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How many hours do pilots get in the guard?
Generally how many hours do pilots get in the guard (on a yearly basis)? I am very interested in flying C130s but i’m hearing they don’t accumulate hours as fast as other heavies – fighters get even less hours. I am aware it is mission and airframe dependent, and it depends on if the pilot does the bare minimum for currency or flies more than whats typical.
This is a really broad question but if anyone can give me a general idea or some insight on what the time building is like that would be great!
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7 Replies
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Boots!
So like you said, this is heavily dependent on several factors. Ive been a 130 loadmaster for about 8 years now so I fly on every flight unlike some members such as AE, FCC, and Navs. Your average local pro sortie is anywhere from 2.5-3.5 for slicks but can get way up there if you’re on MCs or other special mission aircraft. TDYs and deployments are where you’ll build the most hours. If you’re deployed, it’s going to be up to 16 hours of flying on a normal day. If you’re doing lifts at Benning, you’ll be doing 12 hr days on average. It also depends on PIC time as well. Ive seen some ACs barely let their co fly over a deployment just so they can top up their PIC hours for the airlines. After 8 years of being a loadmaster I have over 1500 hours, so split that up as you will after considering aircraft grounding, being DNIF, and not being the PIC.
-Chocks
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Thank you so much for the reply, this is super helpful! Definitely a thing im weighing into my decision on joining, especially when you account for going through OTS / UPT. It looks like a great experience but its a big time commitment when you consider all of those factors and I would like to get at least some hours out of it
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Unless it’s very diff in the herc, in the -135 world that would be a total dick move. Once you make AC all time logged at that point counts as credible PIC time towards your ATP and airline hours. It doesn’t matter if you log primary or secondary on the 781, they just count time once your duty position changes to an aircraft commander.
Pilots always split primary/secondary, the only exception being if there’s an IP on board, they get all instructor, and the other guy will get all primary (minus a little time he/she logs secondary when an IP logs an approach/takeoff/landing)
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Brother boots,
If you’re after fast time, the DoD isn’t the way. Your looking at 100-300 (300 is a good year) at best. It used to be 500+ was norm, but there’s no giant multi front war going on.
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Not looking after fast time per se, I am definitely going in for the flying experience and opportunities but the hours I get out of it are kind of a factor because of the commitment involved (not sure if that makes sense)! Thank you for replying, that is all great insight : )
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I’d go the heavy route. C17 or KC135 seems to get the most.
If you can tolerate the cold, the Alaska Air Guard has trouble finding dudes to live beyond the wall way up in Eielson AFB in Fairbanks. You’d get a shit ton of hours in the -135, no one lives up there.
931st (KC46) is hiring like crazy, but that’s in Wichita, KS, so less than ideal.
Both those units are usually desperate for folks
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Great to to know! Both of those look like good airframes and I am considering them but im definitely more attracted to some of the missions C130s get to do despite the (lower) hours.
The guy that I was talking to a few days ago that triggered me to ask this question was a C130 guard pilot out of Fairbanks and now flies the KC135 up there – he also recommended C17s and KC135s for hour builders. I have an interest in living/flying in Alaska so I am absolutely going to try to apply for the bases in Anchorage and Fairbanks
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