Cleared for Takeoff

How do you know if a pilot is at a party?

He'll tell you.

I'm a pilot and I will tell you about the lives of Air Force pilots flying the C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft. We will haul just about anything, anywhere, day or night, in good weather and in bad. We fly up to 24 hour duty days (occasionally longer) with minimum ground times between flights, grabbing sleep and food whenever we can. We often miss anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, school plays, kids' soccer games, and other important family events. Flying the line is a cruel mistress sometimes. We work hard and play hard too, that is, when we're not sleeping hours on end, trying to make up for the sleep deficit we've accumulated from crossing nearly a dozen time zones in a day or two's time. When I'm not flying, I'm wishing I was, and when I'm flying too much, I'm wishing for time off. Pilots always wish for what they don't have. We're a funny breed.

But it's a good life. After nearly 17 years of military service, I've probably been ruined from working any type of normal job. Instead of a 90 minute commute to the city to work in a cubicle, I drive 12 miles to work in an office with a great view from Flight Level 350 (pilot speak for 35,000 feet). When I don't have squadron duties, I'm at home, walking my kids to school and working in the yard while the other dads are at work. When they finally put me out to pasture and I have to get a real job, I'm going to be in trouble.

I hope to use this blog to enlighten those interested in this type of lifestyle. While I could reach back to my many years of aviation joys and sorrows, I will only look forward. A clean slate, so to speak. As long as we have boots on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, there will be plenty of items to discuss as I haul everything from toothpaste and toilet paper to bullets and bombs directly to the men and women on the front lines. They are the real heroes and I just have a supporting role, and I will do my best to put the spotlight where it belongs.

I'm new at this blogging stuff, so be patient with me and I'll try to get up to speed quickly. I welcome any comments and critiques. By all means, if you have a suggestion on how I can do something better, please let me know.

I would like to keep politics out of this blog, however. My political views are my own, and they do not necessarily agree with the powers that be in regards to current world events. But this is my job and I will not hesitate to do my duty to the best of my ability, regardless of my personal beliefs.

Welcome aboard. We're cleared for takeoff.