The smaller Huey units (unlike ADW, etc.) have such small AUTHORIZED numbers, that the math begins to be misleading when it comes to overmanning.

(While the unit manpower varies unit to unit) some units have like 8 authorized pilots. You cannot execute the support taskings and FHP with 8 guys...one is on leave, one is TDY, one is DNIF, etc etc. If you have only 12 folks, just enough to do the job efficiently in this example unit, you are, on paper, 150 percent manned.

A Huey unit double-turning pilots is not overmanned...regardless of what the numbers say...if you fly single turn 4 or more days a week, you unit is not overmanned...regardless of the math.

[ 25. February 2006, 22:29: Message edited by: rotorhead ]

Rotorhead, you pretty much hit the nail on the head from an ops perspective. The 150% manned thing was really more of my wondering what they will do with "extra" pilots.

Originally posted by ruckerstud:

Heloguy, I said that was the only real bet.

That's the thing. It's not the only real bet. There are tons of options out there as many have pointed out.

There are other things that happen, just like there are 60 guys who realize that they are rescue and not special operators, but they are the rare exception (speaking of new 60 guys, not the old heads like Eeyore and possibly Rotorhead, who flew for the old 55th)

I think this perhaps is the most ignorant statement I've ever seen on here. You mean, I'm not a special operator? I was going around telling people that I was like a Navy SEAL, but I guess now that you've pointed out the error of my ways, I'll stop. How many dudes in the 60/53 do you actually know? My guess would be very little because I don't know any (I'm in the community) that think they are special operators. We all love the idea that we are in the SpecOps community, but that's as far as it goes bubba.

I'm sure there is the occasional moron out there that thinks otherwise, but that's the exception not the rule. You're sounding very ignorant ruckerstud. Don't even try to tell me that every 60 guy you've ever come across thinks he's a spec ops guy because you'd be lying and you know it.

Aw criminy guys, quit bickering... Save it for the fixed wing guys!

The air will beat you guys into submission if you don't knock it off.

Sorry, no more from me.

When flying DV do you usually drop them off or do you wait around? And is it usually flown SP?

I can't speak to Andrew's mission, but I can tell you that for the DVs we fly in my unit, it really depends on what they want. Sometimes we fly them someplace and leave, sometimes we shut down and wait for them. The word on the street is that you do a lot of SP at Andrews, mainly with a pilot and an FE. I am not sure what the new MP program at KIKR does as far as new co-pilots getting to fly SP in class B airspace.

Thanks for the info.