brabus

I just landed in a grass field today, without a radio…and….nothing bad happened. Leave it to the AF (or I guess GAF in this case) to find every way to make aviation suck. Go to the IG, and get a line number if he doesn’t already have one. Unbelievable.

This fuckery is unbelievable. The American people better not forget this in the coming few years.

I think it’s a mix of both, but yeah, his feeble mental state is likely the majority root cause, with handlers being a secondary root cause. I hope the midterms absolutely crush the Dems, they’ve earned it.

@ClearedHot Fair enough, and I would likely feel exactly the same as you had I lived the same personal experience. Conversely in my personal experience, I’m 1-2 degree separated from 4 kids who have died from the vaccine (COD: Heart inflammation), as well as seen a few friends take 6+ weeks to get rid of “moderate” COVID symptoms following the vaccine (a couple self-DNIF for 2-4 weeks). Both of us have anecdotal experiences that have surely shaped our viewpoints. With that said, a study hosted by CDC Mar 20-Mar 21 showed 95% of those hospitalized for COVID had at least one underlying medical condition. Another study done by Tufts (Feb 21) estimated 65% of COVID hospitalizations were specifically due to 1 of 4 in order: Obesity, Hypertension, Diabetes, heart failure. In the early days of COVID (Apr 20), a study conducted in NYC showed 94% had underlying health conditions and 88% had 2+. What’s interesting is the number from that early study is within 1% of the number from the most recent study, with the biggest difference over that time being the release of the vaccine, and the number is still the same. The data does indeed show majority of COVID hospitalizations are those with 1+ underlying health condition. Of course there are outliers/anecdotal cases as you appear to be one, and of course there are the other examples you gave. That does not cheapen your story or their’s, make them any less hellacious or less real, etc. Every one of us can loose a dice roll in life, regardless of our risk management, positive health/fitness priorities, etc. Sorry to hear you had such a shitty experience, and I’m very glad to hear you have recovered.

@pawnman @ClearedHot I agree with you guys, but I think our divergence in opinion is likely to what degree does it matter. Let’s say every higher risk person is vaccinated (old, comorbidities, lives in a house with at risk family members, works in a hospital, etc.); the virus infects unvaccinated people (low risk), and vaccinated people (minor to no symptoms due to the vaccine). What’s the rate of those two groups of people going to the hospital and taking beds for 1+ days? Now throw in the reality today outside the hypothetical situation above - at risk people continuing to be unvaccinated…there’s your group that primarily threatens hospital overload.

Not really…vaccinated spread the virus at nearly the same rate as unvaccinated (CDC/John Hopkins). This vaccine started at “97% keeps you from getting the virus” to “well it’s more like 40%…me scuzie, but your symptoms will be reduced!” That’s not to say the vaccine is a bad idea for many people, but it’s incorrect to blanket say people should get it to “help others.” I acknowledge that elderly and those who are unhealthy getting vaccinated will contribute to less ICU beds, and that does help others indirectly. But this generalized statement is misapplied to the low-risk demographics.

In an alternate reality: 1. Pull all Americans, and truly loyal-to-US Afghans (terps and their families, etc.), to Bagram/Kandahar/maybe Kabul 2. Evac all of those people in an organized fashion 3. Maintain offensive/defensive ops during step 1-2 4. Pull out ground troops except for those required for defensive ops of air bases (namely BAF and KAF) 5. Keep air for a while longer to destroy as much critical materiel left behind as possible, with a measurable amount destroyed end state, NTE 90 days post step 4. Kill Taliban targets of opportunity when able. 6. Pull out remaining personnel involved with step 5. I mean, it’s not that fucking hard. Copy lots of details in the background, but pretty sensible big pic plan, probably executed over a course of 4-6 months. Instead we got step 1: pull military out, step 2: Ummm, the thing, you know… step 3: Panic, send 5k back to AFG, step 4: we’ll get you out, maybe…if you made it to Kabul, if not, good luck! Fucking ludicrous…I’m pissed, and every sensible person on the planet should be as well.

“Reports on Sunday morning said the Taliban overran the city, the capital of Nangarhar province, without a shot being fired.” Yeah I feel for the good people there, but not even one skirmish before handing over J-Bad? These people really have no concept of dying on your feet is better than living on your knees. They have no backbone. Nobody deserves the Taliban, but for fuck’s sake, they’ve pretty much earned it at this point.

I feel like every bomb, rocket, and bullet I employed in Kunduz and Herat made such a difference in the world. Thanks for cementing that reality SocialD! Also, fuck that place…

Not very plausible the USMC Commandant would say/write that publicly, even if he personally feels that way. But, it is possible.

So according to Adam, you can’t love and support your country (MW definition of patriot) if you didn’t fight in a 18th century war.

I don’t understand how you can look at all the data and conclude everyone needs to get the shot/getting the shot is “all that it takes” to end all this bullshit. But, I respect your difference in opinion though I may disagree, and will not try to force you or your family to align with my views. Maybe you should try doing the same towards others.

Fuck yeah. I think there are incredibly few people who flew mil aircraft and truly regretted it. Sure you may punch at 10 because it became “not worth it” anymore, but even if that happens, you got your ticket to the airlines paid for (if that’s your longterm goal) and you’ll still have awesome experiences and memories that no civilian will ever have. Im sitting equal with guys who threw bags, flew night freight, then slung gear in the regionals for peanuts for a decade…there’s not a bad day in the AF that could make me wish I had that guy’s path instead of mine. To each their own.

