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Your right, it may factor into the decision process depending on the detailer, but IMHO, it's not worth the expense out of pocket if the only reason you are doing it is to enhance your flight school package.

sardaddy saved me a buttload of typing....everything he said about the perks of CG helo flying can pretty much be applied to the fixed wing world as well.....with a few exceptions, of course. Not knocking the other services, because there is definitely some exciting flying going on over there...

They start retiring this year....slowly. Probably closer to putting the last ones away in 2014 at least...but that's my guess.

There are no guaranteed pilot slots through OCS. Blue 21 is the only program that will guarantee a pilot slot and most schools don't qualify for it. Helo slots used to be harder to come by over the past few years due to the fixed wing fleet "boosting up" their pilot numbers in preparation...

Congrats if you are on it! D. DIRECT COMMISSION AVIATION (DCA): NAME RATE EMPLID RANK UNIT AARONSON, JUSTIN P. LTJG CHESNUT, JOHN J. LTJG CROWLEY, DANIEL P. LTJG HAYES, ERICA L...

I've been on leave for a while. I'll check the message boards tomorrow and let you all know if anything is on it.

There's a loooooooooooonnnnnnngggg story on that one based on rumors and speculation. I was surprised that we didn't follow suit with CBP and get Dash-8's as well since we are in the same department doing basically the same missions. It would make the transition over a lot smoother but I don't...

Our new MPA (the HC144) is advertised to have the same type of sensor and data link capabilities. It's just a little newer and the kinks to all the fancy bells and whistles are still getting ironed out. Seventh Aircraft Delivery Release

:eek: Blunt, but so very true. I've got no problem answering you questions, but that ones been asked a million times. Try a search and if you don't find the info you are looking for, by all means come on back and let us know. And yes, flying for the Coast Guard is very cool! :tongue2_1

I'm not really that into the process so it'd be pure speculation. Sorry.

I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but right now we have a lot of fixed wing DCA's since our fixed wing pilot numbers are getting boosted due to the 144 coming on line. Right now if probably the best chance a fixed wing DCA will have. I've seen all four branches come through the pipeline and...

DCA program is looking for well rounded, performing members from other services. Yea, I know, pretty generic answer. It probably helps a little that you fly 60's as you make for an easier transition.....although that doesn't necessarily mean you will fly HH60's for the CG. Coast Guard will...

Missing it by a month, wow. Actually, I'm not sure if they have waived that in the past. Sardaddy should know, he knows 100 times more about the DCA process than me. :confused:

60s deploy, just not to the back of boats. Falcon's should be around, I'd guess, at least another 4 years, probably longer.

Very true. Even the aforementioned Falcon transition students that originally wanted helos admitted at the end of the course that they were very satisfied in the aircraft they ended up with. But then again, they could have just been self rationalizing or sucking up. :confused:

Everyone starts flight training with the Navy in a fixed wing. After that, you either go continue in fixed wing or go rotary during advanced training. Yes, right now there is a distinct possibility of going fixed wing due to the high demand for fixed wing pilots so you are taking a risk there...

I'm an academy brat and really don't know much about Blue 21. OCS has flight school slots right after graduation. Other than that, I think those two are your only options given your situation.

You won't get sent over seas by another service. Once you are a CG pilot, you remain one unless you decide to leave. Like previous post, it totally depends on the needs of the service, what spots are open, and what you ask for. I will tell you this, I've never gotten my first choice of...

Well there has to be a way around it for fixed wing guys because we are getting transitions from the Navy/Marine Corp. About a year ago we had a Navy P3 pilot as well as and Marine F18 pilot switch. :confused:

I've never heard of any programs with the US Navy. We do have exchange programs with the Canadian and British Royal Navy though on both fixed and rotary wing.

I always told myself if I couldn't fly, I'd want to be in the Marine Safety field. For one, you go TAD to a ton of schools and get some great training. Two, it sets you up for some awesome civilian jobs that have pretty good pay and benefits.

PM me and I'll get you my work number to chat about CG flying. I'm guessing you have more questions than this thread can handle. :D

I have not flown it yet but know lots of people who have. Seems like the general consensus is that it is nice to fly in a glass cockpit. The major drawback that most ex Falcon flyers have is that it takes a much LOOOONGER to get places. That will definitely take some getting used to.

Ocean Sentry will be operational next month in Mobile, and the SAR division there will be fully transitioned by the fall. Soon after will be Miami. Long story on OTE is you want to call it that. Commissioned in 2009 will probably be slated for Falcon's unless your really push for the Ocean...

