brabus

I could make maybe a little north of $100k (all taxable vs. only ~ half of mil pay being taxable). That just doesn’t cut it for me, but it may for someone else who has some nice additional income sources (spouse, passive real estate, etc). Also be ready to miss almost the entire summer and also be gone in the spring and fall for training, aircraft deliveries, etc. If you have kids, that’s a real deal killer for many. But again, that all may be irrelevant to some people, in which case go for it, because I imagine the flying is awesome and rewarding.

What!?!?! And here I was back in the day walking uphill both ways in 6.9’ of snow to go write OPRs the old fashioned way. Character count - the AF just can’t help itself, it has to make everything as retarded as possible.

If you know you’re moving there eventually, I don’t see a reason not to do that. Of course the big question is why aren’t you moving to that base sooner…are you talking about not getting that base for a while because it’s senior?

Yes I think by and large meritocracy hiring still exists, but it has been eroded further over the years with DEI hiring; at least in the airlines, ANG, and several companies in the defense industry (the areas I have personal experience with). Hiring Billy Bob because he has an in (but is less qualified) is just as bad as hiring someone because they're a woman (albeit less qualified). Yes, Billy Bob has existed prior to DEI, and people slip through the cracks of an imperfect system. However, the difference with DEI is its blatantly done front and center and celebrated by industry. If we're going to celebrate DEI hires, then we should be celebrating "I got hired because I know somebody" hires. Look at how many people have received preferential points on apps because of checking a race box...I think the data shows there are WAY more people getting DEI-related preference than people getting preference for knowing somebody. Both are fucked up, but one is occurring more, and only one is "bad" in some people's opinion.

Have friends that fly fire, and honestly I’d love to do it, but the pay and time away from home is a total non-starter. But for the guy living in Palau the rest of the year, sounds like he is nailing it…for his specific life situation. Personally, GA (p61/91/141) has been my filler for the “thrilling/fulfilling” flying. You also never know who you’ll meet and what cool flying you can find yourself getting into…there’s a ton out there that is way beyond a 172. I’ve flown a lot of cool shit so far that I didn’t spend a dime on; make connections, people like your mil flying background and the assumed capabilities that come with it. Airlines may also approve p135 flying if its deemed not to conflict. YMMV on that approval, but there’s some pretty fun 135 stuff out there. The airline provides all the $ and free time you need to do these things. So, I look at it as a solid job that affords me these fun and challenging flying opportunities and means to support my family (plus all my other hobbies). No need to see it as your only option for flying in life after the mil, it’s just a good job. Edit: If your spouse is making solid $ and has a strong future in that job, or you have a great earning potential from real estate or something else, then the financials of the airlines may not be as big of an allure. At that point there are lots of options for fun flying, they just won’t pay the bills like you’re currently used to as an O-4/O-5 in the AF.

I don’t think that at all. But I do think the airlines is a very good post-mil flying career that is widely misunderstood by many who also are the ones giving “career advice” to their subordinates and peers. That’s the main reason for openly discussing it in these boards, in hopes of increasing the amount of valid data available for people to make informed decisions.

@Bigred Valid, but I think that group is also significantly in the minority. My opinion is they will have to pay at the top end of the spectrum they’re offering to get and keep a guy for more than a couple years (but they probably won’t and will start a guy at sub $200k). I acknowledge I also despise CA and you couldn’t pay me a ten million dollar salary to live there. To each their own as you said, but like 4 fans, I am all about presenting valid info regarding airlines any chance I get because I too was led astray for years by mil pilots who had no fucking clue what they were talking about.

Ok, I think we’re generally on the same page. I define diversity hires as those who are less qualified/lower chance of performing to standards being hired over counterparts who are more qualified, but lack “desirable” superficial qualities. I personally have seen several diversity hires between the ANG and the airlines, including seeing their lacking performance in training. Thankfully two of them won’t be flying what they were originally hired for. The other two are out there, having been given way more “try again with some extra hand holding” in training than anyone should ever be given. I’m one personal data point, and guarantee I’m far from the only one who has witnessed this. DEI hires are real, have been happening for a while, and certainly are jeopardizing safety. The way forward is to go back to a meritocracy hiring system and find these DEI hires in the wild and do an honest assessment if they should continue or not (I’m sure some have made it over the hump and will be OK, but I also am sure others are still liabilities.

