SocialD

I've often wondered how it work out if they put UPT into the Guard. Great mission for a part time force, with zero deployments. Highly experienced dudes teaching for years/decades. Haven't even begun to consider the numbers, but you'd clearly be required to have WAY more bases than we do now, as most bases could only handle one airframe. Has RAND or some masters student done a study on this? Probably thousands of reason this is a bad idea...just thinking out loud.

nsplayr johnson brings up some other good points. Airlines won't do anything unless it absolutely saves them money. You can bet your ass that if we ever go to single pilot ops, the unions will demand a much higher pay rate to take on such responsibilities. I think you'd see the union (possibly the FAA) fight our duty time regs...the way we fly now is only doable due to having another pilot to back each other up. I think this would reduce our duty time available per day...which again would drive up costs. Factor that into the additional cost to equip the airline with the required systems in the jet and on the ground, and it's hard to see it coming...yet. Hell, our internal systems are still run on DOS based programs with a circa 1990 GUI to make it easier to use. AAL doesn't even bother with a GUI...you basically have to write code to input a lot of data there. Why? Easier to use on such a complex system, but ultimately it comes down to cost. Listen, I was told we'd have hover boards by now...look how that development is going! They must still be trying to figure out how to get them to work on water.

You and I may understand that but how do you think the general public views it? Do you really think they'll trust pilotless planes when they see so many accidents with driverless cars? The flying public don't think logically like you and I. Case and point...everything is flowing smoothly, beautiful day, no delays. We push early, get right on the runway and take off way early. I see we're going to be 30 minutes early...and we're going into LA. I know gate space is a premium and i've been burned by this before. So I decide to slow up and get closer to an on time arrival. We land, roll right into the recently opened gate, and people are happy with our on time arrival. New jet, new day...I see we're going to be 30 minutes early, however I decide to keep the speed up because I forget about the mess that is LAX. We land early and the gate is still occupied. So we sit on the ramp for 30 minutes, shut down an engine (maybe both) to save gas. Meanwhile in the back, the passengers are absolutely losing their freaking minds! They inform the FAs that "there are open gates right there!!!" Finally our gate opens, and we roll into the gate ON TIME. You wouldn't believe the mean mugs and the anger in their faces! Smile and wave boys...time to get to the hotel before we miss happy hour!

1. They were all hired prior to the 1500 hr rule. In the early phases (2002-2004), guys were barely getting regional jobs with 2,000 hours. Then in the mid 2000s it went down to ~1,000-1,500 hours. In 2007ish, I knew guys getting on at the regionals with 250-300 hours...basically a wet multi-engine certificate. 2. If I had to guess...50-60k in debt. The Guard paid my bill, so I'm not sure of the exact amount. I'm guessing that debt is closers to 80-90k these days. Stay away from the ERAUs and NDSUs of the world. 3. Most guys were CFIs to build their hours. In 2004 I was paid $12-14/hour as a CFII...probably make 15-20k/yr. Other guys went on to stuff like towing banners ~$15-30/hour. Once they hit 1,200 hours guys would go fly night freight making 20-30k/year starting out starting out. *LOTS of those night freight jobs, that used to get guys great experience have all but dried up. 4. Back then 15-21k/year to start (no shit Great Lakes base pay was 13,500/yr), moving up in the 30-40k range a few years later. It was a struggle for those dudes, but most managed. However, most of my buds have working wives (non-working wives was such a foreign concept to me when I went to pilot training). When they upgraded to Captain they were in the 50k+ range. Regional pay is slowly creeping up...guys are starting at 30k/yr with bonuses on top of that now. With a program like that PSA thing, dudes finish college with 300ish hours if they haven't done any flight instructing. I graduated college with 700 hours thanks to getting my CFII my junior year. They'll roll into a regional a year or so later making 30k+, probably upgrade to Captain in 2-3 years and be making 60k+ in their mid 20s. This is head and shoulders above what I would have experienced had I got the regional route out of college. Since the 1500 hour rule, regional wages have increases a fair amount. Also, most of my bros were regional Captains and Line Check airman and the stories they had about the low time dudes were absolutely scary. They all agree that the quality of First Officers they were getting dramatically increased with the 1500 hour rule.

