NEW FAA REST RULES REQUIRE NEW PILOTS

DO YOU WANT THE LEFT SEAT IN THIS BOEING OR A SEAT IN A CUBICLE?

For all the hungry young pilots that are excited about an aviation career but not very optimistic about the job market, please be advised the FAA has finally stepped forward to give you a boost. The long over-due FAA regulation revisions will result in a much-needed spike in pilot hiring in the next two years. The reduction from 16 to 13 hours of maximum duty time for domestic flights along with the reduction of the maximum flight time depending on the time of day that the duty period begins are going to create a need for thousands of extra pilots to fill those seats. The downside is that the airlines have been given another two years to adopt the new rules. The severely procrastinated legislation was a direct result of the airlines dragging their heels regarding the implementation time frame. Most pilots are not severely overworked unless they end up in the non-sked/ “freight dog” world of commercial aviation but the regional carriers have been working 16 hour duty days for far too long. Unfortunately, these young aspiring legacy airline pilots will still be trapped in a job that pays them a deplorably low salary.

Ridiculously enough, the FAA has said that pilots flying cargo-only aircraft will still be subject to the old and often draconian rules that result in tired pilots in the cockpit and a much higher accident/incident rate. On the bright side there are many factions amongst the movers-and-shakers of aviation that are attempting to inject some common sense into the situation and are attempting to have all commercial pilots operate under the new and more restrictive regulations. It should be concluded that the Boeing 747 filled with Jet Fuel and cargo will have the same effect on the school that it crashes into as would a passenger-filled 747. The FAAs’ buckling under to the special interest and lobbyists of K Street in Washington, DC is one of the great acts of unjustifiable hypocrisy in the history of aviation. I am hopeful that the aviation unions and cargo pilots will continue to scream and shout until the FAA relinquishes its unjustifiable position that undermines aviation safety.

Along with the thousands of additional pilots needed to solve this airline manning dilemma the rate of retirements amongst the legacy air carriers in the next few years will skyrocket. Furthermore, very few of the military pilots are leaving the security of their government jobs. More aviation employment upside is the burgeoning of commercial aviation in India and China and it is likely they will be seeking U.S. trained aviators. Cathay Pacific, Japan Air Lines and Korean Airlines have traditionally hired American pilots. Latin carriers such as Copa have been hiring American pilots in recent years. Bombardier, a large supplier of aircraft to the corporate jet set delivered 182 jets in 2011.

An aviation career is an adventure and unless you are an ex-naval aviator with carrier landing experience there are no certainties. For purposes of motivation I suggest that you read The Rogue Aviator: in the Back Alleys of Aviation by Ace Abbott (www.therogueaviator.com). While the book reveals some of the dark under-belly of the aviation world it also points out that an aviation career can be a lot of fun. Very few career pilots have ever said, “I sure wish I had taken that job selling insurance.”

This blog is prepared by Ace Abbott, author of The Rogue Aviator (www.therogueaviator.com)