ANG fighter slots are extremely competitive, but yes, if you get hired you know what aircraft you’ll be flying. Though, you still have to make it through all the training and things could happen such as your unit switching aircraft when you’re 1/2 way through UPT (rare, but it happens). Fighter pilots fly a lot in the guard, even most of the part timers are flying a similar amount as the full timers. If you go the Navy route and don’t fly jets, your chances of flying fighters later in the guard are extremely small…don’t count on it. Go ANG over AD, and especially over the Navy. Do well in college, get your PPL, and consider enlisting in a guard unit you’d like to eventually fly for if that works out for your life desires (gets your college paid for at least partially and you make connections at that unit).

Well to be fair he didn’t mention Biden once. Also, so do you agree with purposely hiring less qualified candidates based on superficial attributes that have nothing to do with the job at hand?

Below is a dude hired today in 3 years from now at DAL…A320 FO, working ALV with almost zero contract games to increase pay, didn’t even factor in profit sharing. Bottom line, these are conservative numbers. I personally consider the DC income (it is your $, just you’re forced to be “responsible” and invest it). So yeah, north of $300k without even trying hard.

I agree overall with @BashiChuni. But, none of that is proven to be a RC (that I’ve read about) in most of the recent near mishap/runway incursions. It very well may be, but we shouldn’t overlook other possible CFs/RCs. Case in point, the AA heavy crossing without clearance - pretty sure the CA wasn’t inexperienced or a DEI hire.

Agreed on the general statement of the entire aviation world as a whole, and I did it once too way back in the day. BUT, such a mistake is frankly inexcusable at the professional 121 level of flying. There’s no room for some of the shit we’ve seen in the past few months. So why is it happening at all at this level of aviation? That’s an important question that needs to be answered ASAP.

Well then let’s hear it…

I don’t know that answer, but it is insane that two people with ATPs, operating in one of the most critical phases of flight when they should be at max awareness, are told to line up and they takeoff instead. Is it a training/SOP problem, fitness for duty problem, experience problem, or something else? It sure feels like this kind of stuff is happening more often, and it concerns me.

They were both bad and I don’t think anyone here is saying J6 was no big deal. But, one was significantly worse than the other in terms of the actual event(s) and the response. If you don’t see that, then you are the “blind subscriber” you railed against in your following post.

You read the top number, the bottom number is $160k.

Couldn't find a good thread to put this in, so I'll put it here. Went to my 1st grader's art night...great to see her happy, but you can imagine how "amazing" all the art was with indistinguishable blobs, cats, flowers, etc. But then, I came around the corner and saw this masterpiece...this kid is fucking going somewhere!

Live in/near Palmdale and max out at 2nd-3rd year airline pay...hmmm, sounds like a great deal (/s). Though I'm sure the actual job could be cool.

2020 BLM/Antifa riots: $2B+ in damages, 100s of small businesses completely destroyed, 100s more w/ significant damage, 700+ LEO assaulted/injured, 20-30 people dead…0 hearings and 0 ounce of give a fuck by congress/MSM. J6: $150M in damages, 0 small business affected, 80-100 LEO assaulted/injured, 1 dead…full up congressional commission and 6.9 billion ounces of congressional/MSM outrage and vitriol. I‘m not excusing the actions of some on J6 or arguing that this comparison means J6 wasn’t a thing. But people need to understand why it is very rational to view these facts, combined with constant censorship attempts/demands, and conclude there is some very fucked up, shady shit going on in our country. Those of you trying to shut someone down because they don’t share your generally MSM-approved viewpoint need to open the aperture. Personally I look at this and all the info I can find and conclude J6 was a thing, it was not even remotely what the Dems/MSM have tried to make it out to be, and the gov/MSM has no credibility when they ignore 2020, but are frothing at the mouth regarding J6.

Last post of this thread has some thorough explanation, thought it is from 2014, so take it with a grain of salt.

What are you trying to do in the guard? MQ-9s? FWIW I know a guy at DAL who has a VA PTSD filing, probably not the only one.

That’s why you use Signal and set the disappearing messages to 1 day…no evidence, unless you have a mole who screenshots everything daily, then you’re fucked.

Because the ATF is trying to indirectly kill trusts altogether. I bought my last suppressor as an individual, not dealing with the trust bullshit anymore. If I die or go to jail, a couple NFA items won’t go immediately to my wife. Meh, I just don’t care about that, and neither does my wife.

It’s literally a free SBR, no logical reason to wait on that! So yeah, I did it right away via e forms and it took about 1.5 months. Just wanted everyone who’s afraid of the illogical ATF boogeyman theory to know it is in fact, not an issue.