H2Nav

The reserves will be the H Model FTU. The manning will be all ART/TR, while the guard will be a mixture of AGR/ART/and TR. We learned at Dobbins that trying to run a schoolhouse with all ARTs as the full timers creates some big issues. Mainly in the scheduling arena. Then there is the issue of pay. We have had examples of Active duty guys coming to fly as ARTs and found out how hard it is to make the money they did on active duty. I'm just wondering if there are guys on this board who want to go to Little Rock and fly in the FTU as an ART or TR? H2nav

The story below explains the plans for the Reserves to take over the Legacy FTU at LRF. The big question is how are they going to find the people? Are there AD Pilot's, Nav's, FE's and LM's excited about becoming Air Reserve Technicians in the FTU? Even if they know the legacy herks will draw down with the AMP and J's coming on? Just wondering, H2Nav LRF FTU story

Below is an article from bloomberg. Force Would Cancel Boeing C-130 Upgrade, 15 Other Programs Share | Email | Print | A A A By Tony Capaccio Sept. 2 (Bloomberg) -- The Air Force in its new five-year budget plan proposes canceling a Boeing Co. program to build and install upgraded software in the cockpits of C-130 transports. Ending the program Chicago-based Boeing won in 2001 would save about $345 million in fiscal 2011 and a total of $2.8 billion through 2015, according to unreleased budget documents. The savings would be the largest from 16 programs the service proposed to cancel as discussions opened on the new long-range plan. The review will continue until December with the goal of submitting it to the White House along with the military’s detailed fiscal 2011 budget in January. Other programs that would be cut include a radio communications system Lockheed Martin Corp. is building and a Boeing satellite communications system. The Pentagon directed the Air Force to cut about $24.2 billion, or about 3.8 percent, from the current $632 billion five-year plan, according to charts prepared and presented to senior Pentagon officials Aug. 18 by Lieutenant General Raymond Johns, deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and programs. The service “terminated programs with issues in performance, cost or rationale,” Johns wrote. The proposed budget, Johns stated, aims to protect “to the greatest degree possible” funding for the three top aircraft programs: the Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35, the military’s most expensive weapons program; the Air Force version of the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft being built by Textron Inc. and Boeing; and the program to build a new aerial refueling tanker. Gates’s Guidance The service’s 2011-2015 plan is influenced by Defense Secretary Robert Gates’s guidance calling for modest growth in defense spending with emphasis on improving the security of nuclear weapons and building capabilities to conduct irregular warfare and cyber defense. President Barack Obama assigned Gates to rein in defense spending, which now consumes about 19 cents of every dollar of the federal budget. Adjusted for inflation, defense spending has grown about 43 percent since fiscal 2000. When war costs are included, the number increases to 72 percent. A study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that of the $1.7 trillion spent on new weapons in the last decade, 54 percent, or $919 billion, was attributable to cost increases. The Air Force was told it couldn’t reduce spending on military pay and benefits, family housing, science and technology or funds to sustain building infrastructure, according to the briefing charts made available to Bloomberg News. Air Force spokeswoman Colonel Marcella Adams said the service would not comment on the proposed budget. Other Terminations The largest other programs proposed for terminations and the potential 5-year savings include: -- $1.8 billion saved by canceling the Joint Tactical Radio program, a communications system that Lockheed is building for the Air Force and Navy. The Navy also proposes terminating the program, according to budget documents. -- $1.6 billion saved by ending the Wideband Global high- speed communications satellite system after a constellation of six satellites already on contract with Boeing is built. -- $641 million saved by canceling the Northrop Grumman Corp. program to build new engines for E-8 Jstars reconnaissance aircraft; -- $407 million saved by curtailing Boeing’s Small Diameter Bomb program. The 250-pound satellite-guided bombs are now being used in Iraq. --- $292 million saved by cutting to eight from about 22 the number of advanced Block 40 Global Hawk drones that Northrop Grumman is building. The Air Force in its 2011 budget would see savings of $212 million, $115 million and $110 million respectively from canceling the purchases of the Northrop E-8 engine and Global Hawk and the Lockheed joint radio. Upgrade Program The C-130 Hercules is the world’s most widely used short- and medium-range transport with over 2,200 built since the 1950s. The Air Force has about 427, including newer model C-103Js, which have the upgraded cockpit electronics. The plane is used in all military theaters including Iraq and Afghanistan. The program to install 222 upgrade kits on older C-130s was to run through 2017. Congress through this year has approved $1.7 billion for the program, and Boeing is producing the first 22 kits. Boeing has modified and completed test flights of three aircraft, spokeswoman Jennifer Hogan said. She said the company has not been notified of the proposed termination and the program “is production-ready.” The C-130 upgrade program has seen cost growth that pushed it to $5.8 billion from $4.1 billion. The Air Force “probably sees” canceling the C-130 program as “an easy target” because of increased J-model production, pressure on defense spending and the program’s cost growth, said Richard Aboulafia, a military aircraft analyst with Fairfax, Virginia-based Teal Group. Still, “with an aging and overtaxed” C-130 fleet, the Air Force “still needs to create and fund a life-extension program of some kind,” Aboulafia said. To contact the reporter on this story: Tony Capaccio at acapaccio@bloomberg.net In 1989 I was told there would be no Navs within 5 years. And I'm still here

