BHawks

Hi everyone. I am creeping up on the end of the career pilot program with ATP, my commercial check ride is in a couple of days and I am off to CFI school next Monday. I should be done right around the new year with the MEI CFI, CFII, but only with about 300 hours. Anyone have some ideas of what drop zones are looking for to fly say a C182 or C206? I am a A licensed jumper and I hope that will help win some points in my favor Any feed back would be appreciated. -Ben

I have a decent enough friend who works for Mesa as a CRJ FO... If I have my choice about it, I want to avoid the regionals at all costs. Not exactly sure what I'll be doing, CFIing, jump pilot, working for Bob's aerial photgraphy, I might even put an application to the ANG, while I am still young enough, but the priority is to first get through the pilot training and get the occasional skydive in. I have a prior military background, I would like to work for a LE / EMS agency or Border Patrol that would be a great career in my opinion.

Hi everyone, its been awhie since I posted anything. I am currently working on my instrument rating with ATP at Gateway airport in Mesa, AZ. This learning to fly business is challenging and both rewarding and expensive as hell; but for the most part I like it, the only thing is avoiding the school politics, I am here to get my ratings and move on. One awsomel thing is visiting Eloy. I have both flown and driven down there. I wonder if the skydivers there know that they are in the middle of a practice area from all sorts of flight schools around the area. A lot of the pilots I fly with think our kind is nuts... I am spreading the word as much as possible to avoid Eloy at all costs when they are doing their practice maneuvers... Doing steep turns and see a blurr....what was that ? Or looking down in freefall and some idiot Cessna in slow flight might not be such a good day. After this, finding employment as a pilot is going to be fun, I'll probably moon light as a Walmart Greeter..."Welcome to Walmart, you will find Budweiser on Isle 8 next to the coolers and disposable diapers.... I hope to be the one trucking you'll up to altitude or jumping with you on a load some day, or showing you where Bud is at walmart....have a good one. Neb

Howdy, I am going to flight school at Gateway airport, all my flight buddies are either broke or think its insane to jump... Anyone want to head to Eloy and jump? I could rent a C-172 and fly down from Falcon airport, different perspective getting to Eloy... Hit me up. Ben maverick556x45@yahoo.com

Nice!

Howdy everyone. Finally leaving Midway Island after a long time, close to four years... Getting into the air at Snohomish on Sunday for the first time in three months...hopefully the Washington weather cooperates!

Are you willing to organize the kind of effort you propose? VR/Marg I guess what I wanted was to volunteer or work with an organization that supports our troops. I wrote USPA once about a any program that introduces the wounded Warriors to skydiving as a way of coping with there injuries and traumatic experiences. I read something in Alert Diver about a group introducing these people to SCUBA diving with the same goal in mind. I really wouldn't know exactly where to get started. Write USPA's leadership again? Start a non-profit? Get a bunch of DZ dot comers involved? Perhaps talk to veteran's groups such as the American Legion and VFW to establish some kind of rapport. Those are ideas I have in my mind. Any thoughts or comments out there?

N/A

I've seen this before, but it opens my eyes every time i see it. I was thinking about my own pathetic existence when I stumbled onto this. http://patdollard.com/2007/12/photo-marines-wife-sleeps-by-her-husband-one-last-time/ While we are bitching about gas prices, traffic, what clothes to wear, the election, Spitzer or what Britney got in her custody battle and or in my case living on small desolate island. Our service people are still fighting and dying for someone's political agenda. I read that earlier post about how the military didn't find a "smoking gun" between Sadam and Al Qaeda. Nice post by the way. Politics aside, we have all these "Support our troops" signage everywhere. But how do we go about doing that? Volunteer with the USO? Maybe join one of those "Dear soldier" places where you can someone a letter or a care package? Is there an organization out there that introduces our wounded warriors to skydiving as a way to help them cope with PTSD? I am trying to connect the dots... A lot of us have worn the uniform, I served four in the Marines. Not exactly sure where I am going with this, but I wonder if there are others out there feeling like I do that we should be part of a movement or an organization to help our troops or something. Just my thoughts.

SHIT! It does sound bad!

I'm getting two weeks of some VaCa head to CA then up to WA, GF is meeting the family for the first time. She did her first jump at Monterey Bay (nice DZ by the way). Now we are going to see how she likes sending lead down range. I am thinking her first shots will come from a Ruger 10/22 or the Ruger 22/45. Maybe work up to a .223 or 7.62x39 later...

