palmfish Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 OK, I'm just tired of looking at the title of that other forum every time I log on. Here's the idea. Write something that you love about your job. Let's see how many of us are on here. I'll start with one to get the ball rolling... Free coffee. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC120AV8R Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 Chicks dig flightsuits. I was going to go with free coffee but it was taken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoFlyer Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 Two weeks off... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyMountainPilot Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 Worked 47 days last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmfish Posted January 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 Worked 47 days last year. I start bouncing off the walls by the end of a 4-day weekend - I'd go crazy if I worked that little! I get 36 days off per year (26 annual leave + 10 federal holidays). That works out to about 7 weeks. Generally, we take one or two "real vacations" and I use the rest to stretch some weekends. I don't know what I'll do with myself when I turn 57 and forced to retire. My hobbies are web surfing, video games, and home theater... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyMountainPilot Posted January 16, 2010 Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 I start bouncing off the walls by the end of a 4-day weekend - I'd go crazy if I worked that little! I get 36 days off per year (26 annual leave + 10 federal holidays). That works out to about 7 weeks. Generally, we take one or two "real vacations" and I use the rest to stretch some weekends. I don't know what I'll do with myself when I turn 57 and forced to retire. My hobbies are web surfing, video games, and home theater... I work to live. Flying is just a job to me. If I could afford my own plane, I would probably fly for fun. But flying for someone else isn't fun anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmfish Posted January 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2010 I work to live. Flying is just a job to me. If I could afford my own plane, I would probably fly for fun. But flying for someone else isn't fun anymore. I'm the other way around. If I owned my own plane, it would fall apart from neglect. Oh, I rent an airplane or helicopter a few times/year to take my wife, kids, and friends up, but that's it. I do it for their enjoyment and that gives me pleasure, but flying just for the sake of flying bores me. It's the work and the people I interact/work with that makes being a pilot interesting and enjoyable to me. If I won the big lottery tomorrow, I'd do my job for free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC120AV8R Posted January 18, 2010 Report Share Posted January 18, 2010 Palm, I have to agree with you. I enjoy the camaraderie with the officers on the ground, other pilots (both LE and otherwise). But I get the biggest satisfaction of being the ones to find a knucklehead that thought he got away, and knowing that he is going to jail because we were there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EAGLE1 Posted January 19, 2010 Report Share Posted January 19, 2010 This is definitely the best job in the world. I get to fly helicopters, help people when they need it most, and make sure those that need to go to jail get there expeditiously. Oh yeah, there is the flying on goggles, putting out fires and the dozens of other missions we do as well when the others get "routine". And then there is the camaraderie with other pilots and the guys on the ground as well. It is the job that just keeps giving...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmfish Posted January 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2010 That's a big difference between you guys and me. I don't fight fires, rarely fly at night, and almost never see anyone get arrested. My challenge is keeping the aircraft well positioned for my observer and not being noticed by the bad guy. Different environments make this easier or harder (helicopter vs. airplane, urban vs. rural, etc.). And then there's erad, of course - my favorite time of year. Terrain flight with the doors off, landing in field LZ's, evening BBQ's with the ground crews, etc. takes me back to my Air Cav days. Haz Duty Pay 5 days/week is nice too... Oh, and I thought of another plus for us - if we lose our medical for some reason (knock on wood), we still have a job with the same pay/benefits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heligirl03 Posted January 25, 2010 Report Share Posted January 25, 2010 Ok, if I didn't want your job already (which I TOTALLY do) I want it now...mostly for the summer BBQs Promise I won't go for it 'til you are on the verge of retirement..how long does that give me? That's a big difference between you guys and me. I don't fight fires, rarely fly at night, and almost never see anyone get arrested. My challenge is keeping the aircraft well positioned for my observer and not being noticed by the bad guy. Different environments make this easier or harder (helicopter vs. airplane, urban vs. rural, etc.). And then there's erad, of course - my favorite time of year. Terrain flight with the doors off, landing in field LZ's, evening BBQ's with the ground crews, etc. takes me back to my Air Cav days. Haz Duty Pay 5 days/week is nice too... Oh, and I thought of another plus for us - if we lose our medical for some reason (knock on wood), we still have a job with the same pay/benefits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLHooker Posted January 26, 2010 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 I like taking AF fixed wing guys for a ride in the