Weird jobs you never thought existed..

[JarheadBoom]

I don't know, flying 15 approaches in a King Air would be pretty fvcking boring. What's the pay like?

Gotta be a little higher than a GS-11... that's what the ART booms/engineers in my SQ are. Dunno about the ART pilots...

The FAA Tech Center at ACY has a couple King Airs, an S-76, a 727, and a couple other airframes that I don't recall off the top of my head. When we WX-diverted to ACY on my AR rec-ride, we were parked on the FAA ramp, between one of the King Airs and the 727. They use the "Flightcheck" callsign, but I don't know if they do the actual approach checks or not.

[brabus]

'm not sure if they use King Airs. The flight check guys use the FAA's C-29s and AFFSA has a couple of C-21s.

The guy who did the check at vance a while ago was in a King Air. But, sounds like they're also using other stuff...just wondering.

Rendering final honors to your fellow servicemembers is gay?

That's not what I said LJ. Don't put words in my mouth. It would be incredibly gay to march around for Generals and blah blah. I have nothing against the funeral/presenting flag side of the job and think it's a great thing. But that's only a part, all the other stuff is gay; that's the part I was commenting on and that's my opinion.

[Gravedigger]

The most important thing to remember here Brabus is that the Air Force Honor Guard actually has a purpose, and is not affiliated with the Tops in Blue. I think we can all find common ground in saying that the Tops are by far the most worthless and homosexual organization in existence. The Honor Guard entertains and impresses thousands of people all over the world, and is an outstanding display of patriotism and professionalism. The Tops on the other hand make people all over the world vomit and have nightmares.

Just something to consider.

[Guest FarEast]

About becoming an exchange pilot, how common/difficult are those positions to get? Requirements? Countries available? Airframes?

[F-15E WSO]

About becoming an exchange pilot, how common/difficult are those positions to get? Requirements? Countries available? Airframes?

Varies based on what the country flies and what they want out of the exchange (FTU/OPS/Flying Staff). Here are current options for fighter pilots.

1. Turkey: MANDATORY: 750 hour F-16 IP or 750 hour F-16 4-ship flight lead who will attend IPUG after DLI & prior to arrival in-country DESIRED:Expertise in squadron and wing weapons and tactics shops, Block 50 Experience LANGUAGE RQMTS: Nominee must have Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) scores current within the last 12 months that meet or exceed 2 (listening) and 2 (reading) in the host nation language. If not, the nominee will be considered for training in Turkish if achieving a Defense Language Aptitude Battery (DLAB) minimum score of 105 or better." DLI 47 weeks.

2. Portugal: A. MANDATORY: (1) F-16 IP (2) NVG ITUP/JHMCS B. LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS: Portuguese Language Proficiency L-2, R-2 DLI: 25 weeks

3. Great Britain, RAF Hawk: (1) Previous operational experience in fighter/attack aircraft (2) Qualified 4-ship Flight Lead B. DESIRED: Experience as an AETC, RTU, or Squadron instructor pilot

4. Ghedi Italy: (Tornado) MANDATORY: Rated pilot currently on flying status w/min of 750 hrs total flying time, Four ship flight lead or instr pilot in fighter aircraft, 30 hrs in the 90 days prior to entering lang trng. DESIRED: FTU IP Exp, F-15E, LANTIRN exp, LGB exp. Lang rqmts: DLI 25 weeks, Italian lang proficiency L2R2

6. Bagotville, Canada: CF-18 MANDATORY: Minimum 750 hours fast-jet, 4 Ship FLT lead, LGB Experience. DESIRED: Close Air support exp, no language rqmts, Secret Clearance

Edited August 19, 2007 by F-15E WSO

[brabus]

The Honor Guard entertains and impresses thousands of people all over the world, and is an outstanding display of patriotism and professionalism

I didn't say they were gay like TIB...that would be overboard. But, being the honor guard commander is still something I would not want to do. I'm not questioning the patriotism of it all, the need for their services, etc...but when it comes down to it, it's about marching around. I do admit the stuff those guys can do is impressive, but seriously, it's still just marching/throwing rifles around. I'm glad someone likes to do it, but I sure as hell don't want to. Thanks for the enlightenment.

[HerkDerka]

I think we can all find common ground in saying that the Tops are by far the most worthless and homosexual organization in existence.

'Nuff said.

HD

[Guest Safe&Clear]

Alrighty, now we're rolling on this post! Somebody just made a list of fighter-pilot foreign exchange opportunities. Nice work.

Now, who's in-the-know to post a list of cargo/ tanker/ Herc exchange jobs?? They're out there-- but I hear you just gotta be on the phone with someone at AFPC at the exact moment they realize one's coming open....

I know there's stuff in Australia, Canada, etc etc. What else? And, please, some expert give us the details and how the hell the wording on a "T-ODP" needs to be to get one!!

[C17Driver]

Alrighty, now we're rolling on this post! Somebody just made a list of fighter-pilot foreign exchange opportunities. Nice work.

Now, who's in-the-know to post a list of cargo/ tanker/ Herc exchange jobs?? They're out there-- but I hear you just gotta be on the phone with someone at AFPC at the exact moment they realize one's coming open....

I know there's stuff in Australia, Canada, etc etc. What else? And, please, some expert give us the details and how the hell the wording on a "T-ODP" needs to be to get one!!

For the most recent C-17 exchange assignments, the exchange pilots came from Altus (FTU instructors) and were by name requested by the host nation (since that is where the host nation received their initial trailing, it makes since!)

[Guest Boom]

Alrighty, now we're rolling on this post! Somebody just made a list of fighter-pilot foreign exchange opportunities. Nice work.

