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Navy has certainly been a wild ride. I spent the first 7 years on the Helo track, attached to the Bush’s air wing. Turned down my weapons school instructor shot to transition to jets (the T-45C was my most recent platform).
18 months into advanced and I was attrited along with 3 of the other 4 transition guys. The Strike community wasn’t really big on welcoming other platform aviators crossing their bridge.
I’m owned by the Helo community again, waiting for my first O-4/DH look next year. I’ll do all 20 if I pick up. Otherwise I’m going to have spend some time at a regional to get the FW hours required to be competitive for a major.
If you really enjoy the Navy, then by all means stay in for 20. If you're having serious thoughts about the airlines, then I'd consider getting out and pursuing a regional job. Despite the current furloughs, the fact remains that there are very large numbers of people retiring in the next few years (including yours truly) and the long term outlook remains bright. You can always affiliate with a reserve unit and retire through the reserves, IMHO. Getting hired and obtaining a seniority number with the airlines is HUGE...I can't overstate how important seniority is!
Many years ago I weathered in at Traverse City years ago with a flight of 2 UH1H and 2 OH58s -- May snow storm. Coasties entertained us for the evening and I recall several of them, maybe all, claimed to be dual rated which caused much jealousy among my pilots. Not sure if this was or is common in the USCG flight community.
My rating is civilian but I do have three Air Medals.
If you really enjoy the Navy, then by all means stay in for 20. If you're having serious thoughts about the airlines, then I'd consider getting out and pursuing a regional job. Despite the current furloughs, the fact remains that there are very large numbers of people retiring in the next few years (including yours truly) and the long term outlook remains bright. You can always affiliate with a reserve unit and retire through the reserves, IMHO. Getting hired and obtaining a seniority number with the airlines is HUGE...I can't overstate how important seniority is!
I’d absolutely prefer the airlines and continue flying SELRES for the Navy (or... AF/ANG).
Since I ate my instructor tour as a student, I’m now on my disassociated tour until my commitment is up. My big concern is that I will have been out of the cockpit for 2 years by the time that commitment is up. I can go get 100 hours or so on my own in my last year, but would that be enough?
Many years ago I weathered in at Traverse City years ago with a flight of 2 UH1H and 2 OH58s -- May snow storm. Coasties entertained us for the evening and I recall several of them, maybe all, claimed to be dual rated which caused much jealousy among my pilots. Not sure if this was or is common in the USCG flight community.
My rating is civilian but I do have three Air Medals.
-- Chuck
I suspect there are some good stories behind the Air Medals! Impressive!
Originally Posted by Schneck
I’d absolutely prefer the airlines and continue flying SELRES for the Navy (or... AF/ANG).
Since I ate my instructor tour as a student, I’m now on my disassociated tour until my commitment is up. My big concern is that I will have been out of the cockpit for 2 years by the time that commitment is up. I can go get 100 hours or so on my own in my last year, but would that be enough?
I'm not involved in pilot recruitment; there are better people to try to answer those questions (e.g. FAPA or the pilot recruitment at the different regionals). However, becoming and remaining current is desirable and important, especially if you're looking at taking a simulator ride as a part of the interview/hiring process with an airline, regional or major. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to pm me.
I am currently a contract corporate pilot. I’ve been flying for over 48 years and hold an ATP and an aviation degree from the University of North Dakota. Currently I fly a Citation II with Williams engine conversion, a TBM940 and TBM850. All 3 are Garmin equipped. Based at KPTK and KARB.
Geof
Originally Posted by A1A-S2K
How many S2000 owners here are pilots? We know what you drive, but what do you fly? Private? Charter? Corporate? Airline?
I have over 50 years in aviation, now retired. Aircraft include single engine and light twin engine aircraft, Cessna, Piper, Aztec and Navajo. Piston engine helicopters, Bell 47 and J models. DC3, Fairchild F27, Hawker Sidley 748, Boeing 737, 767, Airbus 319, 320, 321 and the Avro Lancaster.
I have just over 25,000 hrs. But my most impressive aircraft is the Avro Lancaster.
Retired from the airlines in 2007. Four months later I started a short-term job with a mining company, which was to be for one year to help train some new pilots. I ended up staying there for 9 years and finally retired in 2017. I had a great career and enjoyed my last job the most. This involved flying a Boeing 737-200 combi with a gravel kit flying to a remote mine site with a gravel runway in the Canadian Arctic, a great aircraft great people to work for and very rewarding. Now I enjoy my 05 supercharged S2000 completed by LHT Performance in Pinellas Florida. Not as fast as the aircraft I have flown but a joy to drive with 470 HP. “Blue side up”
YouTube video of a landing and takeoff from mine site
Nice to hear from the S2000 flying club. I've been flying 43 years now......charter, regional, fractional, state government and now for a private family/business. I'm planning to fly for a living another 10-11 years. My son started flying as soon as I strapped his car seat in the right seat. We had him doing V1 cuts in the sim at 8 years old sitting on a stack of phone books (I had to step on the rudder for him, as he couldn't reach the peddles). He still carries his first FlightSafety ProCard they gave him at 8! He went to to be a student and instructor at Purdue U, then charter and now with Delta. On the side, he still flies as my copilot on the Citation X and previously on the XL. Someday, he'll also carry on my love for the S2000, when he inherits it!
Love Winggs story and video. Reminds me of flying into the gravel runway at Gillam, Manitoba in the 80's in a KingAir 200.
Not a pilot but we may have spoken before if you come to the UK. I'm an Area RADAR Air Traffic Controller. Shame things are so quiet at the moment, makes things easier though as the majority of the time you can simply say route direct!