I hear AMP is in trouble......

The Buff at Fairchild is always a good study. A quick synopsis can be found in Tony Kerns "Darker shades of Blue." Also look at Tiger 66 flying tigers 747 cargo aircraft that crashed in Malaysia, the CVR stuff is chilling as these guys fly into the ground on an NDB approach they had no business flying. Hope this helps

My dad: USAF Navigator KB-29 and then the rest of his SAC career in 135's Me: B-52's and Herks, started in SAC then ACC then AMC, now AFRC.

God speed and God be with their families

I tried a forum search for the welcome to USAFE patch with the guy kicking the other guy. Anyone know where I can find it?

Great stuff, Sometimes it is hard to tell from working in the FTU what the units are truly getting out of our training. It's a boring job sometimes, but someone has to do it. Keep the feedback going! H2NAV

Herk bros, We just started the MPD/MAD FTU here. It is a major shift from the previous methods. Any feedback so far??? H2NAV [ 15. March 2006, 23:01: Message edited by: H2Nav ]

"You make the decision as to whether or not you want to buckle down and be a great nav or goof off and be a mediocre slacker nav." Exactly, Vol 3 is the same at Little Rock as it is HERE. It is up to you to read and understand it. The instructors here are motivated to help Navs through the program. In reference to the FEB comment above. I cant recall a Pilot or nav who was removed from the program. So here's your advice. The C-130 Nav suite on the H2 is old technology, YOU as the Nav are the part that makes it all work. A good Nav makes the system work for the crew. A slacker lets the system "do it's thing." If you are coming to the FTU you are way too young to become complacent. So that being said, show up sharp, professional and ready to learn. H2Nav

Dobbins has a major advantage for you over Little Rock. 3 out of the 7 Lockheed Navs are current flyers in the Guard and Reserve, 2 of them have deployed to OEF/OIF. 2 of them fly with the Dobbins FTU as flightline instructors. There are also 4 Lockheed Instructor pilots currently in the Guard and Reserve. No where in the world can you get the training you get at Dobbins!!! :D Yes the Logwork is still alive and well. You will be expected to accomplish TAS checks, DR's Fuel plans and manual flight plans. Warm up your Whiz Wheel before you get here. Cheers [ 06. January 2006, 13:38: Message edited by: H2Nav ]

Anyone found a solution to the Garmin 35 interface with the GPS35. The software causes the mouse to go nuts and the moving map is unusable. The CF-29 is a great computer, but the CF-27 is looking better all the time. H2Nav