PM me and I'll get you the number for the Liaison Office at NAS Pensacola. Captain Pettite runs the office down there and is very approachable. He's a good person to talk to.

Here ya go, all. Congrats to the selectees! :D:D:D 3. ALL PRIMARY SELECTEES WILL BE APPOINTED RESERVE COMMISSIONS. A. DIRECT COMMISSION SELECTED SCHOOL (DCSS): (1) DCSS PRIMARY NAME RANK RUNCO, JEREMY C. ENS (2) DCSS...

Wowzers, that quite the post. :tongue2_1 Instead of typing away to answer all your questions, PM me and I'll give you my work number and I can answer a lot of these pertaining to life in the CG. As far as the Blue 21 Program, I know next to nothing about it. Best source of info on this is...

I'd say, at least for probably the next 5 years, selecting fixed wing out of flight school shouldn't be too difficult. Right now we are in high need of them with replacement aircraft coming on line and most flight school students right now are trying to go helos. Just an educated guess...

If you mean an 11 year commitment is long, trust me, it goes by FAST! I'm at 11 years now I can't believe how it's flown by.

It's never presented a hoisting hazard, has it? :confused: I've never heard of a mishap with a hoist cable getting fouled in the gear.

Cuz they always forget to put it down and land gear up! :p Seriously, no idea. Might be a local operating procedure or something. I don't think we have any DC guys on the boards but sardaddy might know.

I would soil the pants of my instructor the first flight in a helo. It would be frighteningly comical. :icon_wink sardaddy, I hope I didn't come across as trying to start a fixed wing vs rotary wing arguement (there's too many of those going around as it is). My only point in this discussion...

Sorry, misread your joke! Will do, Bill works next to me and is a close friend. We spent many hours drinking beverages down at the club. Happy Holidays! :smgreen_1

Nice try. I never said we struggled...just that we usually got a few chuckles going through the process! :D

Trust me, we get our share of chuckles watching helo guys try to fly the Falcon. :D To each his own!

PM me, and I can send you the number.

Yea, guess I was a little slow on checking the message boards. Sorry, fellas. :o

Looks like another board. Not sure how many will switch, but still shows our push to beef up the fixed wing community in anticipation of the Ocean Sentry coming on. For details, see ALCGOFF 227/08 - AIRCRAFT TRANSITION SOLICITATION For all you helo drivers...."Come to the dark side, Luke...

Very true, in fact currently the CG is assigning flight school students to fly fixed wing that want helos which was the opposite from when I went through 9 years ago. Our fixed wing fleet is ramping up big time with our new MPA coming online and it's requiring a larger than normal fleet of...

65 Hawaii Accident We lost a 65 last night. Keep the crew's families in your thoughts..... http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,417441,00.html

Yea, but the surprising part of the last O4 board were that aviators took a beating. It will be interesting how this one turns out. Either way, you gotta love your changes with those percentages. Good luck! :D

The Coast Guard doesn't gain a whole lot. The only thing NSW gains is possible ways around Posse Comitatus laws, which depending on the mission, could be pretty major.

Very unlikely. The current plan has the CASA replacing all Falcon's by 2012. If you were selected for Falcons in 2010 you would probably only get 1 tour out of it before transitioning to the CASA. The "jet" era in the Coast Guard is soon to come to an end.

I think this is all about Posse Comitatus...same concept as the LEDET's.

Yup, above info is correct on promotion rates. O4 selection rates for aviators has traditionally been pretty good although you could argue the last board beat aviators up pretty good. Bonuses are unlikely although there's always good rumors on them going around, especially amongst the fixed...

It's all about performance. If your OER (evaluations) are good and you are medically qualified, your chances to get picked up are good. Like sardaddy said, odds are out of the academy you are going to a boat. Last percentage I saw was 75% go to boats. The others go to flight school or shore...

Not sure if the foreign language helps but all the rest of the stuff you listed will. I'd say at this point, keep doing what you're doing, and do well on your SATs/ACTs. It's been a while since I've been through the process (14 years) so take everything I put here with a grain of salt.

CGA is looking for well rounded student/athletes. Doesn't necessarily mean you have to play a sport, but show you do things outside of the classroom (i.e. boy scouts, student council, clubs, etc). Playing sports and hooking up with the coach of that sport at CGA can also prove beneficial. As...

My understanding is that Blue 21 is for OCS not the academy although I'm not 100% sure. You can compete for flight school directly out of the academy now during your senior year but I have heard that it's pretty competitive.

I'm pretty sure they are still taking people straight out of OCS and sending them to flight school.