Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA/RPV/UAS/UAV)

Hey guys, I'm a motivated candidate for a pilot spot in the guard and have some questions in which I'm not getting answers from my recruiter or through google searches. Is there any current guard pilots in the 18 x program in this forum group that I could PM some questions too? I passed my officer physical through MEPS and AFOQT and waiting on the next step. Thanks either way

For 13N's, 18X has been added to the Crossflow board. This means that every VML, Officers will Crossflow to 18X. This is a huge opportunity because an application is not needed for the November board. No AF 215, but a PCSM of 60 is needed and a current certified Flight Class Physical. Also, your TCSFD must line up. I'm not aware of how Crossflow is offered to non-13N's, but I would think this opportunity would be available elsewhere as well. A PCSM of 60 is very competitive if you do not have a PPL or hours. In comparison to the November board, a PCSM of 10 is the minimum requirement.

Hello everyone! I figured I'd finally attempt to get acquainted with the community rather than just lurk the boards endlessly. I came into the service last year as one of the first 18X officers behind the beta classes for the RPA pipeline. There is not a lot of information on what potential and impending 18X'ers will face in the training process, outside of the guys that got non-vol'd or didn't go through the entire program. I figured I would at least cast the thread out there and attempt to shed any light on questions others might have on it. I'm by no means an expert, but finishing up the training program here at Holloman right now, I'm pretty fresh out of the Randolph …

How many applied this year and got picked up for RPA? Talked to the civilian POC at AFPC in 2013 and he said that 32 RPA slots went unfilled that year. Has anyone heard anything similar this year? What are our numbers this year?

A warning to anybody looking at going to Fort Smith for the RPA mission. Unless you want to work every night for the rest of your life and have the current leadership take advantage of you. Go someplace else. You have been warned.

Hearing rumors from semi-reliable sources that ACC is going to pay for 4 hours a month at the aero club. Guess AFSOC guys will have to continue to let knowing that they're "doing a great job, we're proud of you, what you're doing is important, you are all future cols and gens, etc" be their reason for carrying on. Anyone want to set the point for over/under on number of crashes per year as well as the point for date of the first crash?

Just started reading about this yesterday.... And there's not much out there about it. Can anyone please shed some light on this field and what's different (if any) from a regular RPA pilot vs AFSOC RPA pilot? What's the difference in their missions etc? I read so far that there are 2 Special Ops squadrons currently active with RPAs: the 3rd and 33rd SOS. Both based out of Canon AFB in New Mexico, flying Predators and Reapers. I'm a civilian RPA select so please excuse my lack of info.... What are the pros/cons to being AFSOC RPA pilot? How do you get in? Is day to day life any different? Any incentives? I was interested in AFSOC (enlisted) after not getting …

So I've been doing some research and found out about the URT course. Does this mean there are plans to stop taking UPT grads to fly drones? If so any idea when this is going to take affect or has it already. Sorry I'm a bit behind the curve here. P.S. Search function doesn't allow me to use 3 letter words and acronyms so I had to ask. -.-

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-redesignates-eight-mq-1-predator-units-as-attac-424122/ Green ink in the logbook now ....Attack in the title.....small steps to improve the RPA culture? Q to the RPA folks...will it? Cheers ATIS

Hi all, I’m anxiously awaiting the results of the current board and my wife and I are just curious, what the current status of the rpa pipeline is? Also, I cannot find any reliable gouge on ad bases for rpa. Where would we most likely be PCS-ing to?

Hey guys, any CSOs out there trying to crossflow to the UAS on this "very limited" time opportunity in December? Cheers, Thriller

I know there are a lot of contractor jobs out there but can anybody speak to opportunities in the civilian world after active duty for RPA pilots? Specifically- what the pay is and if the contracts are here to stay for the next 10-20 years? I may be transitioning from a manned mws to RPAs and am curious.

Hi, I have searched everywhere for the answer to my question and left many messages to recruiters to no avail, so I'm hoping you guys can help. Do Guard units hire RPA pilots from the outside or do they only pick from current flyers/trained RPA pilots? I'm specifically interested in the 163d Recon Wing if anyone happens to be with them. And since we're on the topic of recruiting, is poor vision (-7.50, correctable to 20/20) waiverable for RPA pilots? I couldn't find the vision standards for FC II "U" online. Thank you.

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Is it confirmed that IFT is cancelled permanently for RPAs? If so, what does everyone think of this move and what does it mean for the future RPA community? I found IFT very helpful, and so when I see this it makes me wonder if the AF thinks that our community doesn’t deserve the airmanship or basic flying skills that you gain at IFT.

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I will be going to Syracuse later this year and wanted to know what to expect at IQT there. What's a typical day like? How many academic tests? How long is academics? What is typical sim schedule like? Any wiggle room for scheduling or random each day. Any good material to look at prior to going? Thanks for feedback

I am considering submitting a package for an RPA spot in the ANG. After reading through some posts here, it seems that the consensus is this is a black hole, borderline career ender with not much room for advancement. Now, I’d need a waiver to join for age (34), and I've already got 12 years of service (AD and Guard) under my belt as enlisted, but it couldn’t be that bad of a move. Are those opinions mainly coming from people who were hoping to actually fly and got assigned to RPAs instead? I can see how they’d think it’s miserable.

Was wondering if anyone has heard of active duty guys heading to March for MQ-9 FTU. I heard that a few people have been getting sent to Syracuse instead of Holloman but haven't found anyone that has been sent to March, other than guard folks.

I'm a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and was recently informed that I will be attending IFS in Pueblo, CO followed by some school in San Antonio. Does anyone know what this process is like? Have there been many Marines that have came through this pipeline in the past? I understand what IFS is, but what is the curriculum in San Antonio geared towards? Any information on this topic would be very helpful. Thanks!

There are two movies, both on Netflix Now, that concern fictional USAF drone crews. They are Good Kill and Eye In The Sky . I'm long retired and never had anything to do with drone operations. Real drone crews and also current USAF members. If you saw either or both of these, what did you think about them?

Today's announcement is the first time I have heard this. Are both operated within the same squadron? I thought they were two different quals? Can you be dual qualed?

In case anyone was wondering, there is no specific age limit for entry Undergraduate Remotely Piloted Aircraft Training (URT). Based on a few changes recently, according to AFI 36-2105, Chapter 3, paragraph 3.1.1 spells out the age restrictions for persons seeking to enter UPT. Paragraph 3.1.1.3 adds an exception for URT candidates. "3.1.1.3. Exception for Undergraduate Remotely Piloted Aircraft Training: must meet maximum age for appointment in the various grades as specified in AFI 36-2005, Appointment in Commissioned Grades and Designation and Assignment in Professional Categories – Reserve of the Air Force and United States Air Force." Heading over to AFI 36-2005 tell…