Leaderboard

All too many threads have become politically charged (guilty myself), so let's have at least one thread to lighten things up.

I hear this counter argument quite a bit, it’s not an apples to apples comparison. There’s a reason why the FAA changed the minimum hours needs for the ATP, and why a restricted ATP exists. Inexperienced guys were bending metal and killing people and it made the FAA realize that 250 hour first officers was dangerous. Airlines don’t teach guys with ~200 hours, they teach guys with minimum of 750 hours for prior military, or 1,000-1,500 hours for civilians, depending on how they got those hours. That’s potentially ~550-1250 hours more than a dude right out of flight school. That extra flight time makes a huge difference. The airlines sim is more of a top off for an already experienced pilot instead of teaching a brand new pilot how to fly the plane in actual airspace while refining their airmanship.

Ok, I’ll bite. How and why? From my narrow military point of view, funding Ukraine is helping to weaken a near peer adversary. Also, I’m sure the nerds are picking apart as many of the Su-34s and Su-35s (not sure if it was multiple) components as they can to increase our SA on their capes and limitations. Additionally, I have to suspect we’re able to collect valuable data on Russian missile capes, particularly the Adder and it’s variants. No doubt there are significant amounts of intel the US can gain in all domains concerning how Russia executes combat operations. From my narrow geopolitical point of view, if there is even a chance that our backing, along with a large number of other western/non-western nations, can push China’s timeline to the right on Taiwan, then I think it’s worth it. China is slowly distancing itself from Russia in certain aspects (to look good on the world stage of course), which will be ammunition for the rest of the world if they move against Taiwan. Ultimately, my belief is if our support for a non-NATO ally will make China rethink their plans for Taiwan and the timeline of their invasion, then the billions we’re spending in Ukraine will be a drop in the bucket to what I’m worried it will cost us in lives, assets, and treasure if China invades Taiwan in the next 10 years. Europe reducing their reliance on Russian energy seems like a great way to cut the leash Putin has had around European leaders’ necks for some time. Hopefully that will make it easier for those same leaders to impose other sanctions on Russia without fear that their population will freeze to death. Not saying Europe has made it to this point yet, but they’re moving in the right direction. Russia, in some serious miscalculations, has helped the process along by cutting off power and demanding payment in rubles. That’s all without addressing the horrible human toll that is taking place against non-combatants. I morally have issue with a government openly allowing their troops to rape and murder at will. For this reason alone I’m happy to send my taxpayer dollars to make sure those individuals get wiped from the earth.

Contrary, it’ll be easy to keep on the rails; it’s a giant monologue!

Been flying for 20 years and one thing I’ve learned is there’s no substitute for actual stick time in the plane. That becomes even more apparent when someone leaves the cockpit and then comes back, dudes with more time pick it back up faster. Sims help but they aren’t a replacement.

Or maybe that?

No, it's actually spreading: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-61506562 The point was that it would not be the first time that a tabletop exercise ended up being very prescient. I say good on them, I wish some of the BS exercises I've taken part of had been more accurate to real-world events!

Agreed. I really hope for the sake of the Ukrainian people that this doesn’t turn into a multi year slog ala Afghanistan, but I am absolutely thrilled to see the Russians getting their shit pushed in, and laughing at the absolutely incredible whiff Russian leadership made, both in how they thought the invasion would proceed, and in how they thought NATO would react. Now if somebody would just Operation Valkyrie Putin’s ass…

Absolute fire 🤣

The point being: just as before, these events are rehearsed before they are implemented. It's not that they're good guessers. Global non-governmental organizations know the ends they mean to achieve, but the outcomes haven't been nearly as predictable as was thought. Unlimited growth in a finite system has consequences. Those who have the means and ability to look into the future can see what's coming. World economies are now dependent upon the financialization of continued economic growth. When they can no longer grow, they don't decline, they tend to collapse. However, if you want to attempt a managed decline in worldwide prosperity, you need methods by which you can control and manipulate a global population as they become unhappier, and angrier. Happiness is not a position, it's a trajectory.

M2, you ol' dog! (The rail bent...) And slightly on topic, the hundreds of billions of dollars the federal government pays on interest for various loans doesn't seem to be contributing to anything positive. I'm a caveman on these matters, but that's a lot of cash paid by taxpayers (or borrowed from future taxpayers) that doesn't seem to benefit anyone, now or later.

