How do you feel about your airframe and mission?

[dream big]

2 hours ago, SurelySerious said:

And no one’s sure what a NAF does.

ADCON. NAF/CCs allegedly supervise wing kings while MAJCOM/CCs focus on the enterprise. When some MAJCOMs have 10+ wings - it is also a span of control issue. Much like the army has divisions between Brigades and Corps. However, in the army the Division provides operational and tactical guidance to brigades while in the Air Force NAFs are mostly administrative. 

[hindsight2020]

On 8/15/2023 at 10:56 PM, dream big said:

ADCON. NAF/CCs allegedly supervise wing kings while MAJCOM/CCs focus on the enterprise. 

bold my emphasis. Glad you BLUF'd it, saves me on key punches on my keyboard 😄 

[VFR88]

Some questions for C-17 guys in the guard/reserve...

1. What does the average month look like?

2. How long are most of the trips?

3. What are the most common hotspots for layovers?

4. Do you deploy and how often?

Thanks in advance.

[Oceaneocket]

Just got a pilot slot. I’m looking for any updates in the MAF community specifically with TDY frequency and length, and deployments too. 

[Fly4five]

Just got a pilot slot. I’m looking for any updates in the MAF community specifically with TDY frequency and length, and deployments too. 

Depending on airframe but everyone is gone a lot right now in the MAF community. Cargo and gas are always needed.

Sent from my SM-S918U1 using Baseops Network mobile app

[dream big]

3 hours ago, Oceaneocket said:

Just got a pilot slot. I’m looking for any updates in the MAF community specifically with TDY frequency and length, and deployments too. 

You’ll be gone a lot, but you will love it (family situation dependent). Depending on what airframe you select you’ll start pushing the envelope on the tactical side (aka C-130s). C-130s expect to deploy 3-6 months on 18 months off. C-17s similar with less deployments but you’ll be gone a lot more on global missions. Same with C-5s. Can’t speak to tankers. PM me if you have more questions. 

[Danger41]

2 hours ago, dream big said:

You’ll be gone a lot, but you will love it (family situation dependent). 

Quoted for truth. If you want to be in the MAF, don’t rush into a relationship. Stay single for awhile, do all the prestige worldwide trips you can, and enjoy the life as a young Buck. 

[Polar Bear]

On 11/14/2017 at 7:24 PM, JeremiahWeed said:

Ok, you asked.

Fedex 777.  Mission is to make the company billions and for me grab some of the crumbs to the tune of $250K a year as a co-pilot(First Officer).  Typically work 12-14 days per month either all at once with the rest of the month off or week-on, week-off.  Much of that work time is soft time (i.e. not actual flying hours).  Typically, I'm paid for 80-90 flight hours each month, but it's rare for me to actually have air under my ass for more than 50 hours each month.  Since I'm an FO, many trip are as a relief pilot which involves deadheading around the planet in business or first class to various locations where I will meet up with the crew and act as the "free agent" third or fourth pilot on a long haul flight and then part ways.  For the last 10 years straight, I've made the highest level in American Airline's frequent flyer program annually and have 1.5 million miles to use for family leisure travel.  I can choose how I orchestrate my passenger deadhead flights using the company money available and any extra $$ is available for various travel expenses incurred in conjunction with any trip.

Next month, I will be picked up at my house by a limo (paid for by Fedex) and driven to O'hare to begin my journey to Tokyo.  My trip is due to start on a Thursday but since I'm not going to follow the deadhead schedule, I will stay home on day one getting paid.  Friday, I will fly from O'hare to Tokyo in a lay flat business class seat sipping single malt and maybe catch a movie.  From there, I'll take the bullet train to Osaka and have about 48 hours off before I have to work.  My only flight on this trip is a 4-hour leg from Osaka to Guangzhou, China.  Once I arrive in China, I'm done.  I have a quick 12-hour layover and then I'm scheduled for 3 day deadhead sequence to get back to Memphis.  Since I don't want to go to Memphis, I'm going to stick with the original plan of a private car driving me to Hong Kong which will get me to my first flight out.  Thanks to my frequent flyer status, American has upgraded me from business to first class on my HKG to DFW flight.  Once at DFW, I'll hang in the lounge until my flight back to O'hare.  Once back to Chicago, another limo will take me home, dropping me off on Wednesday, 5 days after I was picked up.  Since I shaved some time off my trip home by deviating, I'll be on the clock for almost 24 hours after I get home.  For my trouble, I'll have about 30K more frequent flyer miles and my paycheck will be about $10K fatter (before taxes).

Now the rest of the story........ About the time I'm landing in China after the 4.0 from Osaka, my family will be doing the Christmas morning routine.  Being an almost empty nester, that's okay and gives someone with little ones a shot at being home.  Hardly as noble as it sounds.  I'm just a lazy MFer.  Getting paid 10-grand to deadhead in style back and forth from Asia so that I can fly a single 4 hour flight is a fair trade off.  That trip plus another for the first 6 days of Dec make up my month.

So, that's one snap-shot of the Fedex 777 thing.  Believe it or not, I've had better months, but this will definitely be a good one.  The bad ones can be tough but with a little seniority, the good far outweighs the bad.  Our bad doesn't hold a candle to the long days those of you still doing the job for big blue deal with.  So, when you decide to bail, come on over - the water's fine.  I usually get a paid commute via private car and first class international deadhead every month.  There's lots of "Q" in the QOL and I definitely recommend it.

Also, WTF is a "stewardess"?

What is life like at FedEx like now?