Andy

You know we're getting year 2 RJ pay with 700 override, right? I think it's ~$37/hr. Not great, but it's not bad for starting pay. Granted, we'll be stuck at that pay for a few years, but hopefully we'll start seeing recalls shortly after 2012 (5 yrs after age 65 enacted).

dosbo

Yes, I know we get the special pay.

For me it's just not worth it to commute across the country for a poor quality of life and schedule, as a new junior pilot, for that amount of money. Currently I am making enough in the guard , working about 7 days per month, to pay the bills and enjoy an extended amount of time at home. I'll just wait untill whenever for a recall. Although I do enjoy flying, I just do not enjoy it so much that I'll give the rest of my life up for it.

For those that take the JFJ positions I hope it works out well for you. If I had to fly a regional aircraft in my airlines paint as outsourced work it would just make me cranky and no fun to be around. I certainly hope for all of us that scope is taken control of under a new JCBA and that UAL/CAL pilots will be flying their own companies aircraft and passengers.

Tink

I'd love to find a guard job that let me work 7 days a month and have money to live. I'm furloughed and had to volunteer for a deployment in my old MOS in the infantry and I'm afraid I'm going to have to do another 12 month deployment if I can't find a decent job.

dosbo

23 years time in service and W3 pay do make for a decent part time paycheck.

Also, I said I make enough to pay the bills not live. I,m lucky to only have my mortgage and standard family expenses. I could use a new car since the ones I have are falling apart but that will have to wait. It certainly isn't easy, particularly on the wife and kids but we aren't starving. I also have to pick up the occassional odd job for the unexpected expenses.

Overall it still beats a cross country commuting schedule at the bottom of the seniority list for a regional airline. Been there done that not doing it again.

On a side note, have you considered applying to Warrant Officer Flight Training? With prior military experience you could stand a good chance.

Andy

If you're looking at commuting across the country, I can understand that. Plus, it sounds like you've already got something that works - I just retired from the Reserves with an active duty retirement so I need to do something other than hang around the house. My retirement pay's more than enough to live on.

As far as the JCBA, I don't expect to any contraction in outsourcing. The senior pilots at UAL have proven time and again that they'll sell out all of the junior pilots for as little as a pack of gum.

It's all about reducing expenses so that you don't need much to live on. Working 7 days a month should give you and your family enough to live on reasonably well. My wife and I have both our cars paid off, we rent a modest home, and we are really too busy to spend much money. We're very happy and don't feel like we're depriving ourselves of anything.
If you do go on a 12 month deployment, you should be able to bank a huge chunk of that money. Even with a wife and kids.

Seatownflyer

Please do. I don't want to stay at a regional forever.

Tink

I'm an E6 and I applied for a slot years ago. I took the AFAST, did my flight physical, had the CO of a Blackhawk unit sponsor me and then went to a board to "interview" for the one slot. In the end the other guy got it. They told me they thought he'd be a better choice since he was married, he would be more responsible, ect. So he shows up to WOC, fails his first PT test (Im in the extended scale) and the flight school slot was gone. Unless they'd give me a waiver for age, I wouldn't be able to. I've always wanted to, but either because a retention NCO lied to me or because of some other reason outside my control, I have not been given the chance in the military to fly. So, I get sniper school instead or some other useless trade. lol Now I'm going to SF selection after this deployment. It's weird how they will let me do that, but I'd need some kind of age waiver for flight school. I don't even know if they is such a thing as an age waiver?

dosbo

You might want to inquire with the Warrant Officer Branch and see if there is anything that can be done. I don't know how old you are but I know they seem to be currently short. They let me come out of my retired reserve status, not an easy process, to return to a drilling guard member status. I't couldn't hurt to drop an e-mail up to the branch managers since you applied once and made it that far. As in the airline business, it's all in the timing.

AtlCSIP

Go for the age waiver. There is a way around the age, especially considering you are prior military and already are a pilot. I was told, at one time, that I could get a wiaver to fly Blackhawks in the reserves up to 42 years old. When I started the process, the waiver was closed and I didn't get in, but those things open and close as the military needs the capacity, so give it a shot. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Andy

Age waivers are possible, but the unit is going to have to push it for you.
How bad do you want to fly for the military? If you are willing to relocate, find the phone numbers to every single Guard/Reserve unit - Army, Navy, AF in the US and dial 'em until someone is interested.
Have your resume ready to be e-mailed to the person at the other end of the phone.
You never know what's going to open up.
Another option if you're just interested in the bucks, consider UAVs. Several Air Guard units have picked up the UAV mission and are likely looking for operators. I don't think you need an age waiver for that mission.

Good luck to ya.