AIRLINE HUMOR–QUIPS FROM THE CABIN

FROM THE MOUTH'S OF BIRDS Airline Announcements? United Flight Attendant announced, ‘People, people we’re not picking   out furniture here, find a seat and get in it! ************************************* On landing, the stewardess said, ‘Please be sure to take all of your belongings.   If you’re going to leave anything, please make sure it’s something we’d like   to have. ‘ ************************************* ‘There may be 50 ways   to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane.’ ************************************* An airline pilot wrote   that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway   really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to   stand at the door while the passengers exited, smile, and give them a ‘Thanks   for flying our airline.’ He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a   hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have   a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady   walking with a cane. She said, ‘Sir, do you   mind if I ask you a question?’ ‘Why, no, Ma’am,’ said   the pilot. ‘What is it?’ The little old lady   said, ‘Did we land, or were we shot down?’ *************************************** As the plane landed   and was coming to a stop at Ronald Reagan, a lone voice came over the   loudspeaker: ‘Whoa, big fella, WHOA!’ ******************************************* After a particularly   rough landing during thunderstorms in Memphis, a flight attendant on a   Northwest flight announced, ‘Please take care when opening the overhead   compartments because sure as hell everything has shifted after a landing like   that.’ ************************************* Another flight   attendant’s comment on a less than perfect landing: ‘We ask you to please   remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal.’ ************************************* Overheard on an   American Airlines flight into Amarillo , Texas on a particularly windy and   bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain was really having to fight   it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, ‘Ladies and   Gentlemen, welcome to Amarillo . Please remain in your seats with your seat   belts fastened while the Captain taxis what’s left of our airplane to the   gate!’ *********************************** ‘Your seat cushions   can be used for flotation; and, in the event of an emergency water landing,   please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments.’ *********************************** ‘As you exit the   plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. Anything left behind will   be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave   children or spouses……except for that gentleman over there.’ ****************************************** Heard on Southwest Airlines   just after a very hard landing in Salt Lake City . The flight attendant came   on the intercom and said, ‘That was quite a bump, and I know what y’all are   thinking. I’m here to tell you it wasn’t the airline’s fault, it wasn’t the   pilot’s fault, it wasn’t the flight attendant’s fault, it was the asphalt.’ **************************************** After a real crusher   of a landing in Phoenix , the attendant came on with, ‘Ladies and Gentlemen,   please remain in your seats until Capt. Crash and the Crew have brought the   aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has   cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we’ll open the door and you can   pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal.’ **************************************** Part of a flight   attendant’s arrival announcement: ‘We’d like to thank you folks for flying   with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting   through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you’ll think of US   Airways.’ **************************************** Heard on a Southwest   Airline flight – ‘Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking   section on this airplane is on the wing and if you can light ‘em, you can   smoke ‘em.’ ****************************************

ASPIRING CAREER PILOTS-HOPE ON THE HORIZON

HARVEY HOP; 37,000 HOURS OF HAVING FUN IN THE JET

It has been tough times in recent years for those young pilots that want to earn a living while flying airplanes. Despite the increased cost of jet fuel and the still slumbering U.S. economy there is an optimistic future—at least for the next decade or so. Despite the projected furloughs of several hundred pilots at American Airlines there is still optimism in the future for those people that want to commit to a career as a pilot. It won’t be a walk in the park and it will be a long time before you will reach that six figure income plateau. If you start at the bottom of the commercial pilot heap as a regional carrier pilot, you better have a little extra earning potential (such as a working spouse) because you are going to be mired into a despicable low income for a few years. On the other side of the coin, you will be building flight time and gaining experience while not setting in a cubicle or waiting for the unemployment compensation to  run out.

Corporate aviation is actually doing quite well as the recession had very little effect on those wealthy one percent who can afford this wonderful amenity—once you have had the private jet experience, the thought of sitting back in the cabin on a commercial jet is emotionally trying. Companies such as FlexJet, Marquis Jets, Delta Private Jets, and Piaggio Avanti Charter, just to name a few, employ thousands of pilots. Although the starting salary might only be in the $35,000 to $40,000 per year category, it is a nice lifestyle and you do not end up in low end hotels, or engage in high-speed “bag-drags” around ORD or PHL, without enough time to get a bite to eat. Most captains in the private jet charter world are making at least $70,000 per year. If you can wriggle into the corporate flight department the salaries and benefits then become quite livable with captains frequently being rewarded with $150,000 per annum salaries for keeping “Mr. Big” comfortable and safe. Quite often, the CEOs and executives form a very strong bond with their pilots and the ensuing rewards can be very profound—five star hotels and restaurants and golf at Pebble Beach, for instance.

The major factor in this projected upcoming shortage of pilots is related to mass retirements in the next few years amongst the major airlines, UPS, and FEDEX. The long overdue and absurdly slowly implemented revised FAR 121 flight and duty times will result in a need amongst all airlines to hire more pilots since the new rules result in many instances, of less flight or duty time available from each pilot. Also, many senior pilots are capitalizing on overseas pilot positions. Airlines such as JAL, KAL, Cathay Pacific, and many airlines in the Middle East are constantly in search of U.S. trained pilots. Commercial aviation in India and China is burgeoning and there will be pilot openings for those that will venture away to another culture and lifestyle to make a decent living as a pilot. In China, there are numerous “expatriate” communities evolving for those people who want to be close to their fellow westerners. Quite often these overseas jobs appear onerous but can provide wonderful travel experiences while greatly broadening one’s horizons while being exposed to different cultures. Near the end of my career I very reluctantly took a job flying freight out of Liege’ Belgium and it turned out to be the high point of my aviation career. My book, The Rogue Aviator; in the Back Alleys of Aviation elaborates on this wonderful excursion (www.therogueaviator.com).

