otsap

Pardon my elementary knowledge of the subject, but do ejection seats have a reserve chute, or just the main? Also, how many G's does a person endure during the ejection? And finally, which a/c have ejection seats? (the last question has some very obvious answers, so I'm really just looking for any that may not be known to the common folk) Thanks.

I just recieved a pilot slot through OTS. I turned 26 in march and figure I won't go to OTS till about that time next year, meaning I'll graduate UPT at 28. So am I going to feel like old man river in my class? Are most students right out of college and about 23 or so?

I hope you're aware that whoever tells you in the civvy world you "get paid awesome and work 1 week a month" is either being sarcastic or is talking about the 1970's. The only people that applies to are airline pilots who have been pilots for roughly 30-35 years. I'm told a regional FO starts at 18K/yr, and is gone about 3 days a week, and on call for another 2. You can expect to actually get called about 50 percent of the time while on call. This is a regional airline of course, but "the majors" minimum requirements are typically, and you can check their websites, 1000+ hrs flying a jet. So where do you get jet time? Military, or a regional airline. But, at the regional airline, you'd start on a twin prop as a co-pilot(18K/yr). At about 3-4 years, you may become captain of the twin prop(32K/yr). 3-4 years after that, you have the option of transferring to a jet(46K/yr). You're looking at 6-8 years before you're riding a jet engine. Once you log your time and get hired by a 'major', you'd have to find their pay scales cause I don't know. In the AF, your first year with base pay, specialty pay, BAH, BAS, etc., factoring in the tax advantage you'll get around 48K. 3-4 yrs in you'll be getting around 66K. 3-4 yrs after that you're getting around 88K and looking at O-4 soon. 10 yr commitment starts after UPT so it's actually about a 11.5 yr commitment. When you get out, you'll have the credentials to apply to the airlines. Pay: Advantage-military (in the first 10 yrs.) Family life: Advantage-civilian (you might be gone a few days, but you always go "home") Prof. Opportunity: About-equal (however, if I'm an employer looking at two people, one with 10 yrs civilian, one with 10 yrs military, I'm going with the prior military on leadership exp. alone) [ 24. June 2005, 20:11: Message edited by: otsap ]

perhaps, I had 2, maybe 3, items listed that could be considered "community involvement". The majority of things I listed were personal achievements. And by personal I mean things that meant a lot to me and I didn't recieve a plaque/certificate/medal or anything else for them. (e.g. was in Skiing magazine, summitted a couple not too noteworthy mountains, finished a bike race in top 10%) Write a long list, there's NO limit on length, that I'm aware of. Of course don't stretch it too much by saying things like; got along with my sister, got my drivers license the first time I tried, or didn't puke on my 21st.

DaveB; I studied for the AFOQT and did well 99,99,90,77,94. Probably helped the board to overlook the GPA. GooneyBird; Other than AFOQT, not much. Only one LOR from a military member, a pilot. Interview I thought went well, but not spectacular. I was told I had a great applicant statement, for whatever that's worth. Here's what's a bit confusing. My PCSM with 0 hours was a 60 (not good), which is what I had. But apparently, the board considered my PCSM to be 89 since that's what it would be once I completed IFT and had 41-60 hours. In fact, my recruiter specifically told me NOT to get hours unless I could get more than 60 cause it wouldn't help! I wouldn't recommend this however, I would say get hours cause it can only help. Just food for thought. One, two, or three red marks on your application? Apply....who knows.

My point here is just to say study for the AFOQT, read the directions on the BAT, do your best in everything, your chances only get better. Your dream isn't something you give up on, or it never was one. [ 20. April 2005, 14:18: Message edited by: otsap ]

Hey everyone. I just recieved a pilot slot on the 0504 board with a GPA of 2.61 and ZERO flight hours. People can give you their best guess at your odds/chances of getting picked, and many people here are really accurate. But, if you don't apply, you don't need a best guess to tell you your chances.

What happens if a pilot flying an airframe "sans" bathroom is on a long mission, can't land, and HAS to go? Do they wear a bag or something?