I don't think it will happen soon enough for it to have an impact on most of our careers. The big hiring is over the next 15ish years. I think it will be tough to get the technology to a level needed and the public onboard with this idea over that timeframe. Hell they can't even get self driving cars to do it right. There are videos all over of these cars blowing stop signs, almost hitting people and a few fatality crashes. Also, the airlines will only do it if it's financially advantageous to do so. So the technology needs to be refined, then be cheap enough for the companies to go along with it. This isn't even consider the $$$ needed to update the national airspace system. After that, it will only happen if the customer is ready for such a change. In the end it's all about the customer, and many won't get on a plane with no pilots. There is a Rand study published that talks about the implementation of single pilot cockpits, then unmanned cockpits. If I remember correctly, it recommends starting with the cargo carriers, doing ocean crossing from coastal cities to coastal cities. Then after that's been proven, cargo ops over the conus before they get to the airlines. I believe the technology is moving along at a record pace, but it still has along way to go. Right now our flight plans/flight data is uploaded electronically, all we have to do is accept and ok. However, there is still a fair amount of user input required. Then it's changed multiple times over a flight. Reroutes have been uploaded and been totally wrong. Ever seen the 737 AP in action? It will water your eyes with how terrible it is at it's job.

Actually not a bad deal for the civilian bros. Many of the guys I graduated with, spent more time that that at their respective regionals (some are still there), with no guarantee (use that term loosely) of a job. I think you'll see the majors pair up with colleges and universities to have direct hire programs that will place them at a regional of choice. They'll fly there until they're needed at the mainline down the road. It's just one way for them to secure a steady flow of "known quantity" of pilots, to supplement mil folks. Get hired at 22, spend 5ish years at a regional and start at mainline at 28...that's way better than most will accomplish. The average age of a Delta new hire is sitting ~37ish.

Not JetBlue...emphasis on your "...yet."

It's being developed as we speak.

FIFY. If they think it's bad now, I'm sure they're really scared about what it will look like in a few years. In 2020 Delta starts retiring 500+/year, and doesn't drop below that number until after 2030. Five of those years are 700+. Thats 51% of the current seniority list in 10 years...not accounting for early outs. I'm sure UAL/AALs numbers will follow closely.

Shithole of an island. Everything worth seeing in Guam can be hit in 3 weeks. After that, it's groundhog day. Be sure to hit up McKrauts for some good German beer! For morning coffee, grab a redeye from Island Girl Coffee n' Quenchers...good scenery there.

He's in the Guard, I would say it worked out pretty well for him.

2! Before, I was paying $1,200/month to live in a single family home. I bought a duplex with a little leverage, now I generate enough income to pay both of my mortgages and all of my monthly bills. This! I listened to his book while driving across the U.S., and his plan is extremely basic for most of the members of this forum. However, I think his book should be read by more Americans. It provides a good base for people so springboard off of, to other financial endeavors. As a country, I think we do a TERRIBLE job of teaching our young financial intelligence and responsibility. Unless your parents teach you, where do they get educated on this? This is one of my soapbox items.

I'll refer you back to Fuseplugs post.

https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/2913 Any chance of this bill seeing the light of day? 12304b vs 12301d These are our choices when our squadron gets involuntarily mobilized to "deploy" to some non-contingency TSP (to do absolutely nothing). It's akin to picking between the fat chick and the ugly chick. Here is an article on the matter. What it doesn't say is that while 12301d gives you all the benefits listed in the article, it is NOT USERRA exempt (but could be with SECAF approval)...even though we are INVOLUNTARILY mobilized. http://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/267/Article/698148/changes-to-dod-mobilization-authority-could-impact-reservists.aspx Thanks for dropping by Baseops.