I jumped out of a Coast Guard C-130 here at Midway, they took me all the way to 25,000, but my alti didn't work, so I pulled at I think 22 thousand feet, but then this jet liner came by and I saw all the Japanese passengers waved at me while I was under canopy. Then I got hypoxic and a little high and a albatross came up and said "hello." We flew and caught squid together. Then I got lower but since I was so far away from the island, I had to land in the water and spinner dolphins took me back as I was waving buy to them, the fish and wildlife service said I was getting a ticket for swimming with the dolphins and not having an impact survey done....

That is one litter box I would hate to clean.

Oh my favorite saying. "I am with the Fish and Wildlife service, how can I help you?"

Self Sex...wasn't going to go there...but now that you mention it, well let me put it this way...naaa...still not going there.

I had beer shits. But I got banned from beer, so won't be having those for awhile. Is it possible to OD on coffee?

My opinion on living on a island controlled by U.S. FWS. (fish wildlife service) You can't do anything that conflicts with the birds. For example, if you want to fly a kite, well better come up with another idea. Want to play frisbee golf? Ha, fat chance at having that. So, we are surrounded by an ocean. You think one could fish, maybe scuba dive or go surfing eh... can't do those! You're in a National Marine monument now, SCUBA? ha! liability! surf? Well you might hit a seal or a turtle. You're like alright, we got an awesome beach! Beautiful beach. You can only sit on the beach for so long. But oh wait a minute Mr. Monk Seal or Ms Green Sea Turtle comes up shore, well guess what, Beach closed. You want to have a beer on the beach? Ha ha ha...you're funny that is against fish and wildlife service regulations 50 CFR Title 38 sub- paragraph blah blah. Alright, lets play volley ball after work on the beach. Oh, you can't do that, the flood lights disorient the nocturnal birds and here at Midway the wild life comes first, Naturally. You can play volley ball in-doors at the basket ball court, well, last game so and so turned their ankle so you can't do that anymore, it is banned. So you have nothing else to do besides get Krunked. We have noticed your drinking is becoming a problem, if you do not stop we are going to kick you off this island. You take a shit on this island, and at lunch someone asks you, "how did your shit go?" And people around here wonder why we become reclusive alcoholics that would rather sit in our room and watch a movie on a Friday night. My favorite part is when the Fish people get offended, you didn't come to our albatross talk, what you don't like the albatross? Aren't they such majestic creatures? I think you should count albatross with us, it will make have a purpose in life.... Those are my thoughts on this wonderful Tuesday afternoon out in the middle of the Pacific on a (could be) beautiful island, I have 115 days remaining on my "sentence." Happy Trails. Ben

Gotta Love free beer and hours!

Anyone know how much jump ship pilots get?

I loved my years on the 747. Lots of great memories from all around the world, including looking down on Midway Island wondering what a layover there would be like. Thankfully I never diverted in the whale. Layover at Midway Island? I've been here almost 4 freaken years!

Oh yeah, seems like this is a bad thing now a days...I am working on my degree from Embry Riddle, I have 5 classes to go after I finish the ones I am currently enrolled.

Wow, a lot of replies! I chose ALLATPS as the flight school I am going to. After paying my "dues," thinking corporate aviation is where I would like to go. The financial aid, well, the first payment is not due for 18 months, yes, I know ...I'll start paying it back as soon as possible. Maybe dust off the firefighting/ems certifications go the to the sandbox for six months a contractor making the tax free skrill. I'm committed paid the deposit, have a class date, paying off the CC and the truck so I don't have those payments etc.

Congratulations. I've been an EMT since 02. Thought about going to medic school my self, but naaa going to go fly airplanes! Have fun narcan and combitubes!

'Tis going to be a change. Hanging up EMS, Firefighting, airport operations and management to get a job with the best office view, ever! 119 days to go on this island! This is such a small island, surprised I haven't lost it, or have I? Interesting how I made the decision, got krunked one night, applied for the student loan, expecting some BS, but to my amazement they said yes! Didn't know you could make intelligent decisions when you are krunked! (Shhhh don't tell my future employers that) I wonder what my classmates will say when I tell them I skydive, most pilots (outside of the DZ) think you are nuts to jump. Good times

Howdy everyone. Got the first class flight physical, approved for financial aid. Going to ATPS starting June 2nd to go fly through their airline career fast track program. Finally got into the air, jumped 8 times last week in Hawaii, we had some awesome weather! There was some rich Russian people that rented the plane and they kept loads going all day. Usually Pacific Skydive knocks off about noon. Talking to the tandem masters and photographers about what they make, everyone said, go to flight school and keep skydiving as a hobby. Looking forward to it. Quote