US firm recruiting mercenary pilots for Afghanistan (e-mailed to me)

[DemoTex]

DC-3 Airplane Pilot needed overseas

Company: Aerotek
Location: Middle East
Category: Aviation Jobs
Rate: $130,000 to $140,000 per Year + 35% danger and 35% post differential
Job Type: Direct Placement
Posting ID: 1581314
Posting Date: 4/17/2008
DC-3 Airplane Pilot needed overseas Job Description:
Military subcontractor currently has 4 openings available for 4 DC-3 Airplane Pilots overseas.

Position Overview:
Operates DC3 BT-67 airplane in support of approved missions in Afghanistan.

Education Required:
A high school diploma or equivalent is mandatory. An Associate Degree or higher is preferred.

Experience Required:
FAA Commercial and Instrument Certificate, with Multi Engine type rating of aircraft over 12,500 pounds; CFI/II Multi-engine Instrument certification with 2,500 Fixed Wing flight hours and 1,000 hours turbine time.

Special Knowledge/Skills Required:
1. Employee qualification in DC3 BT-67 is required prior to assignment.
2. Individual will be qualified and must maintain currency and proficiency with Night Vision Goggles (NVG) as a condition of employment.
3. An FAA CFI or CFII rating in type and category or a military Instructor Pilot (IP) or Standardization Pilot (SP) rating is desired.
4. During training and throughout the employment period, the individual must demonstrate and maintain proficiency in understanding aircraft systems, components, and operating limitations as well as understanding and complying with regulations and policies.
5. Individual must possess a thorough knowledge of FAA, ICAO policy and regulations pertinent to the operational requirement.
6. The individual must be able to attain and retain a SECRET CLEARANCE as a condition of employment.
7. Employees must provide documentation of completion for any manufacturer's course of instruction, military flight training or instruction in other aircraft.
8. DC-3 instructor experience is desired. Instructor Pilot applicants must have documentation showing proof of successful completion of a Certified Flight Instructor qualification or an equivalent military qualification.

Work Environment:
1. Pilots will be required to work and live in a potentially hostile environment, at remote locations, under austere conditions.
2. Pilots may be required to respond to a wide variety of operational circumstances, under extreme weather conditions, within a hostile environment.
3. The pilot will perform duties in garrison, under tactical field conditions and on board airplanes within a hostile environment.

For more in depth information about principle responsibilities, special knowledge/skills required, work environment and physical requirements please contact:

Ken Malines
Aerotek Aviation
888-455-1329
Ken Malines
Senior Recruiter
South East Recruiter Lead Mgr.
(Ph) 321-354-1040
(Fax) 321-354-1140
(Toll Free) 888-455-1329 <http://www.aerotek.com/>
3660 Maguire Blvd. Suite 107
Orlando, Fl. 32779 <http://www.aerotek.com/> www.aerotek.com



DC-3/BT-67 (PT-6 turbine-propeller engines]

So .. we are down to civilian mercenaries flying night combat missions in vintage 60+ year-old aircraft in Afghanistan. WTF? Really .. WTF?

:wtf:

[formercia]

1. Luft Amerika

Gott Mit Uns.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. WTF? DC-3s?

It looks like they're using planes with Basler's PT-6 conversion (I'm surprised they aren't using the ones you see in Alaska for hauling fish, with the original engines). I wonder how many takers they'll get, considering there's a pilot shortage already and people with those qualifications already have airline jobs where they can fly newer airplanes during the day in places where people don't shoot at them and they don't have to wear NVGs? I should show this ad to a bunch of pilots I know who are currently just poor first officers, flying a domestic schedule, getting paid a lot less and not getting shot at... or maybe not.

[DemoTex]

4. This ad showed up in a retired airline pilot on-line newsletter ..

My guess is that they are looking for retired airline pilots (preferable former military) whose pensions have been terminated by their bankrupt companies. That would include a hell of a lot of retired pilots .. including moi.

BTW: You are correct: that is a Basler PT-6 conversion.

[catnhatnh]

5. I was not even aware the turbo prop conversion existed....

...and leaving the political component out,I gotta say I'm really impressed with the concept of marrying one of the most proven and robust airframes to modern powerplants. Are equal avionics upgrades made on these bad boys I wonder???

[DemoTex]

6. I don't know about the avionics, but ..

DC-3/BT-67s often fly low over the beaches of the Florida panhandle (near Eglin AFB). They sound GREAT! The engines are quiet enough that you can hear the rush of the air over the wings and fuselage as the DC-3 flies over.

[madrchsod]

3. i thought it would be something like this

instead of a flying box car...

i guess they figure no one will collect...