General Discussion

Morning All, Making this easy for everyone. We have just launched the new VIP area for our new website Kia Kaha Media where we have downloadable PDF files for HeliOps (Civil helo ops) and Cleared HOT (Military helo ops), as well as our other magazines such as P1 (Motor Racing). Anyone here who would like access to the VIP area just do the following: Click on https://www.kiakahamedia.com At the very top right there is a button titled VIP Login, click on that. Then on the right hand side it takes about 30 seconds to fill in the form. We then approve you and you can log in to the VIP area and download all the mags. Once you have access to the VIP area there its g…

I cannot imagine that this situation is very unique, but I haven't been able to find any definitive answers. My wife and I are expecting our first child, but the expected due date falls right in between the scheduled completion of a TDY en route at Little Rock (C-130J initial qual - I'm currently an E/H guy) and our RNLTD to our next base (Dyess). My question: Is there any way to extend one's TDY en route without taking leave until after the due date? It would be good to have some continuity in our OB/GYN appointments and have the baby in Little Rock, then travel to Abilene, versus the other two options of: -Her leaving Little Rock in the third trimester and …

Read this article while snooping on Air Force Times... Consider it a learning tool for all... ********************************************** Military pension would be hard to match By Barbara H. Pietrowski - Special to the Times It's fairly easy to calculate the dollar amount of a military pension after 20 years of active service, and we know a military pension is indexed for inflation so that it goes up over time as cost-of-living increases are granted. But what is it really worth to you? One way to answer this question is to ask: "How much money would I need in a retirement nest egg to give me a monthly income instead of my military pension?" …

Just wondering if there's a potential VSP in 2012; any word out there???

Sorry if this has been beaten into the ground I tried using the SF and nothing came up. Additionally this is not a thread to expose or raise any BS flags regarding this individual, Im sure there is useful information included in this program. Im only inquiring the thoughts or feedback from anyone using this program? Is it mostly rah rah get off your a** stuff? or what? More specifically Id only use it for info regarding the Age ETP process.....

https://www.nellis.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123277124 Pilot ejected and was picked up. Not much else to say at this point... stay tuned.

From this morning's AFA Daily Report: Plan B: Procuring F-22s is a viable option for the Marine Corps in place of acquiring the F-35B strike fighter, according to one Marine Corps officer. Doing this "may seem like an extreme course of action, but it makes the most sense for the Marine Corps for several reasons," asserted Maj. Christopher Cannon, an operations analyst with Marine Corps Combat Development Command, in a September article in the Marine Corps Gazette, the service's professional journal. Cannon argues that the Marines could purchase F-22s for less than the F-35's current flyaway cost. Plus, F-22s would "cost less" to maintain than F–35Bs, he states, citing …

Hearing rumors that the T-6 is grounded AF-wide. Anyone know what's going on?

Evening All, Just wanted to invite any rotorheads here to partake in our complimentary subscriptions to our new digital publication for the military helo world. We are up to Issue 3 of Cleared HOT and thought we would extend some complimentary subs to members here. If you would like to enjoy the magazine, a totally digital publication, then please drop me a PM here with name and email address and will send you the invite to our new VIP section where you can download Cleared HOT as well as HeliOps, our civil helo mag and also many of our others. Cheers Everyone, Rick Admin Manager Cleared HOT

I'm curious if anybody has been to JAOPC or CWPC in the past few years and if either, or both are worth the time. I have been offered both but don't want to waste my time. On the flip side an old boss also said to take whatever schooling they'll give to ya. Thoughts?

Hey all, hopefully someone has a clue regarding my question... Currently, I'm a guardsman on AD for nav school. I was a guardbum loadmaster before leaving for training, but am unsure of how good bumming will be when I get done with training. I've started to look at my options in the federal civilian sector on USAJobs. My question is, am I even eligible to apply for a civilian fed job while on AD? If I am, will they even look at my application if I'm putting my first available date isnt for a year (UNT/follow on 130 school)? Or is it possible to apply and if I'm the most qualified applicant, to get a job and just not start until I'm off AD? Anyone have any exp…

The script at the front gate of Nellis, "home of the fighter pilot" has been taken down. WTF.

