Tactical Contract/Mercenary pilot jobs

I have a friend who worked for Blackwater and flew CASAs in Afghanistan. Well paying job but very high risk. Don
 
WingnutWick said:
You're right, I don't have any idea of the civil mercenary industry, that's why I am asking. What other word would you use for it? As far as "tactical"...as a tactical military pilot myself with two tours flying CAS in OEF/OND I think that word is perfect to describe the kind of flying work I'm looking for post military. I'm obviously in the beginning process of this as I'm 1.5 years out. Pretty much all the guys are going into the airlines so the corporate knowledge is not prevalent here, and I doubt these jobs will “find me” without me looking. This is probably not the right venue to solicit info though.




A budy of mine was getting paid 40K (yes, 40K) a month for flying ISR T-Prop over Afghan!!! I can find those, but I'm looking more for the AT-6 T-27, sort of thing...something a little more "tactical", dare I say.
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Try OCONUS and search for listings that have "austere" in the description.

If you're looking to become a drug duster, you better go to a AG school (only two in the US), you'll end up with a limited CPL, 200ish tailwheel, get a few seasons under your belt, get your IFR, have a squeaky clean record, get some turbo prop time in AG, CFI rating.

Then in the off season of AG, go fly at a dropzone with a king air, get a thousand or so in that.

Online college degree on the side, learn to speak Spanish.

Then put in your application.
 
I know L3 and some other contract companies are hiring to fly the King Air 350 ISR platform(aka MC-12). I would say that a LARGE majority of those guys are military or prior military. The pay is roughly $100,000 for 6 months of work.

ClimbnSink said:
If you are qualified for those jobs, those jobs will find you.
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This. If it is some super secret stuff, odds are they are military.
 
All the large ( and not so large) aerospace companies have aviation divisions. Start there.
 
US Navy, Marines, and AF for 'tactical' fixed wing jobs, Army for rotor wing.
The 'mercenary' contractors are support pilots, often former military. You can go fly for a foreign military if you have both the flying and language skills. ISIS is likely recruiting, they will be the most likely to offer you a 'tactical' role.
 
As a couple people have eluded to, these jobs tend to find you and usually involve ex-military pilots. Definitely takes a certain type of personality.
 
If you don't know where to look ,your traveling in the wrong circles.
 
Wow. I didn't see anything in this thread that was anything other than trying to be helpful.

You should see some of the other threads.
 
Dude, I posted exactly where to look, search terms, what training they look for, and even linked a job listing for you.

What else do you want lol :dunno:
 
WingnutWick said:
Well this is a real treasure trove of information! Guess I'll just kick back and let the job come looking for me as suggested, seeing as it does with every ex military pilot! It was silly of me to ask here. I guess I knew the kind of responses I'd get. I retract my question fellas.
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Well your first problem was you described the work as "mercenary" work. That shows that you're not familiar with what they do. While I never cared for Black Water, Presidential Air or many of the other contractors in theater, they're not mercenaries. They fly in support roles for missions that the military doesn't have the time to do.

Calling it tactical would even be a stretch. Flying a Casa or DH-8 into Salerno or Shank isn't much different than the guy who flys a C-130 into Bagram.

If it was 10 years ago when contactors were riding the wave of war, you'd see plenty of openings. These days it's mostly word of mouth from people already in the organization. If you're looking at flying the A-29, then I'd say you'd need connections within SNC. I've yet to see a public opening for that job.
 
Even though it was only support, I still saw many bullets whiz by the windows.

I wasn't an ex military flyer and I still did a year in the air over Iraq doing night reconnaissance in a specially equipped C-337 with military officers in the back.

There are still some government contract jobs flying drug interdiction support in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Guatemala, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

As mentioned above, go to www.jsfirm.com and use austere and OCONUS in the search. Might try searching International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Air Wing Support, (INL/A). DynCorp International may still have a contract for drug interdiction support.

You will need a secret clearance.
 
Zeldman said:
Even though it was only support, I still saw many bullets whiz by the windows.

I wasn't an ex military flyer and I still did a year in the air over Iraq doing night reconnaissance in a specially equipped C-337 with military officers in the back.

There are still some government contract jobs flying drug interdiction support in Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Guatemala, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

As mentioned above, go to www.jsfirm.com and use austere and OCONUS in the search. Might try searching International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Air Wing Support, (INL/A). DynCorp International may still have a contract for drug interdiction support.

