Originally Posted by
injunear
I've been offered a Nav slot through OTS and would like to hear from any civilian pilots and current or former navs if Navigator training and experience is of any value to a future civilian pilot career. I put "airlines" in the title but any flying that puts food on the table is ok with me, ie cargo, etc.
I've read lots of posts where plebes like me get admonished not to take a Nav slot but I am too old to reapply for UPT and I have to wonder if UNT doesn't have some value out there.
So far, working a desk job as a civilian, I've got just under 300 hrs and a Commercial/Inst.
Any thoughts on this matter are appreciated.
As a former C-141 Nav who is now a pilot in the Guard, I can tell you that if you're up against an age limit to go to UPT (as I was) then take the Nav/CSO slot. You'll have a greater opportunity to get picked up for a pilot slot later on down the road than if you waited around with the hope of getting pilot slot that would require an age waiver.
I have no regrets for my time as a Nav as I had a chance to see the world, establish some incredible friendships and fly some really cool missions. Airland, Airdrop, Low-Level, SKE, Multi-ship Formation, Air Evac, Polar/Grid Navigation (to the Southpole) Aerial Refueling; you name it, the C-141 did it. Would I have wanted to be a pilot sooner...of course. But I immersed myself into my job as a Nav, knowing that if I were off by just a mile as I made that run to to the dropzone with a bunch of Army Rangers in the back, they would wind up drowning in a lake instead of landing at the DZ on time on target. I wasn't thinking about the airlines, just happy to be a part of a crew that was passionate about flying...pilot, copilot, navigator, flight engineer and loadmaster all working towards a common goal..flying a safe and successful mission. It sure has heck beat sitting at a desk looking out the window and watching planes take off from the flightline and wondering what could have been.
Pilot slots are competitive even when you've got time on your side...if you go past the cutoff and hoping for a waiver it's not impossible (but then ask yourself why would a unit want to sponsor you if they've got equally qualified candidates who don't require waivers). The debate about the merits of being a pilot vs nav are as old as the beginnings of multi-crew cockpits. But know this; you will acquire some great situational awareness and airmanship as a nav, you'll make the same amount of money as the pilots, sit up front and have the best view around, provide a much-needed skill to Uncle Sam as an aviator, and hopefully have some fun while at it. There are other avenues to the airlines and if you meet the mins in the future to get picked up at a regional, your resume WILL stand out as a Nav if you're competing against pilots with the same amount of pilot time as you.
Good luck!