My link Pilot ejected and is safe following a QF-4 crash near Hope, NM. The crash started a rapidly spreading grass fire that is currently 100 acres.

Does anybody know if it's possible to Palace Chase into an ART position? In other words, is it possible to get an intent to hire letter (part of the PC application) for an ART job that hasn't been officially posted on USAJOBS?

Still developing but looks like some Iranian agents were working up a plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the US on American soil. https://news.blogs.cn...iran/?hpt=hp_t2

Where can I find guidance on operating in a MOA while in IMC? Let's say I enter the top of a MOA at FL230 and there's a solid deck from FL180-190 that I want to descend through in order to operate below. I am on an IFR flight plan, but I'm not talking to or actively being controlled by ATC (I'm on a discrete frequency and monitoring Guard). I've been told different things from different folks - one is that you need to remain VMC while in the MOA, abiding by Class E airspace VFR cloud clearances. The other is that you can enter IMC because you're on an IFR flight plan. I know which one I think is right, but I'm looking for something in writing to back up the correct…

Anyone know what the spread was on "Definetly Retain" / "Retain" / "Do Not Retain"? I'm starting to hear that as many as 80% of RRF's got "DF's" and the top-of-the-bottom of the barrel is "retain"....any insights out there? I.e. - do dudes with "retain" need to be worried?

Reno Air Races Crash It's been a rough time on the air show circuit lately...

https://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2011/09/21/starr-air-force-hero.cnn?hpt=hp_c2

Some crazy shenanigans been going on within the last few days... STORY --- PK...

Interesting story on Fox... https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/09/15/general-reportedly-said-was-pressured-to-change-testimony-on-white-house-backed/ I don't know much about General Shelton but I have been following the lightsquared issue for a while now and it sure seems that have been able to fast track through the FCC despite the frequency proximity to GPS and power of their network vs. the GPS signal.

I flew my form 8 and got everything but 2 patterns due to an EP. Landed, did the ground eval got commendable and they tell me they want me to complete the entire checkride again because i didn't get the patterns. Isn't that double jeopardy? I've already completed form 8 events on a form 8 check evaluated by an FE and last I checked an EP does not void a checkride. Shouldn't I just have to get the patterns? Anyone know the reg that deals with checkrides, not the vol 2.

We recently had the "Rainbow" deployment schedule shoved down out throats. All the tanker units had this vs. the AEF buckets put to a vote. The vote was 9 to 8 in favor with two units not showing up to vote. The new schedule is 1 1/2 crews, 1-2 planes, and 1 staff for the forseable future in the desert. I understand that about 6 months ago, the active duty stopped allowing guardsmen to volunteer for deployments. It looks like this was to get units hungry enough to vote this in. It barely worked because the economy is bad and many needed this "jobs program". Can anyone tell me when, exactly, guardsmen were stopped from being allowed to deploy? I'm contacting my ele…

Just wanted to share this: SQUALENE CONFIRMED IN ANTHRAX VACCINE AFTER NUMEROUS PENTAGON DENIALS Representative Jack Metcalf of the State of Washington revealed in a report Thursday that the FDA found squalene in the anthrax vaccine being forced upon the U.S. military on pain of court martial and/or dishonorable discharge. The FDA confirmed the presence of squalene in the anthrax vaccine by using a more sensitive test than one used by the Pentagon. Squalene is NOT an FDA-approved substance and its consequences on health are unknown. As a vaccine booster ingredient, it is thought to increase immunity, but its use has been denied time and again by the Pentagon. Con…

My husband is currently training at Corpus Christi and will be selecting his aircraft soon. Neither one of us have heard much about the EC but we would like to live in Tuscon. We don't want to choose an aircraft strictly based on location though. My question is does anyone here know much about this aircraft and lifestyle? He would really like to get into a special ops plane eventually. Would this hurt his chances later on if he got an EC now? Thanks in advance for entertaining questions from a newbie.