An aviation career is similar to every flight that you experience in that it is an adventure. If you pursue your pilot career as an adventure, the “back alleys of aviation” can become tolerable. There is a near certainty that you will miss birthdays and anniversaries and work many weekends but in my 36 year career that took me to 44 countries, the positives trumped the negatives by a wide margin. If you pursue an aviation career to achieve wealth and leisure you will possibly spend a lot of time in the doldrums crying in your beer. The aviation career may not be a bed of roses, but very few retired pilots ever look back and say, “Darn, I wish I had sold insurance.” If you want inspiration to keep the nose to the grindstone in order to pursue that career, my book, The Rogue Aviator will provide such. I will issue a small caveat and that is the rapidly decreasing supply of fossil fuels will require a lot of innovation regarding a source of energy to provide the thrust that creates the lift. Meanwhile, “keep your airspeed up in the turns.”

This blog is prepared by Ace Abbott, author of The Rogue Aviator (www.therogueavitor.com)

UNION WORKERS WIN:(NFL AND FLIGHT ATTENDANTS)

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS DO HAVE MORE FUN (TRANSMERIDIAN)

Celebration of our biggest religious holiday (The Super Bowl-celebrates our cultural favorites: violence, decadence, and gluttony) is over and now we can get back to work. It should be noted that both the winners and losers were winners as a result of union representation. The NFL Players Association has represented their workers well. To complement their comfortable salary and benefits the New York Giants received an additional $78,000 per player for their win and the Patriots were held to a mere $46,000 for their afternoon of glory.  The message here is that union workers can, and do, provide a quality product for their employer. Hopefully, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, and his union busting accomplices in the state government will now reconsider their efforts to eliminate collective-bargaining amongst the many workers in Indiana, who require union protection to avoid being shoved into servitude.

There are recent victories for unions, particularly in the airline flight attendant realm. With the two unions that represent the recently merged Air Tran and Southwest Airline flight attendants have reached an agreement regarding the, always difficult, seniority list merger problem. A highlight of this agreement is that Southwest has now created a flight attendant domicile in Atlanta since most of the Air Tran flight attendants were already based there. It is interesting that Southwest Airlines has shown continual profits since its inception despite the fact that many of their workers enjoyed union representation. The Harvard business school, Wall Street Journal, and the other anti-labor entities will continue to blame company bankruptcies on the union labor, rather than the actual culprit, severe mis-management and executive greed. Sadly, too many working-class people have been buying into this misinformation and disinformation to their own detriment.

From 1987 until 1997 I worked as a Boeing 727 Captain for TEN different airlines. Please refer to Chapter 9, of my book The Rogue Aviator. The chapter title is: THE TURBULENT TEN. All of the ten airlines were nonunion and six of them went out of business while I was working for them, despite the fact that my annual salary averaged well less than $50,000 per year as a Boeing 727 Captain engaged in international charter trips. The failure of these airlines was certainly not related to expensive union employees. Luckily, I finished my aviation career with an airline, TransMeridien, that had an in-house union, and for the first time in my aviation career I received a salary that was commensurate with my experience and responsibility. Several situations erupted when the solidarity of the union stepped forward to help maintain a reasonable level of work rules and conditions. More importantly, the airlines safety quotient remained at a very high level when the check airman took stand against lowering training standards.

