Army

scottyboy75 said:
How many hours per year does the average WO fly? I was looking at going back in as soon as I test for my comm and Inst. I was trying to weigh out 6 years in the Army vs going to the GOM after 1000 hours. One of the benifits I see are the NVG hours. Most civ EMS operators are trying to go goggles these days.
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Boy... hard to say. Depends on the unit, airframe and mission. From my experience 200-300 in garison is normal unless you become an instructor pilot. IPs can fly 500-800 hours a year.

Deployed is a completely different story. 1000 hours plus for a year in Iraq is not uncommon. And of that, 500 NVG hours is possible.

The problem with flying in the Army is that *typically* there are more pilots in a unit than operable birds. Plus in garrison money is usually tight so training hours are limited. The key for a warrant is to come in, kick ass, and build a reputation as a dedicated, knowledgeable pilot. They will get progressed quicker, will make PIC quicker, and will be selected for IP school quicker. Once you're an IP, you'll beg for some days off from flying it'll get so busy.

What's the "GOM?"
 
Sorry, Gulf of Mexico (flying oil rigs). They are picking up guys at around 850 hrs with an insturment ticket. I am debating about that, tours in AK or going back in. The difficult part is I broke my hip on a jump and ended up leaving on a P3 profile. Thats why I couldn't get picked up WOC last time. I talked to the Warrant recruiter and he seemed to think after jumping through some hoops I could get picked up. He was kind of mad that I got boarded the first time instead of physical therapy. Ask for some stretches and get a med board careful what you wish for.
 
Ahh yes... heard lots of interesting things flying oil rigs... good experience building but hard work. So you are getting all your helicopter time on your own dime?? Wow! $$$$:insane:
 
Yeah, I am working on my insturment and I average about $1,000 a flight. All while dumping tons of money into Home Depot for the remodel of my house. Can we say very supportive wife.
 
i am a air guard member, however, my father is a retired O-6 helicopter pilot. i couldn't imagine switching. in my experience, air guard enlisted are treated better than many officers in the army. i've got the proof. there are plenty of things about army aviation that are better and i haven't ruled it out. i am still holding out for my air guard slot out there.
 
I contacted a recruiter today. Being in the Air Force reserve, he said that I will have to get approval to leave the Air Force and into the Army. He said that he will find out and get back with me. I guess that will be the first step.
Thank you very much.

-Nelson
 
Skyhawk1079 said:
I contacted a recruiter today. Being in the Air Force reserve, he said that I will have to get approval to leave the Air Force and into the Army. He said that he will find out and get back with me. I guess that will be the first step.
Thank you very much.

-Nelson
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Good luck skyhawk. From my days of putting in packets I can give you this advice: be persistent. Paperwork gets lost, misrouted - regs change - whatever you do just keep plugging along and I'm sure it'll happen for you.
 
<Warning! First Post>

To answer the original question, I'm a 21B5P, more accurately, Engineer Officer, on jump status. Nothing more fun than jumping from an aircraft while in flight. In fact, just yesterday I jumped a CASA 212 with SOCOM. Good Times.

Although, I'd give it up to be in ChinookDriver's aviatin' shoes...
 
Feet and knees together. I was in the 82nd thats how I broke my hip. My favorite jump while I was there was a CASA 212 also, although the 6 sec count freaked me out a little
 
ChinookDriver said:
Good luck skyhawk. From my days of putting in packets I can give you this advice: be persistent. Paperwork gets lost, misrouted - regs change - whatever you do just keep plugging along and I'm sure it'll happen for you.
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Best kept secret is Army aviation!:nana2:
 
Anybody tell me what life is like flying in the Guard. I'm looking at the Apache unit in SLC. I know that I will get deployed but thats okay. Helos are awesome just to expensive w/o the goverment paying for it.
 
scottyboy75 said:
Feet and knees together. I was in the 82nd thats how I broke my hip. My favorite jump while I was there was a CASA 212 also, although the 6 sec count freaked me out a little
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You ain't lyin' man, it looks like your gonna land on the guy in front of you. Not to mention its um, "snug" in there.

