2024 Job Drops?

T-37IP said:
The backlog started in 1993 with BRAC closing two UPT bases, it is further exacerbated by the procurement process for a replacement trainer, and finally retaining instructors. At the end of the day, it boils down to pi$$ poor leadership at the highest levels. The T-7 is a perfect example. They could have bought the BAE Hawk, off the shelf, that every other modern Air Force flies. I could rant about this history going back 30+ years. I had to wait 11 months between commissioning in May 1988 and UPT Apr 1989.
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My husband is an '84 USAFA grad. He started UPT 20 days after graduating
 
T-37IP said:
As of last week the washout rate at Columbus was 18%, that is half of what it used to be. Gleen from that what you will, but I doubt the students are twice as talented.
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There are a few things they're doing that appear to be helping. First...when you finish T-6s, you get your wings. Then...depending upon where you're going, it's either T-38 or your MWS. Their use of VR is HUGE. I was able to check it out...I remember having the Tweet cockpit photo on my wall in my apartment at Columbus...a chair in front of it and my checklist on my leg...going over procedures. Today...they have a chair, stick, rudder pedals, and throttle quadrant. The VR does the rest. It's VERY impressive.

Still...I too remember washout rates a tad higher than 18%...
 
flieger83 said:
T-37IP put it very well. Add into that the increased ops tempo globally, lengthy deployments almost every 9-12 months, and the massive retirements from the airlines and the pay scales their contracts have created.

Perfect storm.
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Does ENJJPT have a backlog too? Do you think there will be cuts for slots there?
 
flieger83 said:
There are a few things they're doing that appear to be helping. First...when you finish T-6s, you get your wings. Then...depending upon where you're going, it's either T-38 or your MWS. Their use of VR is HUGE. I was able to check it out...I remember having the Tweet cockpit photo on my wall in my apartment at Columbus...a chair in front of it and my checklist on my leg...going over procedures. Today...they have a chair, stick, rudder pedals, and throttle quadrant. The VR does the rest. It's VERY impressive.

Still...I too remember washout rates a tad higher than 18%...
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I tested out the VR, it's a toy not a trainer. I still have T-6 sim instructor friends, and they find the oculus "less than useless".
 
T-37IP said:
I tested out the VR, it's a toy not a trainer. I still have T-6 sim instructor friends, and they find the oculus "less than useless".
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I thought it was good for cockpit procedures. It's no sim...but it beat the heck outta what I had "back in the day."
 
I gave a Delta jumpseater a ride to OKC last month and he could not wait to quit his T-38 IP job at Vance once his wife separated and move to SLC. He said the schedule was brutal and the tempo was not getting any better soon.
 
AA787DRIVER said:
I gave a Delta jumpseater a ride to OKC last month and he could not wait to quit his T-38 IP job at Vance once his wife separated and move to SLC. He said the schedule was brutal and the tempo was not getting any better soon.
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One of the biggest reasons for son #1 to separate from AD was the ops tempo of the IP life. Teaching the B-course for 4 years with no improvement on the horizon made his decision easier. Unfortunately, all of the IPs leaving just makes the problem worse.
 
flieger83 said:
There are a few things they're doing that appear to be helping. First...when you finish T-6s, you get your wings. Then...depending upon where you're going, it's either T-38 or your MWS. Their use of VR is HUGE. I was able to check it out...I remember having the Tweet cockpit photo on my wall in my apartment at Columbus...a chair in front of it and my checklist on my leg...going over procedures. Today...they have a chair, stick, rudder pedals, and throttle quadrant. The VR does the rest. It's VERY impressive.

Still...I too remember washout rates a tad higher than 18%...
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Just sharing a pic of a Columbus AFB sim room from a couple years back -it was a big step up from chair flying in a regional airport small conference room with his instructor whenever they were "weathered" -(he didn't have the cool poster, but he did have the checklists velcro'd to his leg too). my DS enjoyed the mock challenging landings on this setup, like "black hole approach (at night) to land on a carrier" through this setup. Just sharing in case anyone might find this interesting.
 

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T-37IP said:
I tested out the VR, it's a toy not a trainer. I still have T-6 sim instructor friends, and they find the oculus "less than useless".
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Disagree. It is good for chair flying pacing, some checklists, instruments, and patterns (minus the flare). It is not good for learning to land, formation, or GPS/switch manipulation. The students who use it to chairfly the basics and pacing tend to advance quicker in the plane.

I'd love to mix VR externals with the cockpit sim, so that all the buttons and most of the control pressures were more realistic, but we aren't quite there yet
 
I hit Report on post 1.
 
AF Roots said:
Just saw Job Drops live streamed for DS squadron. Looked like a lot of happy Cadets and a decent amazing of Pilot slots. Congrats to all!
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My cadet got pilot yesterday, and there were quite a few in his squad as well- maybe 20-25 percent or so. I wasn't keeping track, just nervous waiting for his name to be called up. Not all his friends got their first choices, with a few getting a third choice. It's not a great day for everyone. Someone chime in, but my USNA grad son says if you for sure only want pilot you should only do OCS then you have a contract for your job. I'm not sure that this is common knowledge, and I grieve for the families that are all hurting now because they assumed you could be a pilot if you went to USAFA.
 
T-37IP said:
As of last week the washout rate at Columbus was 18%, that is half of what it used to be. Gleen from that what you will, but I doubt the students are twice as talented.
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Any idea what percentage of UPT students report having never taken a flight lesson?
 
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