I was flying one of Janet's routes in FSX, and I was just wondering that question...

Do they get them directly from the Air Force? Or do they actually recruit pilots off of the market and train them to become 737 type rated?

...But of course...what is the Janet that I'm speaking of? :Thinking:

I'm Canadian so I literally have no clue. My educated guess though would be from the Air Force from pilots who fly similar aircraft to the 737. For example, you throw a F-22 captain in the cockpit of a 747, he might not have a clue as to what the packs do. Whereas a cargo pilot would be quite more familiar with the layout. My guess would be the top pilots from cargo programs/"special deliveries". Most likely guys who have done special ops so the men in black know they'll keep their mouths shut.

 

Just my biased guess :) I hope I'm not too correct though...they might just have to kill me. That or the aliens trailing Janet will!

 

Actually scratch that...I don't live in Canada in case the men in black are randomly scrolling through this forum...time to go underground for a while :hi:

The aircraft are owned and operated by the United States Airforce and it is not an airline called Janet.....'Janet' is the radio callsign and that is it.

 

The USAF bought the current fleet from China Southwest Airlines

 

I don't have the answer either but my guess is they are USAF pilots considering these are USAF aircraft.

 

I didn't say anything that would get me in trouble as all this info can be found on Wikipedia :LMAO:

 

Cheers

The thing I never understood, was why if they wanted to maintain secrecy do they go out of a high volume commercial airport like McCarran! They could easily go out of Nellis, which I would think would be much more secure!!

The aircraft are owned and operated by the United States Airforce and it is not an airline called Janet.....'Janet' is the radio callsign and that is it.

 

The USAF bought the current fleet from China Southwest Airlines

 

I don't have the answer either but my guess is they are USAF pilots considering these are USAF aircraft.

 

I didn't say anything that would get me in trouble as all this info can be found on Wikipedia :LMAO:

 

Cheers

 

The pilots were employed by a private contractor. The aircraft were maintained by that same contractor. Since things have changed a little (EG&G no longer owns the aircraft used), I'm not sure who actually hires and fires.

 

Interesting topic, but I loose my interest in it quickly as there's never any definitive answers.

 

The thing I never understood, was why if they wanted to maintain secrecy do they go out of a high volume commercial airport like McCarran! They could easily go out of Nellis, which I would think would be much more secure!!

 

The only thing secret about these bases are the research they carry out. Remember that the employees are scientist, mechanics, etc. There's no compelling reason to to that.

The pilots were employed by a private contractor. The aircraft were maintained by that same contractor. Since things have changed a little (EG&G no longer owns the aircraft used), I'm not sure who actually hires and fires.

 

Interesting topic, but I loose my interest in it quickly as there's never any definitive answers.

 

EG&C is all on Wikipedia as well but true it is interesting that no one really knows today. If they are Air Force Pilots then no one knows which command.

 

The thing I never understood, was why if they wanted to maintain secrecy do they go out of a high volume commercial airport like McCarran! They could easily go out of Nellis, which I would think would be much more secure!!

 

McCarren makes the most sense, These flights ferry civilian contractors to the base and Las Vegas is where they live.

 

If it was from Nellis then Civillians would have to pass through the base security everyday. Easier just to fly out of McCarren where they have their own ramp.

They hire civilians...

 

Here is an add for the position:

 

 

 

Requisition Number : EGG20110

Company : EG&G/LSI

Interest Category : Flight Operations

External Job Title : FIRST OFFICER (PILOT)

Position Type : Full-time

Country : U.S.

State : Nevada

City : Las Vegas

Minimum Requirements : Must possess background and experience sufficient to pilot a Boeing 737 aircraft. Must hold an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate issued by the Federal Aviation Administration. Must hold a First Class Medical Certificate issued by the FAA. Work is primarily sedentary, with some walking, bending, stretching and climbing. Lifting up to 40 pounds may be required. Must be able to qualify for a TS/SSBI security clearance.

 

DESIRED QUALIFICATION:

4000 hrs. of flying time, a B-737 Type Rating, and an active TS/SSBI security clearance

 

 

These are the folks who currently "run" the operation...

 

http://www.urscorp.com/

 

They also operate two Citation X which can been seen frequently in and out of Washington DC, operating under the "JANET" call sign.

McCarren makes the most sense, These flights ferry civilian contractors to the base and Las Vegas is where they live.

 

If it was from Nellis then Civillians would have to pass through the base security everyday. Easier just to fly out of McCarren where they have their own ramp.

 

...and that's a bad thing, considering the sensitive nature of their work?

...and that's a bad thing, considering the sensitive nature of their work?

 

Departing from the "Janet" terminal at KLAS. These employees go thru passenger screening and baggage screening. Then once on the plane there are security officers who do further ID checks and some rumors abound they also use handheld fingerprint scanners to positively ID passenger.

 

Then once they arrive at Groom Lake they are shuffled into another terminal area where they are met by base security for yet another security and baggage check, prior to boarding shuttle buses to their individual work areas, where they pass thru yet another level of security screening, depending on their work area.

 

These people are quite possibly the most screened and re-screened workers/passengers on earth.

 

Not to mention they are required to show ID to leave/enter work areas throughout the day and anytime they are stopped by any security personnel. And they are subject to random ID checks though out the day...

 

There is actually less security involved to get into the Oval Office of the US White House to visit with the President himself...

...and that's a bad thing, considering the sensitive nature of their work?

 

I just don't see why they would need to pass through Nellis to go to Area 51, they are two seperate things and have nothing to do with each other.

 

Jacoba pretty much sums it up.

 

There was a documentary a few years ago that describes similar to what Jacoba is saying.

EC&G is still pretty much the same. It's parent company just took a lot of their properties and gave them all a URS brand. EC&G became the technical services branch of URS. The pilots tend to be former AF with the kind of embarrassing security clearances that require you to sit you in a room while they take out a big folder that makes you regret 90% of everything you've ever done or said on the internet.

Departing from the "Janet" terminal at KLAS. These employees go thru passenger screening and baggage screening. Then once on the plane there are security officers who do further ID checks and some rumors abound they also use handheld fingerprint scanners to positively ID passenger.

 

Then once they arrive at Groom Lake they are shuffled into another terminal area where they are met by base security for yet another security and baggage check, prior to boarding shuttle buses to their individual work areas, where they pass thru yet another level of security screening, depending on their work area.

 

These people are quite possibly the most screened and re-screened workers/passengers on earth.

 

Not to mention they are required to show ID to leave/enter work areas throughout the day and anytime they are stopped by any security personnel. And they are subject to random ID checks though out the day...

 

There is actually less security involved to get into the Oval Office of the US White House to visit with the President himself...

 

Hmm sounds like my job haha!

McCarran makes the most sense

 

And I think Nelly would be better, maybe even Henderson or Boulder City, or Northern Las Vegas. I doubt any of the employees live in center Las Vegas.

 

 

Somebody has a pretty cool Area 51 FAQ here: http://www.dreamlandresort.com/faq/index.html