General Discussion

I lieu of the Comair crash in Kentucky, it got me thinking about the experience level of the pilots who fly for regional airlines. I am not commenting on the crew of this tragedy, since I don't know what their experience level was...but rather the requirements of the regional airlines and the lax interview requirements they grant to some of the Part 141 schools out there. Several of these Part 141 school grads get promised interviews at some regionals with significantly lower flight hours (~750 hrs TT) than a person who takes the traditional Part 61-to-CFI/II route. Not to knock the Part 141 fast-track civilian training route, but has/could this lower level of expe…

I’m currently deployed and a buddy of mine recently called crew rest/safety of flight during his alert sequence. Apparently he was unable to sleep and had already been up for approx 16 or so hours. We fly combat basic and the mission was routine, meaning there was nothing vital to move such as AE, HR, etc. However, it seems that when he called safety of flight, TACC grilled him and the amount info requested seemed to be slightly over the top. Apparently, it goes all the way to the top and a general has to be briefed. When I attended GRACC I remember TACC telling us that if safety of flight was ever an issue, call it and they would have our back. Yet when a crew m…

I'm going to go to Kirtland AFB next month for the FSO course. It's about three weeks long. I'll probably be the oldest guy ever to go throught the damn thing, but it AFRC is willing to pay for it, I'm willing to put it on my resume. I heard it's a pretty cool school. Anyway...I haven't spent much time in Albuquergue over the years, just a bunch of gas-n-goes and the occasional RON. I'm going to fly my own small airplane out there for the TDY and have a rental car too. Couple questions for anyone in the know... What's a decent FBO, either on ABQ or any of the outlying airports, to park a small plane for a few weeks? For anyone who's gone through the course…

You can get almost anything on eBay...a bud of mine sent me this auction! :eek: Two available! Cheers! M2

Never been to San Antonio before... Some buds & I are going out there later next week for our Brooks stuff, and I was wondering if I could tap into the vast experience of "good times" from everyone on the board to find out where a few young Lts can go around the city and the Riverwalk. Any tips would be appreciated, since we have a limited time there and we want to do it right (sts) Thanks a lot!

I just got a a T-6 PIT flying job - moving this summer. Looking to see if there are any folks there in San Antonio who can give me info on where to live, schools, etc - the normal stuff. Right now, we're looking to rent in the Stone Oak or Canyon Springs area, but looking for opinions. Thanks

Gents-- Approaching a decision in a few short years and wanted to get the correct answers without derailing other threads. I've looked through the separations AFI, and the best I can make of that nightmare of tables and notes is 12 months max time from telling big blue no on an assignment or TDY. I keep hearing about sanctuary at 18 yrs. how does it work? What is the reference/source document? (since if it becomes an issue I will undoubtedly have to learn how to do a personnelist's job in intimate detail)

I'm going down to Santiago in a couple days for a 3 day L/O. I read the TDY gouge; anyone got any other suggestions for things to do, places to see? I'm not sure where we're staying.

This is a little old, but I thought it was cool that out there was an actual tracker available to the general public by NASA. Check it out.

I was a passenger on a cross country flight the other night, and happened to look out the window at just the right time to see the ISS whizzing by. It got me wondering whether pilots who fly often, especially just before sunrise or after sunset, see a lot of satellites.

I spent some unwanted time at Eskan Village in Saudi. Got to travel the country. My opinion: overall shithole. Arrogant incompetent assholes. Saw things I've never seen before: 18 wheelers laying sideways on the interstate with a billion coke cans strewn across all 8 lanes, dude driving 75mph with a camel in the back of a pickup truck, the Saudi sweep, etc. Driving skills aside, interacting with them, they were arrogant assholes who sucked at whatever they did. I mean they are real assholes. Going into the RSAF headquarters they treated you like you were laden with explosives, denied every overflight request going to OEF, denied an IFE 2 ship of dark grays to land in…

Hey guys if you get the chance let's try to save a piece of aviation history. This is for the Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum out of San Diego: https://chng.it/TBDPBZQNcc https://flyingleathernecks.org/ Edit: Sorry posted earlier in wrong thread Sent from my SM-G973U using Baseops Network mobile app