More good news for flight attendants: A US Airways flight attendant union recently reached an agreement with management regarding improved work rules and salaries. This was long overdue for the flight attendants at US Airways and will provide a morale boost that will create an improvement in the quality of life aboard US Airways flights. Hopefully, this agreement will reduce some of the ongoing animosity between US Airways employees and their management. More importanly, this action will benefit other airline F/As since the old cliche about the ”rising tide lifts all,” is usually valid. For anyone interested in a career as a flight attendant I suggest that you go to the following website; www.flightattendantfacts.com. It provides a plethora of information regarding the many aspects of being a professional flight attendant. For additional information relating to airline F/As go to: www.thecrewlounge.com. Please see the cover of my book, The Rogue Aviator, along with the final page (see above photos) to explore some of the positive possibilities. It can be fun.

This blog is prepared by Ace Abbott, author of The Rogue Aviator: in the Back Alleys of Aviation. (www.therogueaviator.com)

AMR AGAIN ABUSES AMERICAN AVIATORS

AN ANTIQUATED GAS-GUZZLER

AMR, the parent company of American Airlines has finally done the inevitable. As a major “legacy” airline it had not filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the other “legacy” carriers had done years or decades ago. The airline management modus operandi  of the last 40 years is to combine severe mismanagement with exorbitant  bonuses and salaries for the executives and CEO’s, and then come running to the employees for salary and benefit cuts. Invariably the people who sacrifice the most in these “company restructuring”’ are the pilots. Since they are the highest paid workers, the company feels that they can snatch the most additional pay and benefits from the pilot group.

Let it be known that in 2003 the American Airlines management came begging to the employees and they relinquished 1.6 billion dollars in wages and benefits. Meanwhile the company mismanagement continued, primarily by operating a fleet of gas-guzzling jets, when even the janitor in the broom closet knew that fuel prices would skyrocket. The current request is for a 2.0 billion dollar “employee give-back.”  Of equal concern is that the current employees will take a major hit on their projected retirement benefits and the current retirees will also take a big hit on their monthly check. The pension fund is underfunded by 4 billion dollars.

The union worker is once again being dashed against the rocks and the timing is particular synchronistic since the Super Bowl will be played in Indiana. The governor of Indiana is working hard, along with some of his neighboring Midwest governor colleagues to break and/or eliminate all of the unions in his state. Meanwhile, here come the NFL players who are represented by a very strong and effective union and the first year minimum salary for an NFL player is $560,000 per year.  Many of the pilots that operate sophisticated aircraft into Indianapolis for the regional carriers, such as the AMR contract company American Eagle, will be working for a salary of low to mid-20 thousands per year.  We have experienced professional pilots who are eligible for food stamps and making less that the government’s declared poverty level. Wouldn’t it be great if the NFL players would step forward in a very out-spoken fashion and endorse the union workers in Indiana and the tens-of-thousands of pilots who are severely underpaid?

We have failed to improve the school teacher’s salary to a respectable level and we are now paying pilots a despicable wage for a very demanding job. Recent worldwide math exams revealed that the U.S. is 30^th amongst a recent evaluation of  first-world industralizedcountries. They are crashing airplanes in India and Russia at an alarming rate as result of airlines operating their aircraft with underpaid and inexperienced pilots in the cockpit. When “Sully” Sullenberger of Hudson river fame testified before Congress nearly three years ago, he stated that it was imperative to increase pilot salaries or our commercial aviation would suffer severely.  Many of the pilots at American Airlines are seeking employment elsewhere and many more pilots will be seeking new careers in a different field.  Poor school teacher salaries is a contributor to an uneducated public but poor pilot salaries will result in a greatly reduced safety quotient when you jump on that commercial aircraft.

To get a good perspective on the underpaid pilot problem, please refer to the PBS Frontline TV special of two and one-half years ago titled, Flying Cheap.  It is available by going to PBS.ORG and finding the internet version of this very important but sparsely watched documentary by Miles O’Brien. It will give the viewer a very valid perspective of what happens when the profit factor overrides the safety factor. It represents a glaringly ugly example of the old Harvard Business School mantra of “maximum utilization of human resources.”

Wouldn’t it be great if the NFL players would step forward and endorse the union workers in  Indiana and the tens-of-thousands of pilots who are severely underpaid?

