817 Life After Naval Aviation
A former Naval Aviator tells us about his life after Naval aviation, the content he\u2019s produced, and the pivot he\u2019s making. In the news, the optics of flying in a corporate aircraft, the Boeing Starliner is back to earth with a few problems, a new Navy policy for aviator sea tours, and noise complaints at Australian airports.\n\n\n\nGuest\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nRob Roy is a former Naval Aviator who produces a YouTube channel with over 100k subscribers. He\u2019s also the founder of the weekly Flybuyer newsletter with curated aviation news that focuses on general and business aviation. It targets people who fly airplanes, potential owners, and enthusiasts.\n\n\n\nRob\u2019s YouTube channel currently includes videos of carrier landings and catapult launches made during his 2015-2016 deployment. We hear about some of Rob\u2019s Naval aviation experiences flying the C-2 Greyhound cargo plane and training for carrier landings.\n\n\n\nNot this Rob Roy\u2026\n\n\n\nThe big news is the pivot Rob has taken with his life after naval aviation. He\u2019s shifting his focus to making airplane walk-around videos full-time that will appear on his YouTube channel. Rob intends to create a large body of review videos for people who want to buy airplanes.\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019d like to have your airplane filmed by Rob, he\u2019s created an Airplane Filming Form form where you can express your interest. And be sure to sign up for the Flybuyer newsletter and visit Rob\u2019s YouTube channel.\n\n\n\nHere\u2019s the video Rob mentioned when talking about the arresting cable that snapped during an E-2C Hawkeye's landing in March 2016 aboard the USS Eisenhower:\n\n\n\nVideo: Cable snaps on USS Eisenhower during landing\n\n\n\n\nhttps://youtu.be/r-EHwYOfY94?si=zO93Cjtq13exFr2X\n\n\n\n\nAviation News\n\n\n\nManaging the Optics of Flying in a Corporate Aircraft\n\n\n\nCorporate executives, athletes, pop stars, and celebrities often travel by corporate or private aircraft. This sometimes brings them public scrutiny due to the perceived environmental impact of their wealth or fame. The optics can generate unwanted attention. This article looks at why private/corporate might be used, the financial case, and using executive time productively. A study says executives are productive for about 80 percent of travel time while using business aviation and 30 percent while flying commercial.\n\n\n\nIt's a good thing NASA sent the Boeing Starliner back to Earth empty because it had even more problems\n\n\n\nThe Boeing Starliner experienced problems on its crewed flight to the Space Station and returned to Earth without the astronauts. The capsule did stick the landing, but other problems surfaced. An additional thruster failed (5 of 28 had failed when Starliner docked) and the Starliner guidance system temporarily blacked out.\n\n\n\nThe thruster failures were attributed to Teflon seals swelling under heat and blocking propellant flow. The helium leaks compounded the situation. A software glitch caused the temporary blackout of the Starliner guidance system during reentry.\n\n\n\nBoeing\u2019s space and defense chief exits in new CEO\u2019s first executive move\n\n\n\nNew CEO Kelly Ortberg has removed Boeing\u2019s head of its space and defense unit, effective immediately. Steve Parker, the unit's chief operating officer, will assume the position until a replacement is named. Starliner has cost Boeing $1.6 billion in overruns since 2016, according to a Reuters analysis of securities filings.\n\n\n\nNavy will force aviators to remain in service to complete sea tours\n\n\n\nThe US Navy wants to increase aviation community retention and will require naval aviators to serve a pair of two-year sea tours. The new policy applies to officers serving on their first shore tour with a projected rotation date of October 2025 and beyond. It is reported that about 25% of unrestricted line aviators want to leave the Navy after their minimum service requirement. Some even request to leave the Navy when their second two-year sea tour is underway. A Naval Air Forces spokesperson says the new policy will extend most officer's servi...