jumpseat, and watching them freak out when i start slowing the airspeed down at 1000'. Or climbing up to 12,500' to do Military Free Fall Or bringing a company (of guys) under goggles to their sister company's location so they can air assault in, create havoc... get picked back up and off we go. Or Anything I do while i'm strapped in. CHAD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmfish Posted January 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 I won't go for it 'til you are on the verge of retirement..how long does that give me? I think I might have a few years left in me... Fortunately, you don't have to wait for me. I could hook you up with our recruiter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Posted January 26, 2010 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 This is the only job I’ve ever had (and I’ve had a lot-of-em) where people actually told me “you’ve got the best job in the world”…..... Priceless………………… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLHooker Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 Brian, Do ya'll have a max age to apply? I'm aways from retirement too, just curious... CHAD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC120AV8R Posted January 28, 2010 Report Share Posted January 28, 2010 This is the only job I’ve ever had (and I’ve had a lot-of-em) where people actually told me “you’ve got the best job in the world”…..... Priceless………………… Aint that the truth. Not a day goes by I don't pinch myself and say "I can't believe they pay me to do this". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC120AV8R Posted January 28, 2010 Report Share Posted January 28, 2010 Brian, Do ya'll have a max age to apply? I'm aways from retirement too, just curious... CHAD Chad, I think the feds cut off at 38...Brian will correct me if I'm wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLHooker Posted January 29, 2010 Report Share Posted January 29, 2010 Thanks. I figured it was about that. I think CBP has the same? Not 100% though. Sucks, i'll be 46 when i retire. Oh well. CHAD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmfish Posted January 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2010 Chad, 37 is the cut off for us 1811 (DEA, FBI, etc.) types. CBP has an OPM waiver so they can take you up to 40. If you go M-Day, then you can have the best of both worlds... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLHooker Posted January 30, 2010 Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 Brian, True, but i'm just not 100% on the 2 jobs again.. did that, was busy as hell constantly. Advantages to both though. CHAD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmfish Posted January 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2010 It was very tough when I was working as an 1811 and flying on the M-Day side - especially after my children were born! When I left M-Day aviation in 2006, things got better. I was a reserve ROTC instructor at a small university and made my own schedule. I did just enough MUTA's and AT days to get 50 points/year. No more scheduling AFTPs, no APART requirements, etc. It was the most stress free way to be in the reserves, and it was a rewarding job - I really enjoyed it a lot. So anyways, lots of people find a way to do both. Others...well, there are ways to reduce the workload if it gets to be too much. It's something to think on though. I know when I'm 60, I'll be very thankful I toughed it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC120AV8R Posted January 31, 2010 Report Share Posted January 31, 2010 It was very tough when I was working as an 1811 and flying on the M-Day side - especially after my children were born! When I left M-Day aviation in 2006, things got better. I was a reserve ROTC instructor at a small university and made my own schedule. I did just enough MUTA's and AT days to get 50 points/year. No more scheduling AFTPs, no APART requirements, etc. It was the most stress free way to be in the reserves, and it was a rewarding job - I really enjoyed it a lot. So anyways, lots of people find a way to do both. Others...well, there are ways to reduce the workload if it gets to be too much. It's something to think on though. I know when I'm 60, I'll be very thankful I toughed it out. There are times I certainly wish I would have stuck it out. It was tough to try and schedule drills and AT though. Oh well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
palmfish Posted April 6, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 Thanks for lunch last week. Getting paid to fly a Eurocopter and eat Mexican food in an ocean front bungalow in Newport Beach - you sir, definitely have the best job in the world. See you next year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rotormandan Posted April 6, 2010 Report Share Posted April 6, 2010 For me it's the the time off. I get it all at once in the winter. Last year was my 1st year in the ag buisness and I used my 1st winter to travel South America for 3 months. (I return on Thursday) The 2nd best part is that it's not a drag that the off time is over. I'm excited to return and and start flying again. Can't beat a gig where I'm always looking foreward to what's coming up. Now the hard part is where to go next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EAGLE1 Posted April 7, 2010 Report Share Posted April 7, 2010 Thanks for lunch last week. Getting paid to fly a Eurocopter and eat Mexican food in an ocean front bungalow in Newport Beach - you sir, definitely have the best job in the world. See you next year! It was good to see you. Sorry we could not spend more time with you, but hey we paid for lunch and the view..... We need to make a trip up north. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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