kme9418

It's sad to see. There was a time (I knew a guy) when CBP AIA was among the best flying jobs in the world.

Mover

Damn that's disappointing. I just applied and am seriously considering leaving a major. Was hoping for more job satisfaction.

USMCFLYR

I would say that depends on how you define job satisfaction.

Personally I know I would find more *job satisfaction* out of CBP flying than many other types of flying, but there are a variety of aspects of the job that would decrease that 'satisfying' part of the job.

My co-worker just told me about the recent (?) move for the P-3 pilots to basically pull a double duty with the UASs - a move that has been repeated here.

As far as incompetent management at *every* level - where is that NOT true? Not to say that every manager is incompetent - but at every level you will/can certainly find someone worthy of being deemed such. I had high hopes for 'Tex' Alles (is he even still the head guy?), but I heard that he ran into the same bureaucratic brick wall that many run into once they enter gov't service.

Some of the other stuff Waco mentions is what other people I know actually enjoyed about the job. Weapons training, defensive training, 5/2 schedule (you mean like a regular work week) don't sound all that bad and for those that don't like the sound of desk work actually adds a little spark to the more mundane. Pay lagging the industry? It is gov't work. Do you expect any gov't job to match what the majors are paying? Top end pay wasn't a driving factor for me to chose gov't flying - and those timecards - well I'd rather get more pay and be 24/7 (and by that I mean like we were in the military ), but I'm for the most part enjoying my CASTLE duties and filling out my 8.5 duty hrs a day.

Like kms says - it pains me to hear that the CBP seems to have fallen on some hard times. It was my #1 choice coming out of the military though I knew I couldn't do it, but even last week I sat across from my co-worker hanging on nearly every word about some of the CBP times down in Panama, but he is still sitting in my office now and tells me to be happy. I don't have SJS, but this is probably a case of the grass seeming greener on the there side in my eyes.
You guys that are doing the job still get a hearty thumb's up and a thank you from me though.

Gilligan13

How tough is it to get San Diego? Does every location have UAS? Flying a 206 in VFR sounds like heaven.

WacoQCF

If you get the AIA job, prepare for a 5 month stay at the law enforcement academy in Brunswick GA...as in family separation and being treated like E-4's at best. From there you go to vendor trainignto qualify on your aircraft/UAV.

From application "off the street" to DHC8 would be over 3 years - easily a year after you showed up to the academy.

Your management is only concerned with the "flight hours program" and doesn't value fatigue, rest, risk, or circadian rythms. We worked 5 years of 0600-1400, 2 days off, 1800-0200, 2 days off 0600-1400 again. 6 hour manditory "legs" ...and on some detachments we faced duty days over 16hrs with 2 8 hour "legs". On another detachment we flew crews to exhaustion, and no crew rest schedule was provided - "on call" virtually 24/7 for 2 weeks ...when I arrived and declined a risk assessment for a fatigued crew - I was sent home immediately, however my relief crew narrowly missed a dramatic CFIT due entirely to fatigue that I had already ASAP'd. Nothing changed, except the PIC nearly lost his job.

Puerto Rico is unreal expensive, and the taxes are significant. Nobody stays that isn't from PR, and other branches are filled with PR escapees. Otherwise, pick your favorite border town for working exclusively nights, weekends, and holidays. Pilots can plan on either flying UAVs or sitting in the back of the aircraft running cameras or radar on non scheduled days. There is ZERO seniority - and your schedule / lifestyle will never improve.

Recently my management tasked me with a DHC8 flight from Miami to Burlington VT, then direct to El Paso, and return to Miami. When I pointed out the max duty time, and max flight time policy - I was ordered to fly it as scheduled. Fortunately we had a decompression on the way into El Paso and insisted on a hotel for crew rest. The next day we flew a 7.5 leg from El Paso to Miami unpressurized.

You could think I am just the disgruntled one, but virtually EVERY pilot in our branch is at odds with every level of management - and frequent morale surveys come from HQ Safety. Every manager in the branch wants to quit under the current Director.

Go out of our branch and the ABQ king air pilots are now tasked with 7.5hr patrols in a 8hr work day. There is much pressure in all branches. Expect pressure to work 10 hour days for 8 hours of pay.

Yes, cool judo moves and shooting guns is involved...but after a while that is the very last thing you want to do on a work day.

Gilligan13

I don't get how you work 10 hour days for 8 hours of pay, that's illegal. Is the helo side better at your branch?

WacoQCF

Max of 8 days off a month...

LEAP pay:

If you work an 8 hour day, and have to stay long - you are not compensated for the first two hours, if it was scheduled within the administrative work week. If it just "pops" up while you are on a patrol...you aren't compensated for ANY of the extra time.

Now, that's fine if I find a good case and need to stay...but management wants "flight hour production" and started intentionally scheduling extra hours after Sunday hit (totally planned); when we protested that, they added scheduled "standby" crews for alerts on their days off...that also met prorests and IA complaints.

You are expected to work your shift, plus 2 hours of "availability" - or unscheduled duty. However, recently A new official policy requires us to work a "significant portion" of our available periods ... so management is back at it planning/scheduling availability which is clearly not allowed under the LEAP law.

Basically, management will intentionally violate the rules - and it is up to you to defend your self. Fatigue and Safety are about the only ways to reduce the pain.

If you are low time, and looking for some TPIC, ATP, and a type rating...it's not horrible. Otherwise, regional flying is better quality of life. EVERY pilot with less than 10 years here is leaving for airlines, many radar operators have left as well.

To CBP's credit, I did join and get $100k a year to start. I did earn a helicopter/inst/comm rating in the MD500E, and got a ATP & Type in the DHC 8 for free.

Once I got helicopter rated, I moved to a H60 and AStar heavy branch...and in the past 5 years have not been allowed by management to touch a helo. Even our uber qualified Helicopter pilots are under attack by management and severely restricted in capability by a director who has actively tried to give away our helicopters - because they don't product the hours of our fixed wing. (No off airport landings, no hoist operations, no support to DOD, very limited roping events, etc)

So, thanks....for the oppurtunities.

Gilligan13

I don't see how that's legal.

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

WacoQCF

We have 27 Pilot vacancies, and in Q1 of 2017 - got 1 solo applicant in the door.

In one session: We had 10 applicants arrive for the interview, and 9 leave when offered the Poly.

HQ has "overhired" agents into boat driver billets to cover up the loss of pilots, and the inability to fill their slots.

Etc etc etc.

FlyArmy11

Do not leave your Major...I repeat, DO NOT LEAVE IT!!!!! There are hundreds of CBP AIAs who are trying to get your current job and would swap with you in a heartbeat!

I left CBP after 9+ years as an AIA to go fly ISR down range in order to make more money, have a more predictable schedule, have a much better quality of life, and escape the horrible management.

A decade ago CBP was the best thing going since the Major airlines were not hiring, lots of furloughed 121 pilots filled the ranks of the good Part 91 corporate jobs, and military pilots needed a place to call home after leaving the constant sandbox deployment cycles of active duty. Many of us actively pursued CBP as the "best deal" at the time, that is not the case anymore as an ATP pilot can find much better flying opportunities in the civilian sector outside of government service in my opinion.

Good luck to those that apply, there will be constant hiring for years to come to keep pace with both attrition and retirements.