You will need a secret clearance.
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I looked at providing support recently for that (non-pilot role), but something went awry on the contract side. I felt a vacuum sensation in my pocket area.:sad:
 
Velocity173 said:
Well your first problem was you described the work as "mercenary" work. That shows that you're not familiar with what they do. While I never cared for Black Water, Presidential Air or many of the other contractors in theater, they're not mercenaries. They fly in support roles for missions that the military doesn't have the time to do.

Calling it tactical would even be a stretch. Flying a Casa or DH-8 into Salerno or Shank isn't much different than the guy who flys a C-130 into Bagram.
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All of which makes me think he's kind of a poser. The 40k a month ISR gigs are only for 6 months total, they're done in rotation. Most of those end up going to Army C-12 guys with current security clearances.
 
WingnutWick said:
This is probably not the right venue to solicit info though.
....I'm looking more for the AT-6 T-27, sort of thing...something a little more "tactical", dare I say.
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This is definitely the wrong forum to be looking for this kind of information. In my short time here I've noticed it is mostly GA pilots. Great information, just not the best to get the information you are looking for. Most of the AT-6 and Tucano training/flying is probably done by active duty pilots training foreign military pilots.

http://www.columbus.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123426750
 
Thanks guys! There is some good info to starting points there. I appreciate it!
 
Jimmy cooper said:
Just imagine flying a pig like that in a combat zone. You gotta be desperate and half nuts.
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I have a good friend that flew those in that situation. He's a professional, and not someone I would consider "half nuts" or "desperate".

If you want to disparage someone, do so on a subject you know something about. :rolleyes:
 
Art VanDelay said:
All of which makes me think he's kind of a poser. The 40k a month ISR gigs are only for 6 months total, they're done in rotation. Most of those end up going to Army C-12 guys with current security clearances.
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I know a few guys (non military) that are flying ISR missions in BE-350's.
 
RotorAndWing said:
I have a good friend that flew those in that situation. He's a professional, and not someone I would consider "half nuts" or "desperate".

If you want to disparage someone, do so on a subject you know something about. :rolleyes:
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From your posts you undoubtedly also know the unknown soldiers mother. I'll stand by what I said about flying a Casa in a combat situation.
 
My friend was an Alaskan bush pilot at 18 years old and owned a couple of lodges up there. He has flown in many "garden spots" in the winter months all his life. A lot of time in South America and Africa. He is a quiet guy and won't ever say but we think he is ex CIA or some such. He flew the CASA for a couple of years and did get small arms holes in the airplane more than once. He made enough to get a bigger lodge in Alaska and has a Beaver, C-185 and a Super Cub. He is not crazy but very cool and calculating. Don
 
Anymouse over on the Purple Board is a contract pilot. You might go there and ask him.
 
Mercenary? I know a guy that needs a couple fields napalmed. Crappy neighbors are taking all the good hunting, so he thinks that should push the wildlife back. That's mercenary-ish.

Must provide plane and napalm. So maybe see what you can find on that kind of stuff before you contact him.
 
aggie06 said:
Mercenary? I know a guy that needs a couple fields napalmed. Crappy neighbors are taking all the good hunting, so he thinks that should push the wildlife back. That's mercenary-ish.

Must provide plane and napalm. So maybe see what you can find on that kind of stuff before you contact him.
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Pawnee loaded with gasoline/dish soap mix and a road flare should do the trick. How much will he pay?
 
what's wrong with the CASA in Iraq or Afghanistan??? They are a blast to jump out of too!
 
aggie06 said:
Mercenary? I know a guy that needs a couple fields napalmed. Crappy neighbors are taking all the good hunting, so he thinks that should push the wildlife back. That's mercenary-ish.

Must provide plane and napalm. So maybe see what you can find on that kind of stuff before you contact him.
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He can nuke those fields then spray his own! it's a 2-for-1! Hot girls not included.

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Look at the classified ads in the back of "Soldier of Fortune" magazine.

(Actually, they really did post ads for this kind of stuff many years ago.)
 
write-stuff said:
Look at the classified ads in the back of "Soldier of Fortune" magazine.

(Actually, they really did post ads for this kind of stuff many years ago.)
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That's funny! There was a point right after high school where I DID respond to one of those ads in SOF magazine, and after some dialogue and meetings it came down to decision time to receive a check for $10,000 and a one way ticket to Rhodesia.

Glad I didn't do it.
 
The French Foreign Legion is also a good outfit for this kind of stuff. Those guys make USMC Recon guys look like *******.
 
Lots of King Airs flying drug interdiction in South America. My avionics guy outfits them.
 
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