Thie blog is prepared by Ace Abbott, the author of The Rogue Aviator: in the Back Alleys of Aviation, (www.therogueaviator.com)

AIRLINE PILOT RETIREMENT

Although many of us have nostalgic flashbacks to the days of manipulating the controls of the high performance jet plane and all of the other subtle amenities of being a professional pilot, very few of us Ret. aviators would like to return to bag-drags and 0430 get-ups. In case you fall into that trap and think about rejuvenating your career with some Middle East airline, please read the following brief passage:

 We have a cockpit mock-up in our house: When I mention to my wife that I miss flying, by being retired, she puts me in the mock-up around bed time for 8 hours. She has a chair in a closet, puts on the vacuum cleaner to simulate cockpit air noise, has a dim nite-lite to simulate cockpit lighting, serves luke-warm chicken with cold vegetables on a tray.When I get sleepy and attempt to doze off, she knocks twice loudly on the door to simulate the F/As entering the cockpit. Then after 6 hours she turns on a flood light directly in front of me to simulate the sun coming up when approaching 20 west. I then get a cup of coffee that has been in the coffeemaker all night. Finally she lets me out and I have to get in the back seat of her car while she runs morning errands to simulate the bus ride to the hotel. When we get home I tell her I am ready for bed and the bedroom door is locked for an hour to simulate the hotel rooms not being ready.When I promise to never “complain” about being retired, I am allowed to enjoy my “layover” and go to bed. Oh, and one more thing, she talks to her friends loudly outside the bedroom door to simulate the hotel maids chattering in the hall in their native language. After two hours of sleep she calls the phone next to the bed from her cell and says “this is crew scheduling, you are re-sked!!!, vee vill calla-you back vhen you have legal minimum rest.” and “by the way the company has filed for bankruptcy today”… sleep tight honey.

This blog is prepared by Ace Abbott, author of The Rogue Aviator: in the back Alleys of Aviation

–

AIRLINE TRAVEL TIPS

As airline travel becomes even more fraught with  obstacles and sources of frustation, the ability to adapt to the onerous slings and arrows of commercial air travel becomes necessary. The first axiom for improved quality air travel is : Get to the airport early and immediately go to the zen-mode of “every little thing is going to be OK.” Greet all airport personnel with a big smile and thank them profusely for their wonderful customer service. When entering the aircraft, give the flight crew a very noticeably pleasant greeting. Your relationship with them, albeit of short-term duration, can play a critical role in your quality of life for the next few hours. it is equally important to have a diversion from cabin activity and the best source is a copy of The Rogue Aviator by Ace Abbott.

Recent news vignettes have revealed that is now quite common for flight crews to remove passengers from their airplane and numerous enroute diversions to disembark unruly passengers is also a frequent event. As the cabins become even  more stuffed with people and their stuff, it won’t get any better. It may be getting a little better regading the airlines “shell game” of ticket pricing. The follwing article extracted from Yahoo and produced by Lylah M Alphonse will provide guidance regarding some new rules that the airlines are supposed to abide by regarding pricing

“TREAT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS NICELY”

. Her article points out that the airlines are now going to have more difficulty camouflaging their actual ticket price.

New airfare rules are set to go into effect on Tuesday and this time, instead of making things more complicated(or more expensive), they aim to make things easier for passengers.

The new rules eliminate some of the fine print that comes with booking flights online, and “eliminates a lot of the skulduggery from airline pricing,” Charlie Leocha of the Consumer Travel Alliance told the Associated Press. They involve disclosing hidden fees, notifying customers about delays, and making advertising prices more accurate. 

Related: 35 secrets your pilot won’t tell you

Some airlines are fighting the changes — Southwest, Spirit Airlines, and Allegiant Air argue that other industries don’t have to include taxes on advertised prices. And David Berg, the general counsel of Airlines for America, a trade group of the biggest carriers, warned that the new rules will hurt the travel industry.

“It’s basic economics,” he told the AP. “History tells us (that consumers) will see higher prices and buy less.”

Here’s what you really need to know about the new airfare rules:

1. Airlines will have to include taxes and fees in their advertised prices. But starting Thursday, consumers will have a more-accurate idea of how much their tickets will really cost. The change applies to mandatory fees, however, not optional charges for bags and on-board entertainment — though those fees must be more prominently displayed on airline websites as well, and they can’t automatically be tacked on to your fare. Some airlines are concerned that customers won’t understand what the higher prices are really all about. “We’re not raising our fares, but it will look to the consumer like we’ve had a big price increase,” Robert Kneisley, Southwest’s associate general counsel, told the Associated Press.

