisis," guess Big Blue is finally being forced to pump the brakes on bureaucracy at least a little bit.
To @Bobert, reach out to an RPA unit you're interested in joining and ask them those questions. Many of the answers will be, "It depends." A lot depends on the unit, their manning, how many CAPs they fly, local policies and scheduling schemes, etc.
I have, and their recruiter is working to get that info. Just wanted to have a better idea if the tempo is what i'm looking for before taking too much of their time and asking a million questions only to say, nah sorry...not for me. Age limit (as I was informed today) is 32 to begin training. I was told that they were backlogged and training could easily take 2 years to complete.
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2 hours ago, matmacwc said:
Pushing the age limit I would think.
I've already verified. Still have a few years of eligibility left.
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Didn't find anything about this specifically.
What is the life of an RPA pilot in the guard like? Day to day life? How many days per month? What is the deployment tempo and do you have to deploy or can you do the job without leaving CONUS? How much time can you expect to spend getting initially spun up coming from enlisted on AD? After a decade on AD and half of that having been deployed, I'm looking to see if it's possible to keep going, but on more of my terms.
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Trying to avoid a whole new thread.
Do the comments here about reserve lifestyle apply to the guard as well? Considering all heavy airframes at this point. Ideally looking to leave AD and fly when I want and deploy only if I want. How likely is that in the ANG?
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With most of this info several years old and pre dating our efforts on fighting ISIS on a larger scale, I'm wondering if the tempo of flying when you want and deploying only if you want to remains? Considering leaving AD and trying to become a pilot. Not sure on the air frame or location but leaning toward heavies.
RIQ/RFC
in Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA/RPV/UAS/UAV)
Posted · Edited by Bobert
How recent is your info? I heard formal release is alive and well. Not sure who's correct since it's coming from the casual guys. I'm done with IFT so I figured it wouldn't hurt to passively read it so that by the time I get there it sticks.