Guest n36095 Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 Does anyone know anything about civilian contract aviation postions (preferably pilot but I'd be interested in avionics-that's my major) with the military (or its contractors)? I'm asking because I might have a medical condition that would prevent me from becoming a military pilot (or nav), but I could still get a 1st class medical- no problem. I know a lot of these jobs require previous military experience- I have none. I've always been very interested in military aviation and I'm just trying the see if I can be still involoved and do what I enjoy. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dupe Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 All DoD contract pilots I've met were prior military pilots. They were also all rediculously ancient. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest billpritjr Posted September 13, 2005 Share Posted September 13, 2005 US Navy (by now...) is using and/or testing private KC-135/B707 refueling operated by contractor yes, believe it http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/iss...Considering.htm in a few years we may see contractor operated C-17's "the new way" of doing things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ericvano Posted September 14, 2005 Share Posted September 14, 2005 Bill, what's your rationale for your thinking C-17s (or any aircraft) would be operated by a contract pilot? This article only talks of leasing aircraft. I've heard the suggestion that contractors may fill UAV jobs, but not for situations that would put civilians in harms way. Seems to draw a fine line between combatant and non-combatant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasty Posted September 16, 2005 Share Posted September 16, 2005 Outsourcing...better for the USAF, worse for the pilots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 Omega is alive and well and even wanted to support the Navy during OIF but was shut out by the Air Force. Lots of politics involved but it comes down to who the customer is (Navy) and getting adequate rapid support. Over 900 sorties and 4500 since 2001 doesn't sound like a whole lot in the big picture but the support they give the navy frees up active duty flying hours and tankers, which equates to $$$ and refueling support, for fighting the war. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Q Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 thats 4500 flight hours... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerkDerka Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 The morons in big offices at the puzzle palace won't be happy until we are an entire damn military of mercs. HD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carpetbagger Posted September 17, 2005 Share Posted September 17, 2005 Two. Don't most mercs get 6-figure salaries...? Just pondering. Not gonna turn in the bag just yet. Try organizing a bunch of mercs into a corps or division sized asset...that would be interesting to see. That being said, with cost as the main factor overriding mission requirements and common sense, we may get those 6-figures yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ericvano Posted September 18, 2005 Share Posted September 18, 2005 Outsourcing...better for the USAF, worse for the pilots.While I do see some validity to this, the other side of the coin: if the AF has already trained a tanker pilot at close to $1M if not more, why spend an extra xx amount of $$$ on a contractor pilot and have the AF pilot sit on the sidelines? It's not logical and is not cost-effective in the long run even though it may add some flexibility in terms of quick-fixes. [ 18. September 2005, 16:07: Message edited by: Coach Z ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyerpapa Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 C Z, the so call “efficiencies” banner that the pea counters wave is based upon aircraft cost, not necessarily pilot cost. And, there is trickle down effect. For example, a private contractor could likely pay the pilots twice the salary of the AF and it still be cheaper because they could maintain pilot currency at a lot lower cost. Personally, I am mightily opposed to privatization of the military, both officer and enlisted, on several accounts. Not the least being the availability – or lack thereof, of a trained and ready surge force when the $hit REALLY DOES hits the fan. More that several WW II and Korean vets have told me that cooks, orderlies, mechanics, admin staff, etc. made the difference in several campaigns. In the event of all out battle, contract employees, whether they be pilots, private security guards, landscapers, aircraft maintenance personal or hospitality specialists, simply can not be called upon as a combatant force. There are other reasons, too…but that is another fume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuggyU2 Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Judge each job/slot on its own merit. There a some very small military pilot units out there that can (or would) benefit from having a GS-13 or contractor pilot flying for them. It may not fit an F-15 or C-17 unit, but it very beneficial in other places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Critical Mass Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Like for example the T-43A pilots at Randolph. I don't think any of you want that job. Unless of course you like flying the same circles every day...and being told how to fly them no less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocker Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 They should just contract out UAV jobs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ericvano Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 I agree with you Rocker. So does this article: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_...28/ai_n14700022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rainman A-10 Posted September 19, 2005 Share Posted September 19, 2005 Originally posted by Rocker: They should just contract out UAV jobs. That's what the Guard is for. The perfect Guard job...fight during the day from the comfort of a lazy-boy and get home at night in time for dinner and the kid's practice. Sweet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobs Posted September 25, 2005 Share Posted September 25, 2005 How hard is it to get a job at Lockheed as a test pilot or sim instuctor? They say that you don't need to be a TPS graduate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KoolKat Posted September 25, 2005 Share Posted September 25, 2005 Scoobs, You do need to be old, crusty and not really care if your student learns anything in the sim session. & ALOT of PIC flight time. BENDY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sleepy Posted September 25, 2005 Share Posted September 25, 2005 scoobs, Second hand knowledge here, but... A good friend (much older) of mine was a test pilot for the Navy and a few other civvy contractors after splitting from the service. He didn't go to school for it. He humbly says he doesn't know anyone else who can claim that, at least during his tenure. I'm just the messenger who hopes these facts are correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobs Posted September 25, 2005 Share Posted September 25, 2005 Well old and crusty come together when you think of Palmdale or Lancaster. Why are they using civilians instead of AD? Is there not enough pilots? [ 24. September 2005, 22:51: Message edited by: scoobs ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KoolKat Posted September 25, 2005 Share Posted September 25, 2005 All of the sim instructors I've ever seen thus far are civy. BENDY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobs Posted September 25, 2005 Share Posted September 25, 2005 But why is there a need for test pilots? Does it matter what aircraft you come from? Is it possible for somebody to come off AD and get a job thats not a TP grad? Anybody ever live in Palmdale? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HerkDerka Posted September 25, 2005 Share Posted September 25, 2005 Originally posted by Critical Mass: T-43A pilots at Randolph. I don't think any of you want that job. Unless of course you like flying the same circles every day...and being told how to fly them no less. Yeah. Living in San Antonio, never deploying, and getting a free B737 Type Rating. What a crappy job. :rolleyes: HD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFM this Posted September 25, 2005 Share Posted September 25, 2005 Originally posted by billpritjr: US Navy (by now...) is using and/or testing private KC-135/B707 refueling operated by contractorThe Navy already uses contract crews on their KC-130 iso the test program at Pax River. IE: tanking the new F-18E/F during trials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest soflguy Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 God forbid the day that the US starts buying un-US planes for its military fleet. As the worlds greatest military (supposebly) why would we even consider such an option? Is there any good reason for it? And what's next? Us flying Eurofighters? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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