I just went through this... I'll PM you my experiences
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A day in the life as a CG Aviator?
- Thread starter LivingSacrifice
- Start date
I just went through this... I'll PM you my experiences
LivingSacrifice
New Member
Awesome, thanks Staub00.
LivingSacrifice
New Member
The gist of his advice is not to beat them over the head with your out and out passion for flying. As I understand it, the CG's looking for solid leaders who will also probably make good pilots, not the other way around.
60s deploy, just not to the back of boats.
Falcon's should be around, I'd guess, at least another 4 years, probably longer.
LivingSacrifice
New Member
Interesting. Any indication as to what they'll be replaced with?
OH OH...I KNOW THIS ONE!!
http://www.uscg.mil/ACQUISITION/mrs/projectdescription.asp
It's the HC-144A "Ocean Sentry" Maritime Patrol Aircraft. The first 2-4 (I think) are in Mobile, AL right now. They will slowly be rolled out to various AirSta's over the next few years.
Pretty nifty plane- I want to get over to Mobile when i have a free minute and check one out...Maybe catch a ride or something....maybe.
Scotty-O
Due to the government,I feel over-stimulated.
Blue 21 info
My 2C...
Agree with 99% of what is said up to this point.
I'm Blue 21 and it doesn't take any longer time-wise to get to flight school, just a lot more up front work to make your packet complete: ASTB, flight phys., interview, etc. It is tougher to get selected because each OCS class will only have 2 Blue-21 selectees and 2-3 alternates - out of 40+ Blue-21 applicants that were in my group. (not meant to sound cocky, that's just the facts) OCS will be much more chill for you because you won't be competing for your job afterwards, you'll already know.
NOTE: be sure your college has the 25% minority pop. requirement for you to apply - most people miss that for some reason.
ALSO: put in your packet just for Blue-21 if you want to your first time or two (odds are you won't get picked up) and then if you start getting close on age or just running out of patience, you can simultaneously submit a Blue-21 and regular OCS application for the same board and increase your chances. As stated, when interviewed/in narrative, focus on CG officer first, aviator second.
Falcons are to be cycled out ASAP - but budget and DHS climate has changed dramatically the last 6 mos. and continues to change. Most of the HC-144s are supposed to be on-line by 2013-2014 - in Miami, Corpus, then Cape Cod - with the last few trailing in 2014-2016. In the 2018-2020 timeframe, Sacramento (if we are still there) will eventually be all HC-144s and Astoria will add HC-144s to the hangar. C-130's are to be reduced to Clearwater, Kodiak, and Hawaii eventually. That's the plan right now , ask again tomorrow and it will be different...
My 2C...
Agree with 99% of what is said up to this point.
I'm Blue 21 and it doesn't take any longer time-wise to get to flight school, just a lot more up front work to make your packet complete: ASTB, flight phys., interview, etc. It is tougher to get selected because each OCS class will only have 2 Blue-21 selectees and 2-3 alternates - out of 40+ Blue-21 applicants that were in my group. (not meant to sound cocky, that's just the facts) OCS will be much more chill for you because you won't be competing for your job afterwards, you'll already know.
NOTE: be sure your college has the 25% minority pop. requirement for you to apply - most people miss that for some reason.
ALSO: put in your packet just for Blue-21 if you want to your first time or two (odds are you won't get picked up) and then if you start getting close on age or just running out of patience, you can simultaneously submit a Blue-21 and regular OCS application for the same board and increase your chances. As stated, when interviewed/in narrative, focus on CG officer first, aviator second.
Falcons are to be cycled out ASAP - but budget and DHS climate has changed dramatically the last 6 mos. and continues to change. Most of the HC-144s are supposed to be on-line by 2013-2014 - in Miami, Corpus, then Cape Cod - with the last few trailing in 2014-2016. In the 2018-2020 timeframe, Sacramento (if we are still there) will eventually be all HC-144s and Astoria will add HC-144s to the hangar. C-130's are to be reduced to Clearwater, Kodiak, and Hawaii eventually. That's the plan right now , ask again tomorrow and it will be different...
LivingSacrifice
New Member
Ah, good stuff. Thanks for the info Scotty. Best of luck at Pcola.
Just out of curiosity, how many times did you try for Blue 21?
Just out of curiosity, how many times did you try for Blue 21?
Coast Guard Aviation
Hello all,
Can any of you all tell me what its like to be a aviator in the Coast Guard? What is the training like, how often do you all fly and how long are cruises? My father has been a pilot in the USAF for a long time....is being a CG aviatior similar to this?
Thanks,
Kevster
Hello all,
Can any of you all tell me what its like to be a aviator in the Coast Guard? What is the training like, how often do you all fly and how long are cruises? My father has been a pilot in the USAF for a long time....is being a CG aviatior similar to this?
Thanks,
Kevster
Blunt, but so very true.I've got no problem answering you questions, but that ones been asked a million times.
Try a search and if you don't find the info you are looking for, by all means come on back and let us know.
And yes, flying for the Coast Guard is very cool! :tongue2_1
Good luck on your book search, but I don't think you will find what you are looking for. There is a lot of literature out there about Coast Guard history, "harrowing rescues", etc., but not probably anything along the lines of what you want.
CG aviator life varies drastically from unit to unit. Work life stationed in Miami is pure chaos while life at some of your sleepier units are....well, I guess sleepier. :sleep_125
If you really want an answer to your question, you'd be better off getting in touch with pilots at a helo unit and asking them first hand. Get in touch with the public affairs officer and they would be probably more than happy to chat with you or find someone that will.
Also, do some searching in these forums. Sardaddy has posted on more than one occasion, his perspective on life as a helo bubba.