Is anyone flying this fiscal year? I'm in a bubble here at USAFA and all I know is that we're not flying (gliders, jump, powered) because of the shutdown. Today (most) of our civilians came back to work but no one knows when we will fly again.

Randolph is flying...nothing has stopped except civilian ops at AFPC.

Yeah, I figured someone was. Who determines that? Who is "mission essential" or whatever the term is? Like Randolph, USAFA's flying programs fall under AETC but we're not flying yet.

Edited October 7, 201312 yr by Coxor

Our RTU is as well.

My understanding is that any FTU that is providing pilots to warfighting units, both those in ACC and AETC, as well as IFF and UPT units are still flying. USAFA isn't because they don't feed the supply chain.

We (C-130 TFI) are flying a truncated schedule 3 days a week. Probably ends up being about 40% of what we usually fly a week. Generally it's just guys in some sort of upgrade or getting ready to deploy.

we're flying, with no curtailment. Early last week the guidance was only those who were about to deploy could fly, but by Thurs that guidance had changed to keep flying, no restrictions on who can fly. We're scheduling the same number of lines as we normally do, with the same ASD, as well.

Yeah, I figured someone was. Who determines that? Who is "mission essential" or whatever the term is? Like Randolph, USAFA's flying programs fall under AETC but we're not flying yet.

Why would USAFA be mission essential (as far as flying goes)? It isn't like you get any actual ratings there.

UPT is chugging along btw.

https://www.militarytimes.com/article/20131002/NEWS05/310020032/Shutdown-grounds-Air-Combat-Command-jets

ACC is not flying unless you are a unit spinning up for a January or earlier deployment (or certain FTUs).

https://www.militaryt...at-Command-jets

ACC is not flying unless you are a unit spinning up for a January or earlier deployment (or certain FTUs).

Not totally true. We're ACC and are flying (very few sorties) since we have to maintain enough CMR pilots to fulfill our ACA mission.

Not totally true. We're ACC and are flying (very few sorties) since we have to maintain enough CMR pilots to fulfill our ACA mission.

Using jets to target people who don't sign up for the exchanges or pay the penalty?

Not flying in my corner of the -135 world. Working on a plan to waive/extend currency requirements today actually.

The -135 FTU is flying like normal.

-135 TFI here and we are starting one line a day starting tomorrow using AD hours.

We are flying, but instead of our usual 6-8 5.0's per week we are flying 4 4.0's. (HC-130P's)

Using jets to target people who don't sign up for the exchanges or pay the penalty?

Well played sir...nod to the political nerds out there.

We (U-28s) seem to be flying 100% as fragged. The FTU is max blast (standard) and the operational squadron that is home appears to be flying a normal amount of lines as well.

To be fair, you don't fly. I keed, I keed, cracks in the armor yet? My parents healthcare went up 10k a month as of today, guess they don't get to keep their health care.

To be fair, you don't fly. I keed, I keed, cracks in the armor yet?

Weaknesses Noted: You missed a solid opportunity to use "chinks" in a sentence without being overtly racist.

Recommendation: Re-accomplish your annual fighter pilot anti-sensitivity training CBT.

Edited October 8, 201312 yr by nsplayr

I'm plenty non-sensitive. Go ahead and get those DTS orders and hotel reservations together ummmmkayyy.

Seriously though, I know you do good work. Beers on me

We (test in the Eglin area) haven't been flying, mostly because the range was basically shut down due to the civilians on furlough. Now the flying is turned back on, but only for the limited amount of money available...no FY14 money yet. JSF never stopped beating up the pattern though.

I'm not flying, but I still get to sit 2-3 SOF tours a week. That's F'd up.

In the forward-stationed tac airlift world, we played the "strategic necessity" card and are back to normal ops, at least for now...

BONE FTU is back to flying, with the direction to fly "only what is necessary to accomplish training". Last month, the goal was to squeeze in a couple extra tenths of an hour every sortie, now we're trying to save every tenth.

The contract academics guys still aren't back to work, though...we've got a class that has done no training for about two weeks now.

We are only getting maintenance test flights and NVG reset flights in my squadron. I logged 1.0 to reset goggles yesterday. Next weeks schedule has one flight on it, for one hour.

We haven't flown since Monday. Hell, I haven't shaved since Tuesday or showered since Wednesday either. I have drank a lot of beer though.