SocialD

Federal Air Surgeon's Medical Bulletin. Check out the first article in the bulletin. I listened to Dr. Susan Northrup speak at the National Stearman Fly-in last week, where she spent quite a bit of time on mental health. Bottom line, like so many other things that were auto-DQ in the past, mental health special issuances are a thing. She did say there were a few conditions that just weren't going to make it (mentioned in the article), but she made it clear that she's less worried about the pilots who are seeking/getting help than the one who says nothing and goes untreated. I wish you (or whomever you're asking for) the best of luck and continued success. To continue with this, I'm actually surprised by the stuff that is getting approved now. Last month, I flew with an LCA who was approved to fly as a type 2 diabetic. I wish could find her slides from the presentation because it had great stats all the various conditions that were getting approval. She appears to be going to great lengths to make the entire process more transparent and user friendly. Hope she's successful.

How could I not?!?! ....deltaS 989! ...you North or South? ...SOPA/SMAC was great! ...Delta sold off the whales to kill everything NW! ...you know we were the launch customer for the 787! ...can't make no money with cargo! ...well, we had all the money, that's why they bought us! ...we did things so much better at X airline! You'd think after staring out the window for an hour and saying nothing but "uh-huh" and "that's crazy," would make them catch the hint lol. Thankfully it wasn't all that many and it's certainly not an issue now that I'm in the left seat and mostly fly with newhires, but damn some of those dudes can't let shit go.

Sounds like things worked out pretty well for him lol.

If you're going to commute, I'd seriously look at FDX/UPS. I if had lived in a place that didn't have rather large airline hub within an hour, I certainly would have put much more effort into getting hired by FDX/UPS. That said, I'll echo BFM's post, take a look at the pro/cons of commuting vs living in base. I certainly get staying close to family, or being in a great location that you just can't leave...but there is certainly a price to be paid for commuting. Keep in mind that different airlines have different rules. At DAL, reserve is pretty good and I've actually been too JUNIOR to hold reserve before. But living in base and bidding reserve is quite a powerful tool for QOL. As an example, since 1Jun, I've actually put on a DAL uniform about the same amount of times as a line holder would during a heavy month. I've only slept in a hotel rooms 6 nights since 1Jun. Is this the norm, maybe not, but it's been a dang nice summer and is clearly doable. This fall is only looking like it will get better for me. When I was on a WB and bid reserve, the most I ever flew was 9 days in a single month. Most months were closer to 6 days flown, while some months I never put on a uniform. Honestly, the thought of bidding a line and flying 13+ days/month, makes me cringe anymore. Today was a 1-day block of reserve for me. Thanks to our reserve rules, when I woke up this morning at 0630 with no assignment on my schedule, I was 99% sure I wasn't being used today. So far, I've been to one squadron mates house for coffee, then we went to breakfast. After that we went to another squadron mates house to check out his new work shop. Back home by 1130 and released from reserve at noon...man that was rough day of work. Oh, and all 3 of us are DAL guys with 2 of us on reserve today and the other waiting for OE. Is it always this way, certainly not...but over a career, you'll be gone A LOT less than a commuter who flies a line.

Lol yep, you might still find one or two at my Guard base. When I was a crew chief, we had an old master (Vietnam vet) who made it his mission to replace any that were taken off the urinals. Dude had a stack of those stickers in his locker. He's been retired a while now, but pops on base occasionally to hit up the shopette. Oddly, I'd find one of those stickers after seeing him lol.

My FCC permit is in the same plastic sleeve as my ATP and medical, so I really don't see the big deal if they would ask for it. That said, outside of type rides, I've never once been asked to see my FCC permit (or asked for it as a Captain). I'm not sure why it's still a thing, it's ridiculous since it's simply a paperwork/money drill. But there seems to be trend of guys who act like you're ruining their day to open their wallet and show some paperwork.

Asking for the docs isn't a big deal. I actually show up to every JS with them all out and ready to show, as this is what I was taugh by my LCA when I was at AAL. But the uniform part, thats dumb...I'm guessing an ATL guy? Yes sir, there are plenty...as with most things, a vast majority of the time, it's an ATL Captain.

It does, by my point is that if someone was "air dropping," then us android users wouldn't have been getting them. Although if they were tit pics, I'd have been missing out. 🤣

If you're in an airframe that allows you to show up 1 or 2 days a month, then I'd think 3 hours is relatively easy. If the unit requires 4-8 days/month (I've heard of Reserve squadron that requires 8 days...crazy!), I'd say you're in for a lot of pain. Some units have a mileage limit, but I'd guess that a vast majority do not. My squadron has no such rules but we also only have a 2 pilots who live more than about 10 miles from base. The few times in the past that we had guys who lived ~3 hours, they were almost always a problem child and eventually moved on...but we require 4 days/month. All went to heavies or non-flying gigs. Wait, what...our squadron doesn't get you a hotel for UTA days? I didn't even realize that was a thing or even legal...crazy! This! I'd even go as far as to say I'd rather do a local NON-flying gig, rather than force myself into a double commute. It's something to consider if you're OK with not flying in the military anymore and you're just trying to get across the 20 year finish line. You could always reach out to the local fighter unit and see if they're willing to hire a T-1 grad (not likely, but also not unheard of)...or just see if they have any officer gigs that would be an easy way to finish your 20. But for 3 hours drive, I'd certainly go there if I could fly and only have to do the drive once a month.

