A/C Hours?
- Thread starter avro87
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Minimum required to stay "current is 50 hrs/6 months for the Grif.
I think I pulled off about 250 last year. Keep in mind that there are holidays, leave, courses, and exercises (where you may not necessarily be flying) lumped into all of that. Also, bad weather days, low on the priority list, and admin days to stay on top of everything. Mind you, this month alone I've clocked over 30 hrs. This includes a week of leave and ground training and another week on a non-flying exercise. Not bad for 2 weeks.
I think I pulled off about 250 last year. Keep in mind that there are holidays, leave, courses, and exercises (where you may not necessarily be flying) lumped into all of that. Also, bad weather days, low on the priority list, and admin days to stay on top of everything. Mind you, this month alone I've clocked over 30 hrs. This includes a week of leave and ground training and another week on a non-flying exercise. Not bad for 2 weeks.
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aesop081
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I'm not a pilot but I have logged 500 hours so far this year on the CP-140 and still have 2 months of flying and 1 away trip left this year. Most of our pilots will get 500 hours in a year
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I've got 255hrs this year so far on the Sea King, 90hrs of that has been in the last 3 months though I am deployed right now. Sea King drivers will bag around 250hrs per year, more if you're deployed, less if you're back home. In Shearwater you're lucky to get 20hrs a month (I had 5hrs in July), when you're at sea you'll bag 30-40hrs a month (36.8hrs last month) and sometimes more. If we continue the way we're going, I should top 40hrs this month, I've got 2 sorties scheduled today so I'll break 30hrs for the month and it's only the 21st.
Thanks guys! I have to say this is one of the biggest deterants for me joining the air force. I want to fly, and I dont know if I could deal with flying 250 hours in a year. I hope this doesnt sound selfish, but it's the truth. I realize it is probably 250 hours of fun flying, and on some pretty sweet aircraft, but its not very much time. Does anyone know if there are indications of the airforce increasing the amount of time for pilots on aircraft such as the F-18. I mean, is 250 hours enough to stay top notch on an aircraft like the F-18? I dont know, just curious?
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Sorry Avro - accumulating flying hours in the CF is not our top priority. Mission comes first. We are not a stepping stone for your job at Air Canada.
I seriously doubt that flying hours on the Hornet will increase.
If you want to fly lots of hours - become an flying school instructor. You will get very proficient at flying circuits at your flying club.
If you want to really learn how to fly and see things that nobody gets to witness - join the CF. It's your choice - we have lots of applicants to our program, so we won't come begging after you.
I seriously doubt that flying hours on the Hornet will increase.
If you want to fly lots of hours - become an flying school instructor. You will get very proficient at flying circuits at your flying club.
If you want to really learn how to fly and see things that nobody gets to witness - join the CF. It's your choice - we have lots of applicants to our program, so we won't come begging after you.
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There's nothing wrong about asking the amount of hours we do in the CF... Not everyone wants to stay in the CF forever. And do not tell me that we should all be happy and be in the CF for the rest of our lives. Please! I'm not saying that it is better joining the CF in order to have free flight training. Well... I think it's totally wrong.. But anyways
To answer the question... Sometimes, it depends of you. Some people where I am at fly much more than other guys. Why? They are willing to fly anytime (nights, week ends, away trips, etc). Some other guys just want to fly between 9-3 and that's it. Those guys usually get the least amount of flying hours per month. A guy last month pulled 65 hrs.
I also hear than instructors get a big share of the flying hours.
Max
To answer the question... Sometimes, it depends of you. Some people where I am at fly much more than other guys. Why? They are willing to fly anytime (nights, week ends, away trips, etc). Some other guys just want to fly between 9-3 and that's it. Those guys usually get the least amount of flying hours per month. A guy last month pulled 65 hrs.
I also hear than instructors get a big share of the flying hours.
Max
FYI, im not trying to disrespect the CAF. I would not join the air force as a stepping stone, I would join because I would love to serve my country, see things that very few get to, fly cool planes, etc. Besides, the air force is one big stepping stone, if your going to refer to it as that. Usually stepping stones dont last 11 or 12 years of your life. I'm asking questions like this to help me deside what I'm going to do. I'm not about to sign my life away for 12 years with out exploring every single aspect of the Canadian Air Force. It would be an honour to fly in the Canadian Air Force, but like I say, I need to make sure I make the right desision.
The military profession is something to be considered as a way of life rather than a job. For pilots and all aircrew it's more of what you do rather than how much you do of it.
Most flying is about doing specific operational roles which are unique to military missions. Anti submarine operations require crews that are proficient in skills to locate, track and destroy submarines. Transport involves a lot more than hauling boxes from one airport to another. Search and rescue involves specific methods for operations. Army support helicopter crews work in support of ground forces and have to know how battle plans are carried out and where they fit into the picture. Fighter pilots have tactics for whatever mission they are supporting.
