C-9's

[JayManC]

Anyone know how you would go about getting one of those cushy C-9 jobs? I've heard that they're all reservists but surely they had to come from SOME pipeline. Oh and what about VIPs? Does the Navy use the AF for all of its VIP transport? I think I could handle flying a C-21 with the CNO in the back going here there and everywhere.

<insert something witty here:>

 

[Jack]

They are reservists almost exclusively. They were not trained to be C-9 pilots - they went through the pipeling got winged, flew some other aircraft and then got picked up for that job. Many of them are TAR - they're reservists who are always on active duty, kinda strange but a good deal if you can get it.

 

[JayManC]

What about the VIP pilots.

Learjets anyone?

<insert something witty here:>

 

[Grandmaster235]

Same deal for C-21s... ALL the Navy's passenger jets are flown EXCLUSIVELY (no "almost" about it) by reservists (TAR & SELRES), including the Gulfstreams.

You can, however, get a station pilot job for shore duty after your first sea tour, flying C-12s or C-26s... Both are twin turboprops and you may even get your ATP punched on the Navy's dime!

Grandmaster 235

 

[webmaster]

There is also ETD, for executive trasport, modified P3 with a really nice interior. Shuttle around Admirals.

Hmmm, station pilot Key West maybe?

 

[Grandmaster235]

Yeah, they fly C-12s out of Key West, but you have to sleep with the detailer to get those orders!

Grandmaster 235

 

[webmaster]

Or take the hit and do duty for a year in a hard fill like Diego Garcia/Iceland.... is it worth it? The better half would kill me. One of the pilots at our squadron after his hard fill tour at DG got his choice of either station pilot at Key West or Naples, he took Naples.

 

[Grandmaster235]

Yeah, I've got former shipmates at both KW and Naples now, but they didn't do Diego or Kef... So don't get me started on how they got those orders.[!]

But to answer your question, it would be worth it if you're a rotary wing guy looking for some fixed-wing time! Not so much for a P-3 guy though. Remember, everything's relative!!

Grandmaster 235

 

[webmaster]

True. LOL, so how DID they get those orders? Or will that get your blood pressure up?!?! For me, probably back to one of the VTs as an IP, but time will tell, only 15 mos into my first tour, as I tough it out here in Hawaii (oh the agony, cough)...

 

[Grandmaster235]

Originally posted by John Wickham
True. LOL, so how DID they get those orders? Or will that get your blood pressure up?!?! For me, probably back to one of the VTs as an IP, but time will tell, only 15 mos into my first tour, as I tough it out here in Hawaii (oh the agony, cough)...

Let's keep the blood pressure down for today, and suffice it to say that you should always remember this: the detailer is only as interested in your career as you are in his.

Grandmaster 235

 

[webmaster]

Isn't that the truth about detailers...

Nope, no Boland, could be in one of the other P3 units out here.

 

[Grandmaster235]

How long are first tours for P3 drivers these days?

Grandmaster 235

 

[webmaster]

Originally posted by Jack
Many of them are TAR - they're reservists who are always on active duty, kinda strange but a good deal if you can get it.

Yeah, flying Gulfstreams in a VR squadron would be REAL rough. Every new pilot (me included) checking into my squadron out here sees those Gulfstreams sitting on the tarmac, and invariable asks "How can I get orders to that?".... "Not in your lifetime" is of course the reply... damn!

 

[webmaster]

Orders now are 36 months, during the T notch they pushed them up to 42 months. The last 42 month guy just left our squadron, and he was quite ready to leave.

 

[Grandmaster235]

Not entirely true... Put in a TAR package!! Somebody has to fly the darn things...

Grandmaster 235