2. You’ll have 24 hours to cancel your reservation. As long as you’ve booked your flight at least a week in advance, you’ll be able to hold your reservation (without having to pay for it) or cancel it without a penalty for 24 hours after making it — even if you’ve made the reservation through a travel website instead of directly with the airline.

3. Airlines have to tell passengers promptly about delays. With the new rules, airlines will have to notify you by email, over the phone, or with a sign at the airport if there are any delays longer than 30 minutes. They also have to let passengers and the public know quickly if there are flight cancellations, if flights are diverted, or if a plane is delayed on the tarmac.

4. Baggage fees must be disclosed in advance. Instead of finding out about checked-baggage fees when you’re at the curb or counter, airlines now must let you know how much you’ll pay for your luggage when you make your reservation. (It can be pricey: Continental charges economy passengers $25 for the first checked bag and $35 for the second, as does Delta. American Airlines charges $25 for the first, $35 for the second, and a whopping $150 for the third — and that doesn’t count additional fees for extra-heavy bags.) The new rules also state that airlines have to disclose any baggage fees you might have if you’re changing flights or switching from a major airline to one of their affiliates during a single trip.

5. Airlines can’t raise prices after you’ve purchased your tickets. It sounds crazy, but it can happen: Some airlines stipulate in their contracts that they can raise prices after you’ve booked your flight, and charge you the difference before you board. According to the Associated Press, Allegiant Air has considered raising prices on already-purchased seats if oil prices rose.

This blog is prepare by Ace Abbott, author of The Rogue Aviator (www.therogueaviator.com)

CASH TO THE CAYMAN ISLANDS

The Learjet, a Great Cash-hauling 'Capitalist Tool."

 

 

Of the many areas for the political pundit “talking heads” to capitalize on, it looks as if Mitt Romney’s few hundred million U.S. dollars in the Grand Cayman banks are of major concern. Although the international banking commuity has made it a bit more difficult for the “one percenters” to hide their mega-millions in off-shore banking accounts, there are still loopholes to be capitalized on. Since I hauled at least 10 million dollars of cash in the chartered Learjet to Grand Cayman for opportunistic entrepreneurs I was compelled to include a mention of such in my book.

The following is an excerpt from page 84 of The Rogue Aviator:

{The big-money flights did not always center on the boys, as there were many legitimate businessmen who despised the idea of paying taxes and, instead, shuffled their monies out of the country into offshore accounts. Many flights to Grand Cayman were flown with the baggage compartment stuffed with large suitcases filled with cash. It was particularly interesting to observe the nonchalant fashion of the airport authorities at Grand Cayman as they opened the suitcases, observed the many millions of dollars, and very expeditiously processed the entry forms for the wealthy tax evader. Grand Cayman was a popular scuba diving resort, but offshore banking was the crux of its economy, and the massive quantities of cash were readily welcomed. The locals enjoyed a relatively high level of economic security and a very comfortable lifestyle. Money laundering is good work if you can get it! Ace and his flying companions often got wind of reports of famous and prominent aviation entrepreneurs who took their company to bankruptcy and were later seen taking private jets to Grand Cayman. The U.S. dollars that have been illegally deposited in offshore accounts in the last four decades would pay off the national debt and provide the American citizenry with free medical and dental care for many years.}

This blog was prepared by Ace Abbott, the author of The Rogue Aviator (www.therogueaviator.com)

The Learjet, a Great Cash-hauling "Capitalist Tool."

THE FIGHTER PILOT PERSONA

“THE AVERAGE NAVY PILOT, DESPITE THE SOMETIMES SWAGGERING EXTERIOR, IS VERY MUCH CAPABLE OF SUCH FEELINGS AS LOVE, AFFECTION, INTIMACY AND CARING. THESE FEELINGS JUST DON’T INVOLVE ANYONE ELSE.”

