FlyArmy

I am just starting my Army flying career and trying to decide what options I have for an aviation related future. I am a scout pilot and love it, but as a commissioned guy I will not be flying much after a few years. I've heard of people going over to the Coast Guard or Air Force to fly helicopters for them.

I've wanted to fly jets since I was a young kid and was wondering if transferring to the Navy or the Air Force (either AD or Guard) and getting a fast mover slot as an O-3, almost O-4 was possible. If so, would it help to try to get army fixed wing at some point? What about continuing private pilot flying? Should I seek comm/ME ratings? FWIW I got 8 8 8 on my Navy pilot screening test in my attempts to cross commission upon graduating from USMA. Don't know if that would even be a factor.

I love the Army and my job right now, just trying to see what else would possibly be available when my commitment comes to an end. I want to be a 20+ year guy, just not sure what I want to do.

Thanks for all your help.

Tgaug6300

I would say transition to the C-12 or U-35 when you can. I understand that those positions are pretty competative though. I only say this because I fly for a large Corp. and we recently hired three Army guys. All were fixed wing guys. One guy had a lot of Total Time, but was still very low on Fixed Wing Multi. However, he has a great attitude and that is what is most important to us.

ugleeual

Helo time does not get put into the equation for the Flag Carriers (UAL, DAL, CAL, etc)... so you will need multi fixed wing time in the thousands of hourse to be competitive these days. This is NOT an impossible goal... but I would recommend doing the C-12/U-35 gig like mentioned above... and then get out of the Army ASAP to get into a commercial/corporate job to get hours. Once in the corporate/commercial side you will get hours quickly (700-1000 hrs/yr)... so after flying the smaller jets for a few years you will be ready for the majors... but the sooner you make the cut and get into fixed wing the better.

ugleeual

You a WO or a Lt? Their is a program to transfer interservice between the Army/Navy/Marines to the Air Force... but they are looking for already qualified fixed wing guys. Your best bet would be the local ANG unit... heavy or fighter... whatever you can get into these days... I know with the War they are all pretty much hiring guys... so if you have flight experience you will be higher on the list than others.

wickedsprint

There is also a program to cross commission to the coat guard since you're already winged.

FlyArmy

I am a Lt. What does "qualified" mean exactly. I don't suppose f/w PPL = AF's definition of fixed wing qualified does it? If I did switch services, would that mean I would have to start at square 1 flying t-34s or t-6s and relearn everything from the beginning? That'd be fine, just wondering. Also, I'm still thinking if it were to happen it would be about 6 or so years out (don't think right now the Army would let me go, but who knows), so I'm just trying to get my ducks in a row now to keep options available.

Thanks for all the input.

HercDriver130

Dont know if its still this way but if you want to go into the AF and transition to Fixed wing you will have to go thru the entire UPT course.... we had two army helo guys in my class years ago... one with 1200 hours and he ended up flying an 0V-10 Bronco at the time...the other had 1500 hours RW time, and he washed out. Not sure if the navy would make you complete the entire training cycle if you went to helos but for fixed wing they just might... dunno... but all you can do is ask.

Id say stay army since you were a ring knocker and get in a fixed wing unit for your next assignment. Get some turbine FW time.

schoolio

I looked into transferring from AD Army to AD Air Force. They (the AF) specifically stated that any Army pilot that transfers will be assigned helos. Period. In other words, you could be one of the very few Army GV pilots, but if you wanted to transfer to the AF, they would send you to UPT/FWQ.

I did not look into the Navy/USMC, but I did look into the Guard/Reserves.

Bottom line is IF you can find a Guard/Reserve unit that will take you, you will go to flight school again. I have a buddy from the AVCCC who was a 60 driver and a civilian FW CFI. He found a guard unit flying C-130s and was sent to UPT/FW Qual shortly after leaving the Army.

If you want to fly FW, try to get the MICCC instead of AVCCC. Work with branch to get the FWMEQC. That's probably your best bet. Good luck.

rickair7777

If you are in a hurry and can't easily get into military FW, at least one or two regional airlines will accept significant RW time towards their minimum qualifications. You will still need some FW time though.

But if you can get the time in military, do so...as you probably already know.

ugleeual

I know of one Helo Navy guy who was succesful in interservice transfer from HH-60s to C-17... but he is not the norm (all about timing).

If you get selected in the AF for fixed wing they will send you to a modified UPT course to "top you off".

If you can transfer to the AD AF the opportunity to go fixed wing is possible... just depends on the needs at the time.