I'm still holding my breath! 😅

I heard it was last night for kettles. How this likely played out… 8.0 hrs later and 69 kettles deep: “Fuck you DAK, I’m not paying 10000 WON for a 2 min ride!” (it was actually a 30 min ride, they were just passed out). One guy proceeds to swing at cabbie, who punches him right in the gut, causing him to projectile vomit; his buddy sympathetic vomits. Town patrol walks around the corner at this exact moment…and the rest is history. I need one more week in Korea before I retire, what a place!

Just saw an official looking memorandum signed by 19AF/CC (AETC) directing that those whose religious accommodation request and subsequent appeal denial for the COVID vaccine be immediately grounded. Furthermore, if the member doesn't request retirement or separation within 5 days of the appeal denial then they will also be immediately suspended from receiving AvIP and any aviation bonus in addition to being grounded. 19AF/CC has already prohibited all TDYs for unvaccinated personnel prior to this new policy. Apparently the "pilot crisis" can't be too bad if they're willing to cut UPT and FTU production by grounding AETC IPs for refraining from a vaccine that has proven to not be the "miracle vaccine" that it was initially advertised as. Edited to add: Unvaxxed AETC IPs have been flying the line with and alongside like their vaxxed counterparts for over 6 months now with absolutely no issues whatsover. There is no logical argument to ground these people from flying while still allowing them to work and sim in close proximity to everyone else. This policy is completely about power and has zero to do with protecting people or making the workplace safer. --Break, break-- How come no one is asking why it's been almost a year since the Comrinaty was approved and we still have no FDA approved vaccine available in the U.S.? Could it be that Pfizer doesn't want to be liable for any lawsuits since they are protected from such under the EUA? If so, why would they be worried about lawsuits if the vaccine is indeed safe and effective? -9-

Another good video of Russians burning.

Was just arguing on the only remaining AF Facebook page I'm on about some new TASKORD that dropped and how "it's the real one guys" is just nails on a board to me. I hope they can figure it out. "Nerd magic" ain't cheap, easy or fast...just like aircraft. I'll be dropping off that page soon I think, can't do the rah-rah shit anymore. Was offered a GS12 position when I dropped papers. Not bragging, but everyone here is smart so if you're interested (and not wanting to fly) there's starting positions in cyber for $100K. I started a mil-contract (puke) at $135K in 2020, now clearing $170K in a private sector small business, work from home in clothes...usually. I'm happy to share training resources and all that.

Interesting that they don't make any distinction between ADD and ADHD. CH knows exactly what I'm talking about. Anyway, best of luck to your child CH.

ClearedHot, I'm not a flight doc, but I haven't seen one post on here for a long time so you may not get any other responses. Here's the info you're looking for (From the waiver guide dated 16 Feb 22. Waiver for IFC I is possible. Must demonstrate stability after being off meds for one year prior to FC I exam.

Welcome @Random Guy. Might want to collapse some of these posts as it will likely generate a more coherent response. First and foremost, money is a medium. That is, it is anything that will mediate a transaction between parties. Money is what money does. You posted a lot of references. Likely none of which (honestly) will be viewed or fully read by the crowd writ large. What is "the theory" that you purport is false? It would help us all if you would just clearly state it and then people can fire away. I'm certain this is true from a technical vantage, but any nation that issues currency most certainly has real limits on how much currency can be initiated. Just ask Zimbabwe. "89.7 sextillion percent year-on year..." The United States occupies a highly privileged position because we happen to be the world's current reserve currency, emphasis on current. From the book Exorbitant Privilege: Even more critical: We get to click 'print' and get an equivalent amount of goods and services. This is enormously important to our status in the world. No one else gets to do that. Consider the implications of that and you'll begin to see the liability we are building in terms of our real contribution to the world, and support we can provide for ourselves, if that status is lost. If you are interested in the answer, I recommend the book The Coming Generational Storm. It gets to the core of your question, "why does the government need to balance its checkbook like an individual?" In short, the answer is that on the scale of your concern, an individual is like a generation. The concept of inter-generational accounting is introduced to help capture and illuminate those concerns. Along the way, I also learned quite a bit about concepts such as imputed income, along with other interesting facts. Such as how in different circumstances, a lesser-earning spouse is actually paying a 100% marginal tax rate on their earnings due to their rights spouses have to each other's social security benefits. Stuff few people know, but if they did, there would be plenty who would be justified in leaving the workforce altogether. An important topic, to be sure.

