Yet another Air Force question.

[Sluggo]

Not my aviation badassery, but I am sending you a PM with a link.

My wife's brother was in your situation, and he joined the Navy. Went through OCS and wenton to become a Naval Aviator.

The link will give you an idea of how his career has worked out for him.

 

[BillyBatson]

I was in the AF, enlisted, jet engine mechanic on Pave Low helicopters.
With a college degree you can go in as an officer. You HAVE to be an officer to fly any aircraft in the AF. From what i know with an engineering degree you would qualify to become a pilot however int he end it is still up to them and if you do go to flight school they still choose which airframe you fly. I am not sure of all the requirments but 20/20 vision is definitely needed.
As for salary you would start of as an O1 2nd Lieutenant, which i THINK is about $2500 a month before living off base (where youw ould get paid BAS and BAH for supplments and housing on top of your base pay) As an e3 i was making $1300 a month after taxes living on base i would have made another $825 a month if i lived off base where i was stationed.

 

[CaptainGoodnight]

I don't know if this helps you but I was an Electronic Warfare Officer in B-52's and I also had an Engineering degree. Since you have an engineering degree they might want to stear you in that direction instead of being a pliot.

 

[Imaginer]

Originally posted by: Savij

Originally posted by: Imaginer

Originally posted by: Savij
So I'm looking at this pay scale: http://www.airforce.com/careers/paychart/index.php

Is that all the compensation, or do you get houseing in addition to that? If housing is provided, then I can afford it. If it isn't then i'm not sure, I might have to wait till at least all of the CC's are paid off.

That is just base pay. No other entitlements are included. It depends whether you opt for on-base housing or off base housing that you get additonal amounts (BAH - basic housing allowance). For me, if one were to live off base, they will get an additional $940 a month (this is for the off-base folks at Edwards - and know for sure its more down at LA AFB) but this value depends on where you live.

Edit, these are values per month. Without deductions of taxes, etc.

Do you know about physical qualifications for a pilot? I need glasses at the moment, but I'm pretty sure I can get laser surgery and it's ok. Height/Weight (I'm probably looking at minimums here rather than maximums.

http://www.afrotc.com/admissions/fitnessSt.php

Doesnt include body composition scores (calculated based on your height and weight).

Glasses? The AF doesnt like Lasik as far as I heard. A friend of mine just got waveguided PRK (aspiring A10 pilot who is currently an engineer). If you get Lasik before going in, I don't know if chances are still in your favor. I havent seen anyone with more than a 32in waist though, many of my cadet buddies were in awe of my waist (28in). But I dont know for sure the minimums.

I had a fitness chart, but i dont remember the BMI scores for waist and height that it is calculated off of.

As far as I know of, they stopped paying for corrective eye surgery. It comes out of pocket if you were to get it.

 

[Imaginer]

Originally posted by: CaptainGoodnight
I don't know if this helps you but I was an Electronic Warfare Officer in B-52's and I also had an Engineering degree. Since you have an engineering degree they might want to stear you in that direction instead of being a pliot.

It wouldnt surprise me at all if he lands a 62x career field after signing up for OTS.

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: Imaginer

Originally posted by: Savij

Originally posted by: Imaginer

Originally posted by: Savij
So I'm looking at this pay scale: http://www.airforce.com/careers/paychart/index.php

Is that all the compensation, or do you get houseing in addition to that? If housing is provided, then I can afford it. If it isn't then i'm not sure, I might have to wait till at least all of the CC's are paid off.

That is just base pay. No other entitlements are included. It depends whether you opt for on-base housing or off base housing that you get additonal amounts (BAH - basic housing allowance). For me, if one were to live off base, they will get an additional $940 a month (this is for the off-base folks at Edwards - and know for sure its more down at LA AFB) but this value depends on where you live.

Edit, these are values per month. Without deductions of taxes, etc.

Do you know about physical qualifications for a pilot? I need glasses at the moment, but I'm pretty sure I can get laser surgery and it's ok. Height/Weight (I'm probably looking at minimums here rather than maximums.

http://www.afrotc.com/admissions/fitnessSt.php

Doesnt include body composition scores (calculated based on your height and weight).

Glasses? The AF doesnt like Lasik as far as I heard. A friend of mine just got waveguided PRK (aspiring A10 pilot who is currently an engineer). If you get Lasik before going in, I don't know if chances are still in your favor. I havent seen anyone with more than a 32in waist though, many of my cadet buddies were in awe of my waist (28in). But I dont know for sure the minimums.

I had a fitness chart, but i dont remember the BMI scores for waist and height that it is calculated off of.