Sorry to hear about the hip though, bummer. One of my soldiers did that, then when he needed to jump for being a pay hurt (after being off profile for like 6 months or something), he tried to terminate status. He's a poop-bag anyway.

Good Luck
 
I never had to worry about being a pay hurt. 112 jumps in four years. I got hurt on a Saturday fun jump trying to get some of my new cherries a little exp before a 82nd mass attack.
The unit in SLC is getting a battalion of Blackhawks also. I was trying to get in there but I was told my allergy to bees that I developed in the Army would disqualify me.
 
scottyboy75 said:
I never had to worry about being a pay hurt. 112 jumps in four years. I got hurt on a Saturday fun jump trying to get some of my new cherries a little exp before a 82nd mass attack.
The unit in SLC is getting a battalion of Blackhawks also. I was trying to get in there but I was told my allergy to bees that I developed in the Army would disqualify me.
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I'm a proud five-jump-chump!
 
Two answer some questions I have read in this thread...

Flying in the guard varies...For some its greater than sliced bread, and for others it's not all what they had expected...The latter tend to be the young men just starting their career in Army Aviator, and the first generally are ex AD guys...You have to remember that you have little to zero of a chance of getting a full time slot flying with the guard...Your flight hours will be a fraction of what AD guys have (but that can be made up when you deploy with your unit, or request to deploy with another unit), thus making the road to PIC much longer...The guard is also last on the lists for maintance and parts...
I guess the major plus is that you go to Rucker knowing what airframe you will be flying...(which is good and bad, because if your civ, how the hell do you know you would prefer -60s, -64's ect...)
Another advantage is you have the chance to fly one of the Armys newest aircraf, the LUH, when it actually comes into service...

Someone also mentioned an interest in flying Kiowas...I myself am a CW2, and a 58D aviator...KW pilots are perhaps the best Aviators in the Regular Army.
1) We take off within 1% of our max gross weight on nearly every flight requiring precise flight control inputs and finesse.
2) We rarely get recognized. NO GLORY
3) If something needs found we seem to always be the ones to find it.
4) Our Aviation bretheren despise us and constantly ridicule us.. I think because our airframe is one of the most cost effective platforms out there=more flight time and less maintenance time for us!!
5) Our airmanship skills and situational awarness is a combat multiplier for our clients

Additionally we are the most requested CAS in iraq =)...

Army Aviation is a great place to fly, and if you are up for the challenge I highly recommend looking into our programs...Feel free to PM me with any questions
 
scoobs said:
Anybody tell me what life is like flying in the Guard. I'm looking at the Apache unit in SLC. I know that I will get deployed but thats okay. Helos are awesome just to expensive w/o the goverment paying for it.
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Will keep you busy bud. My recommednation is to just look at it is a plus, you can knock out your hours quicker on the quest to be an AC

Army aviation is a great thing. I gave up a AF Reserves slot slying KC-135's to go fly whirly birds. I get a lot of flack, but I DO NOT regret the decision. Hope I never do
 
So MikeD, if they are retiring all those aircraft where will you go?

Makes you (not you as you most likely know) wonder what kind of new aircraft they got out there. They gotta have something to retire the U-2 and the F-117.
 
BCTAv8r said:
So MikeD, if they are retiring all those aircraft where will you go?

Makes you (not you as you most likely know) wonder what kind of new aircraft they got out there. They gotta have something to retire the U-2 and the F-117.
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UAV's will replace the U-2 I think the F-117's are heading out due to funding. Canning even more BUFF's now.. Really makes you look forward to the future ---SARCASM)
 
bullmastiff said:
UAV's will replace the U-2 I think the F-117's are heading out due to funding. Canning even more BUFF's now.. Really makes you look forward to the future ---SARCASM)
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Think about it though. They HAVE to be working on something.

So where will all the F-117 pilots go?
 
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