All military missions involve a lot more than just flying. They involve a lot of planing and coordination with other elements of military operations so that the right things happen at the right time. Usually a plan changes in mid stream and requires considerable knowledge of operations to adapt to evolving situations in order to complete the mission.
It's a lot more than flying. Flying is usually just the way to get to the mission.
Most flying is about doing specific operational roles which are unique to military missions. Anti submarine operations require crews that are proficient in skills to locate, track and destroy submarines. Transport involves a lot more than hauling boxes from one airport to another. Search and rescue involves specific methods for operations. Army support helicopter crews work in support of ground forces and have to know how battle plans are carried out and where they fit into the picture. Fighter pilots have tactics for whatever mission they are supporting.
All military missions involve a lot more than just flying. They involve a lot of planing and coordination with other elements of military operations so that the right things happen at the right time. Usually a plan changes in mid stream and requires considerable knowledge of operations to adapt to evolving situations in order to complete the mission.
It's a lot more than flying. Flying is usually just the way to get to the mission.
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I know an Air Canada pilot, and he says that military experience doesn't always guarantee an airliner job. Military people are sometimes turned away because civilians can get a lot more flying hours logged. He says they used to like hiring ex-fighter pilots, but they rarely do as of now.
Myself, I like the idea of a full CF career and retiring in my fourties with a full pension. Then I can fish 'tiil I die.
Myself, I like the idea of a full CF career and retiring in my fourties with a full pension. Then I can fish 'tiil I die.
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IF you look on the Air Canada requirement page for pilots, you will notice that military experience is a plus. When you have the minimum requirements (which is 1000 hrs, with multi-IFR for Air Canada), they look at what else you have. Here is what's good to have but not required for Air Canada :
Canadian Airline Transport Pilot licence (easy to get once you have the time required which is 1500 hrs and some other small requirements)
University degree or college diploma (Now, every pilot in the CF has that no?)
Aviation College diploma (No dice)
Military or commercial flight experience (Our military pilots have military flight experience I hope!)
Jet and/or glass cockpit experience (we all go through training on a glass cockpit. Fighter is Jets)
Additional language(s) (we are all supposed to be bilingual at least)
So, I know for sure Air Canada likes military pilots, even though we have less hours than a civilian equivalent. They don't compare hour for hours when they compare military hours vs civilian hours. More like 4:1 (4 civilian hours = 1 military hour)
Max
Canadian Airline Transport Pilot licence (easy to get once you have the time required which is 1500 hrs and some other small requirements)
University degree or college diploma (Now, every pilot in the CF has that no?)
Aviation College diploma (No dice)
Military or commercial flight experience (Our military pilots have military flight experience I hope!)
Jet and/or glass cockpit experience (we all go through training on a glass cockpit. Fighter is Jets)
Additional language(s) (we are all supposed to be bilingual at least)
So, I know for sure Air Canada likes military pilots, even though we have less hours than a civilian equivalent. They don't compare hour for hours when they compare military hours vs civilian hours. More like 4:1 (4 civilian hours = 1 military hour)
Max
Do the 180-200 hours the CF-18 pilots acquire include exercises such as Maple Flag, and the one that takes place in Hawaii every year? Also curious as to how many CF-18 pilots and other pilots in the CF are able to participate in those exercises.
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Well I can't speak on behalf of the hornet community, I am going directly by what a driver told me. New guys on squadron can expect roughly 200 per year whilst the more experienced guys get in the neighbourhood of 180, though some of the more experienced guys can get on the FWIC and fly a bunch of hours in 5 months. I assume the figures include all excersizes such as flag, trident fury and RIMPAC. Maybe one of the real deal drivers can chime in on the participation in various excersizes?
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aesop081
Guest
while i cannot speak for the front enders, or the CF-18 comunity , it boils down to a thing called YFR.
Yearly Flying Rate
Each squadron is authorized a certain number of flying hours per year. This includes all Exercises such as RIMPAC, JMC, MAPLE FLAG, etc.....
The sqns spread those hours throughout the aircrews available based on operations and training requirements. Some Aircraft comunities have a larger YFR than others based on what they do.
Like i said, i have a little over 500 hours flying time this year, spread between fights from home (both training and operational), RIMPAC, NORPAT, TRIDENT FURRY, MAPLE GUARDIAN, NOBLE MANTA and other missions
Yearly Flying Rate
Each squadron is authorized a certain number of flying hours per year. This includes all Exercises such as RIMPAC, JMC, MAPLE FLAG, etc.....
The sqns spread those hours throughout the aircrews available based on operations and training requirements. Some Aircraft comunities have a larger YFR than others based on what they do.
Like i said, i have a little over 500 hours flying time this year, spread between fights from home (both training and operational), RIMPAC, NORPAT, TRIDENT FURRY, MAPLE GUARDIAN, NOBLE MANTA and other missions
