• Please take a moment and update your account profile. If you have an updated account profile with basic information on why you are on Air Warriors it will help other people respond to your posts. How do you update your profile you ask?

    Go here:

    Edit Account Details and Profile

A day in the life as a CG Aviator?

sardaddy

Registered User
pilot
So doing an Ops/XO tour in Bahrain would be a bad move for flight school because of timing. got it.

Do you have to have an engineering degree to do the EO track? And could you still go to ATC or Pensacola and be an IP for a tour? That'd be neat.

Really hoping to get flight school straight out of the Academy, but it's fine if I don't as long as I get there. I'm just not getting my hopes up for flight school since Admiral Papp seems pretty determined to get everyone in my class to a cutter. They've even started sending some of the ENS to 110's. What kind of cutter were you at before you went to flight school? I know it doesn't matter for flight school selection, but what cutters would you say to avoid?
Well, I am going to disagree with Brunes here. Doing OPS/XO on a cutter is not a bad thing at all. Think of it this way, you go to the O-4 board as an aircraft commander with years of minor jobs and maybe getting a year as a department head in admin or supply. Or having the fact that you were an OPS boss or XO on a cutter, designation as a first pilot bypassing many of the more menial junior pilot jobs and even possibly getting a department head position going before the board? Having that shipboard leadership behind you is a good thing in most cases. I have a few friends who went that exact route and are currently air station COs.

The promotion boards understand if you are not as far a long in your aviation career as your peers if there is a reason you were delayed. As for going engineer, you can apply no matter what your degree is in and you have just as good of a chance. BUT once you go engineering your path is pretty much determined until about the O5 level. You won't be going to ATC or Pensacola as an IP. One pilot did do that a few years ago, permanently banishing himself from the engineering program. I don't think it will be happening again any time soon. It was pretty ugly.
 

Alpha_Echo_606

Does not play well with others!™
Contributor
Kodiak.jpg

Air Station Kodiak rescues 11

KODIAK, Alaska - Kodiak-based Coast Guard and emergency medical personnel transfer a fishing vessel Kimberly survivor from a rescue helicopter to an ambulance Jan. 25, 2012. The Kimberly went aground in Portage Bay with four people aboard. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Charly Hengen.
120125-G-RS249-003-Kimberly Rescue
 

zVo

New Member
Has anyone heard of DCA rotary-wing guys going through fixed-wing qualification?
I know someone's dad who did this but it was more than 10 years ago.
 

HercDriver

Idiots w/boats = job security
pilot
Super Moderator
I've known quite a few DCAs who made the switch, but it was dependent on the needs of the fixed-wing community. There might be a fixed wing transition board (though I haven't seen anything on the message board) with the C-27Js coming on line.
 

HercDriver

Idiots w/boats = job security
pilot
Super Moderator
Yes. The Coast Guard is getting C-27Js (got the first one at the end of last year), and stood up a unit last June to begin receiving the planes and coordinate training, aircraft configuration, qualifications, and manuals.
 

mdubs

Active Member
pilot
So I have a pretty unique opportunity and would like to get in touch with some Coast Guard Fixed Wing pilots. I am looking for relatively senior O-3/O-4/O-5 types that could help me with a big career decision. I am on deployment and would like to set up a phone call if anyone could spare some time. Please e-mail my ship account with your contact info to james.willette@lhd5.navy.mil. Really appreciate the hook up!
 
Top