Some do, many do not. I would venture to guess that most of those who do "hide out," are commuters. No way I would go back on orders, life is "pretty darn good," as a part timer. On the contrary, the only way I would consider such an assignment is with the following; -Spang or Aviano, line IP only, no additional duties (maybe asst. scheduler), no non-vol single man "TDY/Deployments" (I'll deploy with the squadron), Mon-Thurs work week, 0700-1730 work day (debrief stops to be out the door at 17:30:01), I can take my leave whenever I want (ALL of it...in 15 or 30 day chunks), ...and I'm gonna need ~125k/yr bonus for the 3 years (I don't care that I'm still under my UPT ADSC). FWIW, my SQ/CC recently received an e-mail asking if he had guys willing to come back on active duty for an assignment (flying or staff). Oddly enough, no bites... This...all of this right here! It was one thing when we were deploying every 2-2.5 years, for 45-60 days, to go drop bombs. But now we're "deploying" every 20-22 months, for 90-110 days, to do NOTHING... Dudes are asking themselves, why they're taking HUGE pay cuts to go twiddle their thumbs on some non-relevant TSP.

Ya, they already know who they're going to hire...

I was unfortunate enough to have to spend an extra 6-9 months at UPT due to a medical issue. I just stayed put until I was was healed, then was placed into the class that was close to the point where I went DNIF.

AGR is duty location. ADOS is home of record.

I can assure you he isn't the only one exploring all options. Life changes, commanders change (big issue with some squadrons) and the Guard has drastically changed! It seems that lately, there have been quite a few dudes leave squadrons for other gigs (flying and non-flying). Take one look at where the Guard Vipers have been sent lately. Involuntarily mobilized...to go sit and do nothing. What a waste of manpower and tax dollars...I'll never understand how it's not fraud, waste and abuse. I'm not sure of the reference, but have you checked the ADSC paperwork we signed at the end of UPT? A quick google search turned up AFI 36-2001 (1.10-1.11). It may not have the answer you're looking for, but it may provide a trail to search. Have you talked to a JAG? Let us know what you find. Best of luck!

You can see them all here at the National Guard Bureau Legislative Liaison...just search section 616. Looks like the House was down with 60k and the Senate was not. Note: Didn't look through the whole bill, just CTRL-F "incentive."

Ya....kinda. I had a trip that was NOOP (not operated...worked out great, went home and got paid for it anyway)...we have some pretty loose definitions of not canceling a flight. I think as long as we operate it within 24 hours, it's not considered cancelled. Just like our "on-time" performance. Oh you aren't gonna make your push...no problem, we'll push that back 15 minutes. No matter to me...I get paid the same either way!

Very interesting play indeed. We have guys about to end a year or 2 of MLOA that are on the fence about extending...this bonus will be a big player. There are new patches resigning and going to the airlines. The Guard BS is much less than our AD counterparts, but it's still very much UP, relatively speaking.

Day 1 of a two week trip to Davis-Monthan, I'm first out the gate, and roll onto the runway as the sun is cresting the horizon (TDY squadrons lose the BMGR scheduling war). The controller says, "time to wake up the complainers, cleared for takeoff..." Turns out a PW229, makes A LOT of noise on a cold, calm, quiet Tucson morning. Within 20 minutes of our first takeoffs (8-ship), we have numerous noise complaints. After talking with the DM folks, they say the biggest complainers are former milItary. "...I was in 20 years and I know how they're supposed to fly..." I think they said in the 2 weeks we were there, they had more noise complaints than the previous 6-9 months. One of the great things about being at a stand alone Guard squadron is the locals love us! I stopped at a coffee ship on my way to work and had someone walk up a say they had a complaint! He says, you don't fly low enough, fast enough or loud enough over my house...then he buys my coffee. Small town, hard working, blue collar Americans...gotta love them!

It sure is a good thing they shut down the B-Course at Springfield. I think, about the time they needed more training capacity in the mid-late 2000s, Springfield flew their last jet out of dodge.

They'll start farming more out to Guard squadrons and put the burden on us to get them experienced. We already have one AD guy and I expect we'll see more in the near future. Problem is, all our IPs, and flight leads are going to the airlines too. Oh and I'm sure we'll get the mx guys, to help with sortie generation, any day now. Check is in the mail...