This anonymous quote (probably from an ex-wife) was printed in the Wall Street Journal and all of us who remember the glory days of being a fighter pilot will recall the Navy’s “Tailhook Conventions.” These gatherings of fun-loving pilots took the meaning of decadence and debauchery to a higher level. How we yearn for the “good old days.” I would like to point out , as I did in my book, The Rogue Aviator, that I have great respect for any pilot that can land his air-machine on an aircraft carrier.

The swaggering fighter pilot is nearly extinct but for those folks who are not appalled by tough guys who fight from their airplanes, please read on.

Written by Brigadier General Greg Stroud, USAFR-Retired — a former Anchor-Clanker Navy Jet Pilot who minces no words.  He tells it like it has become with the present day Air Force that is headed by Politically Correct Whoosies.

---

By BGEN Greg Stroud (Ret)

 

 

 

Some of you know that I was recently “retired” as the 162 Fighter Wing Commander.

The decision was made by Brig Gen Mike Colangelo, the Arizona Air Commander, who replaced me because he “just wants to change the culture at the 162nd” — not for cause or performance or any other reason.

This officer never commanded anything bigger than an Air Control Squadron, and somehow he wound up in charge.  Heck, the guy probably got beat up in grade school everyday.

I think it is indicative of what is happening in our Air Force and reinforces what Bruce MacLennan and the anonymous author have to say below.

Well, I also have something to say about our changing Air Force and it’s quickly disappearing Fighter Pilot culture.

How many scope-dope drone operators does it take to change a lightbulb?

Two. One to change the bulb — and one to kiss my ass.

That’s right. I said kiss my ass — ‘Cause I’ve had it.

The air superiority fighter and its PILOT are not dead and the Chinese are so far not impressed with drones.

I am tired of Fighter Pilots suffering at the hands of all the pencil pushing REMFs and ladder-climbing opportunists and shitty non-rated managers (who think they are leaders) just because the Air Force is currently more interested in feelings and sexual orientation than fighting.

Not all officers have what it takes to lead warriors, yet too many of them are in charge in our military.  At this rate we may lose the next real war.

These shit-bird officers need to be run out of leadership positions and get out of my face already.  We have too many people in our military that feel the need to play political victim and go to court instead of just dealing with it themselves. No one can have any kind of fun anymore.

Men and women can’t flirt, hug, look at anyone sideways, or drink beer out of mermaid mug because of you ‘victims’ and your lawyers.

Are you happy?

And while I’m at it, Fighter Pilots, who are willing to die so that we can have low prices at the gas pump and shop at the mall, should be able to throw the wildest parties they can manage without one uptight biddy coming in and stopping it.

There were scads of women at The ’91 Tailhook party who were having the time of their lives, voluntarily being just as debauched as any of the men were.  Everyone who flew a plane, or even knew someone who flew a plane, knew how wild those parties were and what went on.

What does our society expect — a prayer service?

It’s worse now than it was then.

‘Victims’ need to just throw some punches of their own whenever guys, gals, lesbos, or homos get out of line.  Doesn’t our tax money go to teach all of our military how to fight?

I’m not trying to make the idiotic ‘she had it coming’ argument here, which would go something like ‘of course they grabbed her breasts, look how big they are.’  Plus, just reaching out and grabbing some boob is wrong no matter what.

When I was at Tailhook, even at our most drunken admin parties we never acted like that.

No matter how hard I try I can’t think of an excuse good enough to do something like that. But it’s still nothing to lose a career over or get your panties in a wad.

Besides, fighter pilots are supposed to be aggressive assholes. That’s how we used to train them.  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want a military of fighter pilots who are gifted at giving sensitivity seminars.  I want mad-dog, rabid killers going to battle for me and mine. Man or woman.

When our homeland is threatened by Middle-Eastern Muslim radicals, or when we want to force our form of government on some poor, unsuspecting poppy growing shit hole, or when uppity North Korean despots develop nuke weapons, I want to be able to call on men and women who like to fight and drink.

I want an officer who knows how to whack some drunk in the balls when he grabs her tits, not call a press conference and a lawyer.  If you’re a wimp who doesn’t know how to find the exit at a rowdy party, go fly a kite — not a jet fighter.