Once again the idea of passing the A-10 to the Army is making its appearance. Interesting review of the history of USAF-US Army agreements on fixed wing support aviation (Key West Agreement) and the claim that the USAf never wanted the warthog in the first place. I think the first time I heard this topic raised was in 92, after the Desert Storm when the concept was floated in QDR. I guess the increased cost of the F-35 makes keeping the A-10 difficult to justify. The question would be, does the Army really want it, and if so can they maintain it. I assume since WOs successfully fly and employ highly complex aircraft such as the AH-64, the MH-60 and the MH-47,…

Say goodbye to Manas: https://www.stripes.com/news/kyrgyzstan-bill-likely-to-end-us-use-of-air-base-at-manas-1.226777

I didn't see any posts related to DIC.. but I'm currently paying a SBP which would net a surviving spouse 50% of my retired pay. I just read up on DIC which I'm not sure I even knew existed. From what I stand, DIC will pay $1653.06 to a surviving spouse if the cause of death was a service-connected condition. Previously they were offset, but now a spouse can receive both benefits in full...? I was going to get rid of SBP and use the $400 to put into other term life insurance something else and hope for DIC if it came to that. But it seems like if something (service-connected) were to happen to me my wife could get close to $4600/month with SDB and DIC? Is this corre…

Alright... this might be a litte out in left field but i thought i would throw it out there anyway... so here it is. I got an email from this guy from the company we organized our spring break trip through. everything was paid for about 2 months ago, then i got this email today.... "Many of you have already received a few emails from StudentCity.com with mentions of a fuel surcharge. I am sending out this email to help explain this charge if it is to happen. Many people are under the assumption that this last minute charge is something the company does to squeeze extra money out of our travelers before they leave. That, by far, is not true. This small charge is not …

I know Clearedhot posted a thread to get people's best moments in the jet, but I think it would be cool to hear about times where you wished you were somewhere else. I asked this same question to MajGen Wurster at USSOCOM, and he had some stories that made me question whether or not I could handle military flying. :(

Does anybody have any experience as a school alternate? When were you notified of your selection (or non-selection)? Did your CFM communicate with you at all during the wait?

Looking for a PC navigator training simulator that displayed nav data (SCNS) it was used for C-130 Nav refresher back around 1988 to 1990. I also am looking for the SCNS Emulator for PC. Anyone have any information? BC

Today is the anniversary of when Scott O Grady was shot down. It was a featured article on wikipedia today. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_O%27Grady I figured I would share. What an amazing story.

I just finished Scott O'Grady's book Return With Honor, and wanted gain some perspective. I've heard two conflicting stories. One, makes it sound like he made some mistakes and sort of screwed the pooch. The other makes it sound as though the missile was a complete surprise to both O'Grady and his flgiht lead, and fate wasn't on his side that day. Any thoughts, especially from the more senior folks out there who were active when all this occurred?? [ 25. April 2004, 14:54: Message edited by: MEH9030 ]

If I used the wrong search terms, I'll help setup the stake. Source I've looked and am still looking. Does anyone know about this? I'm wondering if it is good for any loan, secured or unsecured. Sallie Mae is starting to piss me off (again) on a student loan. [ 01. September 2006, 05:41: Message edited by: Toro ]

https://siouxlandnews.com/amp/news/local/second-south-dakota-air-national-guard-f-16-crashes-at-sioux-falls-airport Rough month for the SD bubbas. Glad the pilots are walking away from the accidents.

So here I am, sitting in the "doodie" office of a Navy squadron, holding down the chair, the soft glow of LCD screens lighting my tiny office, drinking a 24 oz Cafe de la Casa from Circle K getting paid to surf the internet until 0600, at which time I can go home with the distinct pride inside of having done my part in keeping things secure through the night. And you better believe I'm important...I have KEYS. [ 17. July 2005, 22:25: Message edited by: Rocker ]

Yes, I've used the search function, and I even read all about the rules and regulations and understand the basics. What I want to know is, has anyone here used it while deployed? It seems like a good deal at first glance, but all of the stipulations they add to it sound like a pain in the ass. How easy is it to get signed up? Have you had any hassles or pay issues, either starting or at the end of participation? And it mentions that you can take out sums greater than 10k (if your account has gotten that big) in installments. But can you also elect to withdraw it in a lump sum regardless? I'm trying to decide if I should use this while deployed or invest the…