Feeling kinda down.

It's been 27 years for me since I was injuried and had to leave the Army and my Huey's and I still miss it. Sorry, I know it doesn't help you much, but know you are not alone

Sorry to hear about that.  So the Big Green Machine is sending you down the road?  While it may not be flying Hawks, there should be a place for you somewhere especially with your ME rotor-wing time.  The only folks I know flying Hawks other than DoD is US Customs and I think LAFD for fighting fires (I think).  Lots of A-Stars, 412's, 212's etc out there.

Good luck my friend and here's to your transition back to civie life, albeit sooner than you wanted.

Well, I never served, but I would like to thank you for serving! I'm sorry you have to get out early, but try and look at the bright side, better to served and lost, than to never served at all... I would have liked to, but didn't, and I regret it. Again though, thank you Viper!

Uhm-m, that sucks worse than FOD through a compressor section....  Check, with your local USAR/GUARD aviation facilities, since yours is a service related injury they may waiver the membership req. and put you on as a full time technician (mechanic), try the web site FEDWORLD.COM for a broader search of government positions. Check on the web sites for Patuxtant River NAS, (the navy's aviation r&d center), likewise the MCAS Cherry Point in N. Carolina. (Marine/Navy aircraft overhaul center...lots of helicopter stuff), Check also the CPO's for all services, The Navy has a bunch of stuff going at San Deigo, and Up and down the East Coast. Use caution but check into STS services and Evergreen Air Services.  My sister who is employed as a tech writer tells me that Boeing in Mesa, AZ. is looking for Mechs for the Apache at the plant for overhaul of that ACFT. Check with Bell in Amarillo, Texas. as well as Boeing in Philly (V22 & Ch47) stuff. And check with Sikorsky in Conn.  And lastly try NASA-Langley in VA and Dryden Flight Research Center, out here at Edwards, in Calif.  

That's about all that's bouncing around off the top of my head for the moment. As usual the gov. positions will take some digging to get the info on. An if you call them on the phone ask if they have contractor maintenance and try to get a POC from them.

Good luck, oh and thanks for what you've done...from one helicopter mech to another.

Best regards,

Chuck

 

I don't know about waiving the service requirements for a Guard technician, they are normally non-competitive positions, but you might want to look into the Reserves.  There are also a couple of firefighting contractors (Names escape me right now) flying Hawks.  There is also the possibility of L-3.  They are doing contracts all over and I may have a contact with them in KY, PM if you are interested.

Mac

I saw some pilot jobs for various Air Ambulances/Life Flights here

http://www.aams.org/Content/NavigationMenu/AboutAAMS/OnlineMemberDirectories/RotorWingServices/default.htm

Best of luck to you.  Be patient.  Finding the right job can take some time.  Hopefully you won't have that problem. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

viper_mp wrote:

On the eve of Super Bowl Sunday, when "Da Bears" will sieze victory from the colts, I get some of the worst news ever.  After dislocating my right knee for the THIRD time since entering the service in 2000 [I've already undergone two reconstructions, there's not much left], I have damaged it to the point it cant be repaired.  And as a result, I've been permanently grounded.  I will never set foot in my beloved Blackhawk again.  Needless to say, I'm very $%$#% about this.  I absolutely love the Army, and I LOVE flying in helos. I had, in truth, just got done signing papers to transfer down to Rucker.  Now, I get a handshake and a "thanks for your service".  For those of you out there, Cobrahistorian, old hooker, and others, I envy you for still being able to do what you love.  Sometimes, life just really sucks.    so, Anyone know of any civilian blackhawks?

No, but the company I work for is looking for people who used to fly them. We need pilots, especially pilots who already have a considerable amount of flight time. We operate a variety of aircraft, mostly Bell 206s, Bell 407s, Bell 214STs, Sikosrsky S-76s and a few Eurocopter EC-120s. but also some Bell 212s and 412s.

Most of the work is from bases in Louisiana and Texas, but we also operate in Mexico, Trinadad, and Brazil and our counterparts in the Eastern Hemisphere work in Africa, Asia and Europe

If you don't mind flying in the Gulf of Mexico to and from oil rigs, call and talk to our HR people at (800) 365-6771.

I've been here almost ten years and it has been a pretty good place to work. I started as an A&P Mech after retiring from the Army and am now the Environmental Manager.

HTH

Jonathan Primm

Youngsville, LA

viper_mp wrote:

so, Anyone know of any civilian blackhawks?

Not sure if the knee would keep you out of flying civilian a/c, but,

Brainerd Helicopters is flying three S-70A/C's and are looking for pilots and mechanics:

(http://www.firehawkhelicopters.com/Employment.htm)

We (Sikorsky) currently have an opening posted for a production test pilot:

(http://www.sikorskycareers.com/job_detail.asp?JobID=854702&user_id=)

Lastly, the LA County Fire Department currently has three S-70A's and is currently looking for a mechanic:

(http://fire.lacounty.gov/AirWildland/AirWildlandAirOps.asp)
(http://fire.lacounty.gov/HelpWanted/PDF/37492I_Helicopter_mech.pdf)

Not sure if you're interested in something outside of flying, but, still helicopter related. If so, we have 158 positions currently listed on the website:

(http://www.sikorskycareers.com/joblist.asp)

HTH,
Mike