Having now done all manner of sim- and aircraft-training, there's simply no comparing the two in the early phases of training. Hell, one of the biggest weaknesses in MAF was the lack of raw stick-and-rudder flying ability. That comes from the smaller planes that don't translate well in Sims. We should also dispense with the "modernizing" argument. Today's sim technology has been around for decades, and the AF didn't decide to "modernize" until a manning and resource shortage. This is about cutting costs, and the results will be predictable.

Strange, I can't seem to find that part that says we should have done it a decade prior.

Agree, we do our best to mitigate the above. We make inputs to the best of our ability, but in the end it’s well documented within our industry: “Timing is Everything!” Amazing to think that even your Birth Date or SSN has impact that you have no control over down the road. Many other variables obviously, but no one is shooting to be furloughed, have their carrier merge and get whip sawed or worse yet disappear overnight. Nothing like 20/20 hindsight, and even then some things aren’t avoidable. Too many lost ships at sea out there. While some had a big hand in their circumstances many others did not. I can only evaluate my career at the end looking back. Try to enjoy the ride getting there.

In legacy initial last year, having taken a COVID victory lap at the ACMI... Sim-P is a crusty old dude, mid 70's, with plenty of stories. Started out at Air Cal, mentioned this 6-9 times every day we worked with him. Great guy, easy to get along with. Walked with a cane. Took quite a while to get down the stairs to the sim bay, so if one of us needed to hit the head mid session, he'd just toss us his badge to get in/out of the door vice walking out with us. He was there...because he felt he needed to. His was the standard "timing is everything" story, with maybe one divorce, maybe one ill-timed change of carrier, but otherwise he caught the triple furlough whammy. Came home and told the Frau that our financial goal, beyond anything else, was NOT to end up in a similar situation.

I’m a regular viewer of Steve’s 10 Percent True show and read/own several of his books and I don’t fault him for pursuing the story. That’s his job as an author. What sticks in my craw about this story is that there are two sources that feel the need to comment to an author/journalist about something that absolutely shouldn’t be discussed. He’s not a shoulder to cry on about a tragic event. He’s an author with well known credentials. I’ll admit that it’s a terrible situation for families in these types of scenarios but that’s part of the deal, as cold as that sounds. There’s a wall at the CIA commemorating lost agents and most of them aren’t identified. Hopefully their families know about their fates, but I doubt it. My $0.02

Pretty well sums it up how Lord Ratner categorized it for the majority: 1. Who offered you a job 2. Where can you live without commuting 3. What flying job fits your personality? When you need a job you just go where you must and transition later to that destination career as you see fit, but there has never been a greater time to gain access to your airline of choice than now. Commuting is the biggest hassle for most and nothing beats living in domicile no matter what outfit, except for holding a base which is actually where you want to live or the surrounding area allows you to capture extra trips/pay within 90 min - 2hrs in many cases = Holy Grail of LIFESTYLE and Opportunity. Enjoying the “job” carries significant weight depending on your personality, but every normal hassle melts away when you do and it’s always easier as I sit here in Australia enjoying the beach and whatnot. Rainy seasonish but amazing. *Labeling those who say boxes don’t b….! as “misanthropic” is first off all encompassing of the freight community. For a bunch of freight dawg unsocial misfits I would say we’re doing pretty well out there! 😆🤪

"We find this belief to be disinformation. We shall be monitoring your communications, both incoming and outgoing, to ensure that you do not attempt to spread such disinformation." a note from your friendly Ministry of Truth... And given the support for such, even on this thread, it's likely to happen. And I can assure you, it's a GREAT gig to get if you can be the one that decides what is and isn't disinformation. Just ask any of the 50 former IC officials who signed the letter assuring us that the Hunter laptop was classic Russian disinformation. What could possibly go wrong?

Buffs are back on the menu and in force! No longer are the bottom of the T-38 class guaranteed a viper which was becoming such a work ethic issue

were getting played by ukraine. how many more BILLIONS are we going to give them?