Thanks for all the help, guys. I'm going to bed now. I'll probably bump with more questions tomorrow.

 

[RGUN]

Careful with the eye surgery, I just looked on that link there


Pilot Requirements

Normal color vision
Distant vision, uncorrected to 20/70, but corrected to 20/20
Near vision, uncorrected to 20/20
Meet refraction, accommodation and astigmatism requirements
Corrective eye surgery could be a disqualifier
Have no history of hay fever, asthma or allergies after age 12
Meet Air Force weight and physical conditioning requirements
Have standing height of 64 to 77 inches and sitting height of 34 to 40 inches

 

[habib89]

from what i understand, the airforce now accepts people that have had lasik surgery..

good luck.. i was thinking of joining the air force, but before i knew they accepted lasik, i had already decided to stick to looking for engineering positions at defense companies.. it's still fun

 

[Imaginer]

Originally posted by: habib89
from what i understand, the airforce now accepts people that have had lasik surgery..

good luck.. i was thinking of joining the air force, but before i knew they accepted lasik, i had already decided to stick to looking for engineering positions at defense companies.. it's still fun

And from what I understand, not for pilot slots.

 

[habib89]

Originally posted by: Imaginer

Originally posted by: habib89
from what i understand, the airforce now accepts people that have had lasik surgery..

good luck.. i was thinking of joining the air force, but before i knew they accepted lasik, i had already decided to stick to looking for engineering positions at defense companies.. it's still fun

And from what I understand, not for pilot slots.

i meant that they do accept lasik patients for pilot spots... but i'm sure you know better than i

 

[quentinterintino]

Bump for this old thread.

Anyone who is a pilot for any of the armed forces (AF, ANG, NAVY...) PM me please. I am weighing my options and I am pretty confident I could get an interview with a board.

BSME '05
MSME '07 (hopefully )

Private Pilot License

Good physical shape, including eyes

Good letters of recomendation

Clearance

Any advice welcome

EDIT: Of course, as cliche as it is, I want to ultimately fly fighters... although heavies might not be tha tbad either.

 

[huberm]

IMO you dont want to start flying fighters right now.

F-16 and F-15 will be gone soon to make way for the F-22 and F-35. I'm just guessing here but I don't think they're training new pilots on the new JSF.

 

[Strk]

Cliffs for the retarded: Has college degree, debt and wants to fly big planes.

I find this statement kind of funny after reading your questions. For starters, everything you asked is available on the Air Force's website. Your pay grade would be as an 0-1 (you can look it up, it's all public record). Pilots are officers (I think WOs can become pilots too, but I'm not positive). What you become will be determined by what you score on the AFOQT (officers don't take ASVAB). As an officer, the loan repayment isn't that great for the Air Force (I want to say 10k, but don't quote me on that).

Call an officer recruiter if you have any additional questions. It's their job. And just so you know, officer recruiters are not the same as enlisted recruiters.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Strk

Cliffs for the retarded: Has college degree, debt and wants to fly big planes.

I find this statement kind of funny after reading your questions. For starters, everything you asked is available on the Air Force's website. Your pay grade would be as an 0-1 (you can look it up, it's all public record). Pilots are officers (I think WOs can become pilots too, but I'm not positive).

just a fyi: last time i was reading about them, a large number of warrant officers are pilots (seems like i read something that said almost half of WOs, dont recall though)

my brother in law just finished WOCS and started flight school to be a helicopter pilot. started as an enlisted apache mechanic in the army reserve.

 

[quentinterintino]

Originally posted by: Strk

Cliffs for the retarded: Has college degree, debt and wants to fly big planes.

I find this statement kind of funny after reading your questions. For starters, everything you asked is available on the Air Force's website. Your pay grade would be as an 0-1 (you can look it up, it's all public record). Pilots are officers (I think WOs can become pilots too, but I'm not positive). What you become will be determined by what you score on the AFOQT (officers don't take ASVAB). As an officer, the loan repayment isn't that great for the Air Force (I want to say 10k, but don't quote me on that).

Call an officer recruiter if you have any additional questions. It's their job. And just so you know, officer recruiters are not the same as enlisted recruiters.

I find your statement "kind of funny", I did not originate this thread.... I am not asking the questions the OP did. What I am hoping is that someone here is a current/hopeful pilot and I can chat with them for some specifics.

 

[91TTZ]

Originally posted by: FDF12389

Use an engineer salary to pay off that debt, then learn to fly.

Engineer's salaries are not that high. You're making it sound like he's going to make tons of money.