Now, who's in-the-know to post a list of cargo/ tanker/ Herc exchange jobs?? They're out there-- but I hear you just gotta be on the phone with someone at AFPC at the exact moment they realize one's coming open....

I know there's stuff in Australia, Canada, etc etc. What else? And, please, some expert give us the details and how the hell the wording on a "T-ODP" needs to be to get one!!

When I was at Little Rock we had our Chief of Stan/Eval go to Australia. We also got a guy who did an exchange tour with the French C-130 unit.

[PirateAF]

The current C-17 exchange pilot up in Canada was an Altus guy...and we just sent our wing chief of stan eval up on a 179 to Canada. We did the math and it's somewhere in the neighborhood of $22,000 in per diem.

Edited November 7, 2007 by PirateAF

[LockheedFix]

Alrighty, now we're rolling on this post! Somebody just made a list of fighter-pilot foreign exchange opportunities. Nice work.

Now, who's in-the-know to post a list of cargo/ tanker/ Herc exchange jobs?? They're out there-- but I hear you just gotta be on the phone with someone at AFPC at the exact moment they realize one's coming open....

I know there's stuff in Australia, Canada, etc etc. What else? And, please, some expert give us the details and how the hell the wording on a "T-ODP" needs to be to get one!!

I know a guy that's on his way to fly Herks with the French. I've also met the Japanese and Thai exhange guys. I've heard stories about the Thai commander offering the US exhange guy to load his SUV up in the back, fly him into the countryside with his family, and let them drive back to the city.

[brickhistory]

There are also exchange ABM jobs with the RAF, Canadian Forces, RAAF. There used to be instructor jobs with the JASDF, been too long away from that side of the world to know if its still an option.

Possibly others, those are just the ones I know about. (For those that care.......)

[Herk Driver]

About becoming an exchange pilot, how common/difficult are those positions to get? Requirements? Countries available? Airframes?

Some of these may be dated, and I don't have the requirements, but...

Belgium - F-16 IP Florennes AB; C-130 (proposed at the time)

Denmark - F-16 IP Skrydstrup AB

France - Mirage IP, Cambrai; C-130 Pilot, Orleans

Germany - Tornado pilot, Buechel; A-310 Pilot, Cologne; UK-10 SAR Pilot, Lansberg; Typhoon pilot - awaiting aircraft

Italy - C-130 Pilot, Pisa x 2;B-767 Pilot, Rome; B-767 Boom, Rome; HH-3F Pilot, Rome; MQ-1 Pilot, Foggio-Amendola; AMX Pilot, Treviso

Netherlands - F-16 WO, Leeuwarden; KDC-10 Pilot, Eindhoven; F-16 IP, Volkel; C-130 IP Eindhoven; C-130 Pilot x 2

Norway - F-16 Pilot, Bodo; F-16 IP, Bodo

Portugal - F-16 IP, Leira

Spain - C-130 IP, Zaragosa; E-26/CASA 101 IP, San Javier

UK - Puma HC-1 IP, Benson; C-130 Pilot, Lyneham; RAF Heavy Test Pilot, Boscombe-Downe; Spec Ops C-130 Pilot, Lyneham; Tornado WSO, Marham; Hawk IP, Valley; Harrier Pilot, Cottesmore x 2; C-17 Pilot, Brize Norton; Jaguar Pilot, Coltishall (Typhoon in 2007?); VC-10 Pilot, Brize Norton; E-3D Weapons Controller, Waddington; Tornado GR4 Pilot, Marham; T-1 Pilot, Leeming; EF-2000 Typhoon Pilot x 2, Coningsby

That seems to be about all I have. Some of this may have been OBE, but should still be relatively close. There are also several non-flying jobs but didn't want to go in that much detail.

[brickhistory]

There are many opportunities for exchange school slots when it comes time for that. Many of them require being rated, but not all. Also, USAF can/do go to USA and USN schools and vice-versa.

Would be cool, I think, to go to a different country's IDE/SDE and learn something new vs the canned "We're great!" mantra of ours.

[pbar]

There are many opportunities for exchange school slots when it comes time for that. Many of them require being rated, but not all. Also, USAF can/do go to USA and USN schools and vice-versa.

Would be cool, I think, to go to a different country's IDE/SDE and learn something new vs the canned "We're great!" mantra of ours.

The coolest part I've found so far is that you also attend with other foreign officers and you get to learn a lot about their country/AF too. I have a Mongol, Brazilian, Turk, Japanese, and Taiwanese guy in my class here at the Korean AF ACSC. It's pretty interesting getting their perspectives on the world.

PBAR

[HerkFE]

I don't know, flying 15 approaches in a King Air would be pretty fvcking boring. What's the pay like?

The "A/C" is a GS-14, the Co is a GS-13, and the mission specialist is a GS-13. Oh, plus 5% flight pay differential and you typically spend Monday-Thursday or Tuesday-Friday on the road two weeks in a row then spend one week in the office before going back out on the road.

[Guest Sparky]

I'm not sure if they use King Airs. The flight check guys use the FAA's C-29s and AFFSA has a couple of C-21s.

HD

The AIS instructors also fly the C-21's up at OKC, it is a flying staff (API-8 I think) and wouldn't be a bad staff assignment. Not sure if they participate or help out with flying the checks with the FAA.

[HerkFE]

Not sure if they participate or help out with flying the checks with the FAA.

I know for a fact that the Reserve squadron at OKC does both military and FAA flight checks. They sometimes even fly mixed crews. I am pretty sure that the AFFSA at OKC also picks up some FAA missions.

[brickhistory]

I know for a fact that the Reserve squadron at OKC does both military and FAA flight checks. They sometimes even fly mixed crews. I am pretty sure that the AFFSA at OKC also picks up some FAA missions.

Affirmative.