RTB

Provide unnecessary delays for everything and additional layers of bureaucracy.

Well said, been thinking the same thing. I can tell you at our Wing our leadership is echoing CSAF's guidance and is actually implementing changes. This is good news in my book and outstanding leadership from the top.

For those of you living the AMC dream...I'm sorry. That command sounds awesome.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention the most important part! Same DPE in Boston some others have mentioned earlier. Details via PM if you want but $1800 plus airfare, hotel and car. Just under $2500 when it was all said and done, plus some awesome seafood in Boston. I should add that he actually called the FAA certification branch in Oklahoma to ask about the multiengine time issue I mentioned above. He talked to several people there because nobody seemed to know the answer. Ultimately, the answer was it's up to the examiner to determine if your multiengine time qualifies. Cool.

Just did my ATP this past weekend and figured I'd pass on some new gouge, and re-emphasize some previously posted info. First, DO NOT WAIT TO GET YOUR ATP WRITTEN DONE!!! As has already been mentioned, after July of next year, it becomes SIGNIFICANTLY more complicated and expensive (training) to qualify to take the written. It's good for 2 years, more if you're currently flying an AF aircraft, so get it done before then using the Sheppard Air test prep software. After July 2014, it's a huge asspain and will be pretty expensive to qualify. Check out 61.156 at this LINK if you want the painful details. Second, if your background is fighter only, be aware that the requirements for the practical test are also in flux. Some FSDOs are issuing Mil Comp Commercial certificates as Airplane SINGLE ENGINE Land if you only have time in multi engine "centerline thrust" aircraft (A-10, F-15, F-22, F-18, T-37, T-38, etc). DPE I flew with has seen several over the past few months issued as ASEL. According to the DPE I flew with, that's a problem so if you go to one that wants to do that, leave. Other FSDOs are still issuing Airplane Multi Engine Land, Centerline Trust Restricted Commercials for Mil Comp. But, and this is the potential issue, even if your current certificate is multi engine "centerline thrust" restricted, you have to find an examiner willing to count your centerline trust multi engine time (assuming that's all you have) as "pure" multi engine time when the application asks for hours in CLASS. Some apparently won't count "centerline thrust" multi engine time for the ATP and you need 50 hours in CLASS (Multi Engine) to qualify. If your DPE won't count that when filliing out the IACRA online application, you're out of luck so time to find a different DPE. Third, if getting your Mil Comp Instructor added to your certificate, the current rules will only allow you to add "Instrument Airplane" with no specific CLASS (ASEL or AMEL) if all you've flown is multi-engine centerline thrust aircraft as an instructor. Since I've only been an IP in F-15s and T-38s, my Flight Instructor add is only for Instrument Airplane. I'll eventually have to add either a single or multi-engine add-on to that (much easier than getting an initial FAA instructor check I'm told). They no longer issue AMEL centerline thrust Instructor certificates which were pretty much useless anyway. That's about it. BL - get your shit done NOW.

Which UPT base?

No.

Wow. Who is the douche Wing CC that ordered them to remove the 'staches? Can he do that? Can he order everyone to have a marine style haircut if he thinks haircuts are not to his liking?

Have you talked to the AFPC office handling the RPA applications and board? There must be a POC and contact number on the announcement message for applications. They will have the best (and only reliable) information about your questions. If their answers don't help you or there's no way to make it work on their end, you still have a couple options. 1) Ask your leadership to slip a VML or 2 in order to have time to apply to the next board 2) Tell your squadron commander you'd like to speak directly to the Group CC. Explain to the Gp CC that you will stay as long as possible and will request a late training date if selected. Never take no for an answer but don't be a dick about it. Explain your predicament and most reasonable people will find a way to accommodate you. Keeping you an extra couple months is probably good in their book, although not ideal for you.

Yes, agree. The context was, if it's dumb, you should tell your boss you're done following the outdated, irrelevant AFI, not done with the AF. And that is awesome.

Despite being an AF Times story, interesting quotes from Gen Welsh's speech at the AFA Air and Space Conference. Concerns about retention of pilots: “Expect airlines to start hiring at the end of this year; our rated force has options as they go out of their required period of service,” he said. “They’ve served really proudly, they’ve served exceptionally well and now they got choices to make.” And reiterating a comment made a few months ago about dumb and outdated AFIs: “If it doesn’t make common sense, if it doesn’t make the mission better, if it doesn’t take better care of our people, then just don’t do it and tell your boss you’re done.” Good stuff. Welsh at AFA

Intro yes, but doesn't count for IFS.

May be a dumb question but I've seen this before for other CMS actions...Did you follow up with their exec so they know to act on it? They probably got 1 auto-email 4 weeks ago and the app is still just sitting there.

Flight pay based on years aviation service so whenever you started Nav training. Wings are based on when you got your pilot wings, not your nav wings. Same reference as above.

Mine also started the first day of UPT but I wouldn't be surprised to hear different bases started them at different times. Shocking.

HARM Shop probably stared at you blankly. Standard. Go in and tell them it's in AFI 11-402, Table 2.1 Line 4: To award senior pilot, you must have: At least 7 years rated service as a pilot, permanent award of USAF pilot rating and At least 2000 total pilot hours, OR 1300 hours (any combination of primary, instructor, and/or evaluator pilot time), OR 72 months OFDA (Operational Flying Duty Accumulator, also known as gate months).

Wings are based on years rated so Dec not Aug. Flight pay dates are based on Aviation Service so Aug in your case.

This really happened? Details?

That is awesome, congratulations.

Same. Total BS policy. Although my last experience writing a letter to congress didn't leave me with a lot of confidence in the system. My letter about sequestration and my frustration with their inability to address the budget problems earned me a 'heartfelt' response letter from the congressman agreeing with my "belief in the right to life". Epic form letter response fail...

2! I think it also helps the newer AFE guys understand the seriousness of what they do.

Ah, I see what you're saying. I didn't get that the Asiana pilots were still talking to Tower after they'd already crashed. I thought all that comm was during the approach. Never occurred to me they would still be talking on the radios after that crash.

That was a poor attempt at sarcasm. It's pretty clear they had an emergency from the tower audio.

I may be hearing things but it sounds to me like they're sending a lot of other aircraft around and are telling the Asiana crew that all the emergency crews are rolling. check out around 0:57.

Valid So true...