That is really the question that stands out, will we survive that long? The funny thing is, if we do, we likely won't need it.
AF Drone Pilots in short supply
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That is really the question that stands out, will we survive that long? The funny thing is, if we do, we likely won't need it.
EvilEagle
Pattern Altitude
I'm all for not needing it! Let's all get along and just fly airplanes and travel!
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Energy, water, and food production and global distribution would be more effective at creating a lasting peace than building weapons and fighting wars and could be done on half our current military budget re tasking much of the same infrastructure and equipment.
There is a different way we could be doing things that would be a lot more productive, and leave everyone more prosperous. We're just too resistant to change to try.
brien23
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Warlock
Just a quick check of current pay...a single 28 year old Air Force Captain with no COLA is making 86K a year (Six years of service)...more when you consider some of that is untaxed...about the time they can punch out from commitments...
bflynn
Final Approach
Where do you get 86 from? O-3 > 6 years = 5469/month * 12 = 65k.
But no matter how much money you pay someone, you'll never get them to want to work 13 hour days, 6 days a week every week.
Doing that dangerous "compute your hourly wage" thing that military members should never do, I come up with just under $17/hour. For a Captain. I know fork truck drivers who make more than that with no stress and no overtime.
Of course they're getting out.
EvilEagle
Pattern Altitude
As a pilot you have a 10 year commitment after pilot training. I had a nine month wait to start then a year of training so I had no choice to get out until year 12.
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EvilEagle
Pattern Altitude
Henning, one other thing I thought of - economy of scale. The AIM-120s we carry cost between $300k and $800k. We've been developing that missile since the late 80's and the price of that is barely under $1M. The defense contractors (even if they could) will never bring something to market that could carry advanced weapons if the platform is worth less than the weapons it carries.
I'm all for it, but I just can't see it happening. There's so much more red tape in DoD contracts and requirements than private sector. We need to overhaul a lot of laws before the money savings will happen.
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I'm all for it, but I just can't see it happening. There's so much more red tape in DoD contracts and requirements than private sector. We need to overhaul a lot of laws before the money savings will happen.
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Warlock
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Velocity173
Base pay 65K. They're getting an additional incentive pay of 18K. That's 83K. You could add another 17K for BAH (housing). Now you're looking at 100K per year. Another 2k or so for BAS (food money). Could even be getting additional money for COLA. As Warlock said, they could even be working out some of that tax free.
The platform can serve as the weapon as well, especially when you get into the smaller 1500lb gross range. The whole thing could be molded of explosive and carry a mini gun and ammo. The main thing is going to be the avionics command/control package. You could stack them up over a battle field and soldiers on the ground can burst data packs to them, or light up a target with a laser designator.
JimNtexas
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Jim - In Texas!
DOD just needs to get Elon Musk to make a reuseable AIM-120.
bflynn
Final Approach
Since I was in the military, I have a good clue how military pay works.
But thanks for the information about what I wasn't seeing. At least someone pointed out my miss. My memory is that years ago officers didn't get a housing allowance. Might be CRS setting in.
Even if you bump it up to 100k, nobody wants to work 75+ hours a week, every week.
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Warlock
For some who are reading six days in a row...this does no equate to six days a week...just because they put in long hours for six days straight big deal...lots of people do that and much longer stretches in the military for much less. They get time off between and don't forget our generous leave policy of 30 days a year. Call it Crew Rest of Fighter management...The drone guys I know all hope to go back to the cockpit and if you gave them a real flying slot they would bet they would be happy to pull 14 hr. days for six days straight, one switch away from cranking their F-16 on alert....but for most that's not going to happen.
JB1842
En-Route
They would probably catch on fire before you have a chance of deploying them.
Work on a busy charter yacht sometime, back to back 18hr days for weeks straight is common.
bigred177
Cleared for Takeoff
A friend of mine emailed this to me today. Seemed relevant.
http://defensetech.org/2015/02/14/f...0-monthly-bonus-this-year/?ESRC=airforce-a.nl
This seems like a perfect job for our Guard units. They can fly the RPA part-time and still be home to do their civilian job. That might cut into the free time for the airlines crowd, but I bet there are enough people who would join without the airline hours incentive.
http://defensetech.org/2015/02/14/f...0-monthly-bonus-this-year/?ESRC=airforce-a.nl
This seems like a perfect job for our Guard units. They can fly the RPA part-time and still be home to do their civilian job. That might cut into the free time for the airlines crowd, but I bet there are enough people who would join without the airline hours incentive.