If I get COVID, I have a 99.9% chance of living (source: CDC, my age group). It’s actually higher than that since that includes all the comorbidity deaths, but close enough for discussions sake. VAERS is reporting 0.27% rate of adverse events amongst my age group. So from a statistical standpoint, I incur more risk of an adverse event from the vaccine than I gain in decreased risk of death. Now, we’re splitting RCHs like you read about (well, before the 2013 purge anyways), so maybe that’s the point…there’s so little to be gained (statistically) for a healthy individual when it comes down to an unemotional risk vs. reward standpoint. Now before you stop reading, know this is a baseline assessment - throw in factors like high risk family members at home, you’re not a healthy individual (whether your fault or not), etc. can logically out prioritize the above. Now throw in more subjective factors: - knowing people who have died, or are currently suffering long term negative effects, from the vaccine (anecdotal, but you can’t discount that factor in someone’s thought process) - suppression of information/voices that cast negative light on, or question the vaccine - The very authoritarian way the govt has pursued vaccination with a shocking rate of goal post moving, “experts” being completely wrong an inconceivable amount of times (but you should still completely follow what we say without question), etc. - No longterm data on this vaccine…that’s a fact, but subjective on the definition of “long term” So, it’s not hard to see how people make a very rational decision to not get the vaccine in the near term. Just the same as people make a rational decision to get the vaccine for various reasons. But, to make a statistical-based argument for healthy people to get the vaccine (without knowing their personal situation) is just pissing into the wind. Even worse is refusing to acknowledge this and attacking those who chose opposite of you. I believe people can choose either way while doing so logically and rationally, depending on their specific life circumstances.

Doesn’t matter. An endorsement is different than class/rating/type. Still legal to log PIC even without the endorsement. Endorsement is only needed to solo, which happens when he’s singed off to solo in the syllabus. FDNY covered the rest.

He doesn’t have to conform to how his future employer may do it, nor how the AF does it, he has to abide by the FARs. And I don’t think any airline is going to ask or give a fuck in the interview, at that point in his flying career, about 69 hrs he logged ten years ago. And if they do, he can provide a response about how he logged time IAW FAR 61.51.

Almost all of it, at least the amount you’re acting as sole manipulator of controls. Expanded reasoning… FAR 61.51 states you can log PIC when acting as sole manipulator of controls, for any airplane in which you’re rated. Rated = category, class , type (if applicable). You can log PIC while receiving instruction, provided you meet the conditions in the first sentence. T-6 = Aircraft single engine land, no type required.

I tell my kids all the time quitting is not an option in life…you always see through what you start, no matter how difficult, tiring, boring, whatever. But I also tell them never be afraid to ask for help. My initial reaction is she quit and that’s not acceptable, but on the other hand, maybe she had a gun in her mouth the night prior and almost pulled the trigger. I don’t know, so I should probably give her some benefit of the doubt, and hope she gets whatever help she needs, for whatever is going on in her life.

My opinion (not stating as fact) is there are more people in certain regions who are more willing to think on things, dig into the information, are skeptical, etc. than others. To talk out of the other side of my mouth for a moment, I am surrounded by people who made a decision based on what a political figure told them to do on TV, without any question or thought…pure 100% faith in the idea that the politician would never steer them wrong and surely has their personal best interest in mind 100% of the time. Other people are not willing to do that, and will ask questions/expect a certain level of credible/backed up answers before accepting something. Not saying either is wrong/wright, but those are both the simplified versions of the COAs I’ve seen a lot of people execute. Skepticism and asking questions is not a bad thing, thought many like to try and paint them as such.

Agreed there are people out there who make decisions based on conspiracy theories, biased social media information, don’t critically think, etc. But, it’s a gross overgeneralization to say no vaccine = you’re obviously incapable of making unemotional, data-driven decisions. My family and I are not getting it for now, and that decision has nothing to do with Fauci, Facebook, Bill Gates, microchips, etc. It is a 100% data-driven, unemotional, logical thought process that led us to this decision…because it’s right for us in our life situation. I’m not saying it is right for everyone, nor do I judge those who get the vaccine; I’m not them/know all the details of their life situation. It’d be a hell of a lot better if more people took this approach towards their fellow countrymen (is there an X in that word now?)

Shack. More people die every day from random accidents (e.g. falling off a ladder) than Covid. Heart disease kills 6x more people daily than Covid. So why is our policy “zero cases!”-driven for something that’s not even in the top 5? Why do we continually move the goalposts on Covid, yet don’t do shit public-policy wise for heart disease prevention/cure, cancer prevention/cure, etc. Covid is a thing and kills people, got it…but the data does not remotely support the totalitarian reaction from the gov/some portions of society, expressed or implied. Get your shot, or don’t…do what’s best for you and the people you regularly interact with, then STFU about your opinion of what someone else’s personal decision should be.

Am I taking crazy pills, or does this say degree type is the most impactful variable and PCSM, etc. is the least?

Similar experience with TUI as Kwings had with AMU. That was many years ago, but I doubt much has changed. At the time at least, it was fully covered by TA. Totally useless degree, but I could turn in a paper that I wrote in 15 min and still get an A. Perfect container checker.

Seems like PWC mins was a great question. Fighters do it and I certainly apply my own in the GA world. At some point you have a job to do (especially in combat), and if you need 500’ PWC mins, so be it…we’ll put someone else in the line or cancel, depending on the situation. It sounds like this AC has more going on than just his personal opinion of weather mins.