Ha, another reason it pays to have a droid! But seriously, who accepts shit from a number not in their contacts?

Username checks!

Jun bidding was ~50% in seat, Sept bidding I'm about 28%. Thanks to our greenslips/pay back days, this has been about the best summer I've ever had (both in pay and time spent at home). July was the only month I bid a line and I had all my drops/swaps awarded. In Jun/Aug/Sep, I was able to apply all my payback days (PB) on the days I wanted. Since we need the same coverage to add a PB day as we need to drop a trip, it's essentially equivalent. Very fortunate to have moved up in seniority so fast and be in a category that was decently staffed, yet still had lots of overtime flying. Unfortunately, the guys in the the right seat of my plane aren't so lucky.

I'm astounded that anyone, who has deployed more than once in the last two decades, would still give them much more than an ounce or two of credibility. Having deployed to the same location, 11 years apart, trip two was truly a demoralizing event, and solidified my decision to get out after current commitments to my boss (whom I truly respect). It was same shit, different pile, made worse by an ROE that said, we have no business being here. But hey, some defense contactors were making big bucks and our young guys got some good airline hours! I look back and laugh at the time/effort (quasi witch hunt) that took place over a trivial missing item (maybe a few $K value), then months later we just say fuck it a leave untold millions (billions) behind. What a fucking waste! Signed, Jaded old fuck 🤣

This! All they're doing is ensuring that only the guys who have >15 years TAFMS are the ones who will come back on orders. Like the "new pay system" I was told (circa Mid 2018) would be rolled out Jan 2020 and would fix all the DSG flight pay issues...I'll believe it when I see. BTW, anyone have an update ETIC on that 2020 rollout?

As an O-5 with 22 years, $1,500/month in flight pay and $75,000/yr bonus (highly doubt it happens), that is getting close to what might entice me to consider going on a year of orders...close lol. Problem is, the ANG clings to the ridiculous notion of a smaller bonus for 1 year orders. I don't mind taking a pay hit to help out, but not for a measly 25k bonus.

Unfortunately this photo was taken when the leaves were still on, otherwise you'd see a bunch more planes. Used to fly over this all the time in college. I'm fairly certain there was part of a B-36 fuselage there in the early 2000s. The Soplata Airplane Sanctuary. More Pics.

Yup, that's what makes it so puzzling.

Only thing that seems logical is that he went back to "take a peek" at the gear and fell.

0400 takeoff for a 7 hour block flight, with a 2-man crew...that does sound pretty bad. This ain't Vietnam, there are rules and we're not barbarians! Hell, I get upset when I get a flight over 1.5 hours in my current jet. Nothing worse than seeing > 60 minutes to top of descent when I reach my cruise altitude of FL280 🤣. Though I can't top Weeds story, I've ran across the same types. One 330 Captain spent the entire trip to Rome, trying to convince me to go to Kiev with him to bang chicks. I mean full court press, time share sales pitch, trying to convince me I should join him. Want to see more of this in action. Watch dudes lose their minds when São Paulo or Singapore either leaves their fleet or gets cancelled all together. Watched that happen when they moved São Paulo to a different base (same fleet). Dudes lost their shit. Of course they bid over to the new base on the next bid. Their Brazil families must have been pissed for those few months lol.

I'd prefer it stay 65, but I honestly don't see it having all that big of an impact on movement. At DAL, they say the average age of a retiree is now ~62.5. Lots don't want to, or likely won't be able to work to age 65. I'd have to imagine the number of dudes actually flying the line until age 67 would be fairly minuscule, though it won't be zero, so it has an impact. One huge plus, is getting disability until age 67. Right now, our contract simply says you get disability until retirement age, so for many, that means 2 more years of a damn good disability benefit. All that said, moving from age 60 to 65 made sense because it aligned us with ICAO and most of the rest of the world. So unless ICAO (more importantly every other nation) changes their age limit, I can't imagine why we would do that. It really doesn't seem like it would have the intended impact. Never-mind the nightmare it would create wrt to seniority/bidding if none of the other nations follow suit.

What serious said. At DAL anyway, FO's can bid to avoid certain employee numbers. I've never actually bid to avoid anyone because I'm not going to let one asshole take away any of my bidding power. I have heard of Captains telling FO's to add him to their no-fly list lol.

This is what happens when we cater to the kids who got beat up on the playground...they're now running HR. Since my move to the left seat, I've thankfully only ran into one FO that I was glad we only had one, short leg together. She was a SJW type who clearly hated old, white men (good thing I'm not 40 yet lol). A vast majority of the pilots out there are great to chat with, but there are the occasional odd balls that you're ready to be done with.

Fixed it for you.

Oh I've seen that happen for sure, and I'll even admit there are a few positives to being attached to an AD base. But in the context of not having to deal with a MTF, I'll take civilian medical care over an MTF every time. To my other point, I just meant that I've had shake my head at some friends who jumped to the Reserves at their last duty station and were surprised that it was same bullshit, different patches.

One of the great things about being in the Guard, is not living anywhere near an MTF...not to mention all the other negatives of being on an AD base. For those looking to get out soon, add this to the long list of reasons why you shouldn't just hit the easy button and join the Reserve squadron on the AD base you're currently based.