dbtownley

Take a look around at the factories that make airplanes. They need demo pilots, test pilots, and shuttle pilots. Be somewhat careful on the demo pilot jobs, they seem to travel as much as an airline guy. Take a look at the off normal flying gigs. I agree that the 3-7 days in a row vice the 120-1 yr being gone is better (for now), but the active duty deployments will end when you retire at age 42 (at the 20yr mark or next set of orders) and the airline 3-7 day trips don't end until you retire from that airline (age 65?).

Cooperd0g

I did leave ... just last week. I also made a good career move by marrying a lawyer. She makes about as much as I would if I stayed and took the bonus. If I stayed we would have lost her income. If I got out, we lost mine. Same difference really as far as the money goes. It would have taken her at least a year to take the bar and get a job in a new state if I stayed. I should be able to find something myself in that amount of time. Plus, things are looking good for a reserve gig for me in the meantime.

As a military officer you have experiences and qualification beyond just being a pilot. If you can maintain some flying currency then take a look at non-flying jobs as well. If you still want to fly full time later, then you'll have that option if you maintain some currency. Things might be quite a bit different after your AETC orders are about to expire.

Box Office

As someone who recently made the jump, I think quality of life is the main reson to go to the airlines. Three to six day trips versus three to six month deployments. No comparison. More time off than my brain could dream about while on active duty also. No the security is not the same as the military...never will be, but you can counter that by continuing in the reserves. To me quality of life is everything and pay is way down on the priority list.

FlyBoyd

I am not sure how the AF side works but you should also look into AETC AGR. I am doing the USN equivalant (CNATRA FTS) and it has made AD more palatable. Each time I came to a point where I could walk (2002 & 2008) the market dictated I stay in...passing 16 yrs AD this month.

I can put you in touch with a pretty senior (O-5) AETC AGR guy at Laughlin if you have questions. PM me if interested.

Edit: Found a similar thread with his e-mail here...http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/mi...ng-out-ad.html

PittsDriver

Fly, thanks for the info, I would be game for a reserve IP job, but not at Laughlin as I prefer to stay married rather than being an IP at Del Rio. I would stay at Vance and do the IP gig if I could get one there. Any other Buff drivers or previous Buff drivers on here? Right now being in the B-52 is really a bad place to be. Don't fly very much, and lots of other BS to deal with, especially the nuke piece which is driving all of us crazy right now.

FlyBoyd

I understand completely...

The POC in the thread above would still be able to relay good info about the program. FYI...he is a former USMC IP here in Corpus and is known for speaking his mind and the truth on just about anything. Call him "Skeet" and tell him Boyd (or "Doug") from Corpus told you he was a good source about the AETC AGR gig.

Good luck...

Paok

Right now seems like a bad time to try and get in the airlines. I know I am young, and might have no idea what Im talking about.... But I am 23, furloughed, and trying to get INTO the air force.... Things are so crazy out there right now.

Green Light

I'm still planning on getting out next August with 10 years in. Just like those before me have stated, it's a QOL issue for us. Things work out, they always do. You spend what you make, and you can't earn your way to happiness are a couple of realities that I've come to realize.

I know that the 141st up in Spokane, WA takes Buff guys. They also have some opportunities that aren't always advertised. Send me a PM if the Pac NW intrests you.

PittsDriver

Paok, the only thing that makes me not recommend the active duty route right now is the odds of flying. You would stand a very good chance of getting a UAV right out of pilot training. If you don't mind flying remote control airplanes right after 54 weeks of getting kicked in the junk every day, then I say go for it. The problem is manning, we have enough pilots to do the mission, flying. We do not have enough pilots to spread around to UAVs, spec ops, 365 remote tours to the desert (non flying of course)and ALO assignments. I just think right now you are going to owe the AF 10 years after pilot training, which you might only be flying for half of that, so something to definitely consider. If you would find a guard or reserve unit, that would be a good move IMO. In the active duty world the idea of just flying being your primary job is over, unless you are an instructor somewhere, which is an option. If I could do it all over again, right after pilot training I would have stayed and been an instructor for 3 more years. Tons of hours that way, and you don't have to deploy. All of this is subject to change now with the new President about to take office, not how all this is going to pan out with him in office but think we will still have a job here. I know there are numerous guard units looking to send folks to pilot training, so that would be worth looking into. Just my honest opinion of active duty right now. Don't get me wrong, I have and still enjoy being in the AF, I just do not enjoy only flying a couple times a month. I also got to spend 2 fine years non-flying with the Army doing an ALO tour. If I had known what ALO assignments were prior to coming into the AF, I would have never quit my corporate flying job to join up.

PittsDriver

Green, thanks for the info, I am open to the NW part of the country, its very nice up that way. I guess I don't have the ability to PM since I am new here, but my email is [email protected]