Fighter Pilot should always be capitalized because it is a hard-earned title. So there!

Perhaps it’s time for me to retire. Greg “Mongo” Stroud

This blog is prepared by Ace Abbott, author of  The Rogue Aviator   (www.therogueaviator.com)

“First Rule of Liberalism: Government failure always justifies more government.”

 

 

THE FABULOUS F-4 PHANTOM RETURNS

F-4 Phantom Predators Searching For Prey

Before you read this posting, be sure and whet your fighter pilot appetite by watching this You Tube Video: http://military.discovery.com/videos/top-ten-fighters-f4-phantom.html

The fabulous McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom, the stalwart, mainline fighting air machine of the US military, could possibly return to haunt us! On Friday evening, January 13, the NBC evening news showed a film clip from the area of the Straits of Hormuz that revealed F-4 Phantoms operated by the Iranian Air Force that were patrolling the area. As the saber-rattling intensifies the possibility of NATO or US military forces incurring battle with American-made F-4 Phantoms increases. Perhaps as the old saying goes, “what goes around comes around.”

The more interesting question regarding this issue that we shall now ask is, “How did the Iranian Air Force acquire American-made F-4 Phantoms?” For that answer, I will send you rummaging through my previous blogs.  The first bit of research will require a review of the January 3rd posting (John Lear), Refer to the brief passage regarding “October Surprise” (A little known but powerful incident in international geopolitics). As you will soon discover the high speed spy plane a “Blackbird” or SR 71, (see January 11, of posting regarding Area 51) and connect the dots. The conclusion will reconfirm that President “Ike” Eisenhower was very prescient in his statement, “beware of the military industrial complex.”

And now back to the primary theme, “the fabulous F4 Phantom aircraft,” that was first flown on May 27, 1954.  It was the workhorse in the air war over North Vietnam, and saved thousands of American GIs, in its ground support mission in South Vietnam. McDonnell-Douglas built 5057 F-4 Phantoms and in Japan, Mitsubishi built 138 F-4 Phantoms.  Approximately 275 F-4 Phantoms were lost in the Southeast Asian conflict.  In 1966 and 1967 McDonnell-Douglas was producing 63 Phantoms per month. Even as late as 1991 the F-4 Phantom was used by US military forces in the Desert Storm invasion of Iraq.

Currently there are eight nations that are still using the F-4 Phantom as a military tool.  At one time nearly every country in Europe and the Middle East and Southeast Asia had F-4 Phantoms in their aviation inventory. Additionally there are nearly 100 F-4 Phantoms in aviation museums in the U. S. A lengthy litany of this aircraft’s accomplishments, along with its speed and altitude records, places it very clearly as the greatest fighter jet ever built. The cover of my book The Rogue Aviator has a picture of an F-4 Phantom. During book events and presentations, and particularly at air shows, nearly everyone immediately identifies the F-4 Phantom.

Off all the good fortune that has been bestowed upon myself, flying this amazing aircraft rates at the very top. Two years ago at the Oshkosh air show, as I was signing books at Author’s Corner when I heard the loud high-pitched squeal of J-79 engines that powered the F4 Phantom. It immediately got my juices flowing, and I soon discovered there was an F-4 Phantom at Oshkosh. Unfortunately, it was grounded for the duration of the show with a freak mechanical problem. The rookie GIB (guy-in-the-back) was told by the Aircraft Commander to close the canopy. Murphy’s Law intervened and the GIB pulled the canopy jettison lever rather than the canopy close lever.

A bit of a follow-up to this story is that I discovered that it is possible for a civilian to get a back-seat ride in the F-4 Phantom. A group called the Collings Foundation, operates an F-4 Phantom that is located in Houston, Texas at Ellington Air Force Base. For information regarding a back seat F-4 Phantom ride.  You can call the Collings Foundation at 978-562-9182. It will require a large bite out of the platinum American Express card. In lieu of that, you can read, The Rogue Aviator and watch F-4 You Tube videos. Be sure to fasten your seatbelt, cinch down your shoulder harness and keep your air speed up in the turns.

This blog is prepared by Ace Abbott, author of The Rogue Aviator, (www.therogueaviator.com).