AF Fixed Wing Qualification
 

Greetings all...has anyone ever attended, or does anyone have any information about, the Air Force Fixed Wing Qualification program offered to rated helo pilots who are transitioning from other branches (like the Army National Guard) to become AF Guard/Reserve/AD fixed-wing pilots? My understanding is that the AF looks at Army pilot wings differently and would require you attend the FWQ training at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio. The course length is supposedly shorter than regular UPT but I haven't had much luck finding more info on the syllabus or regulations governing that training. Thanks!:D

From what I remember (A current IP will comment I am sure) It is at offered any AETC Base except Shepard. Its a shortened syllabus and you are allowed to proficiency advance. (When you meet the requirements you can proceed to the next stage or to your checkride) Some guys elected to take every flight offered since they were on orders and in no hurry to get to their unit. (All were going to guard/reserve units) Some were out of there as quick as possible.

They were scheduled within a student class, but were exempt from all the BS that non winged students have to put up with. Also they tried not to schedule them with FAIPS.

I know a few guys that went thru it, both (former) AF helo and Army helo drivers. It took them about 10 months total, so it is about 2 months or so shorter than regular UPT. Like the previous poster said, the best part is you can bypass all the BS that the regular students have to deal with, and they treat you like an adult, for the most part.

I went through the Fixed-Wing Qual in 2003/4. I was a prior USCG helo guy that joined a C-130 Reserve unit.

Step 1: Interview at a unit, they like you and pick you up.
Step 2: Put together a package for an Aeronautical Review Board (ARB). The package will have all check rides etc. The board will wave a magic wand and “whoala,” you have Air Force Wings.
Step 3: Swear into your new Guard or Reserve unit and submit a training Request for FWQ. (If you are a warrant, you need to go to OTS next)
Step 4: Wait from 1 month to a year to start.
Step 5: PCS to your UPT base and have fun. No “stand-up” or 5 am show times when you are not flying that day.

Good luck, it was well worth it.

Humboldt

I know this is a retarded question and it isn't meant to hijack this thread...but on a related note when you go to UPT as a rated aviator in another service, do you wear wings? If so, are they your previous branch's wings or AF wings?

did FWQ on 2007, you are an AF HELO ONLY going through FW upgrade so you will wear Army and AF wings. If you are young enough and can do UPT they might not do the ARB to convert your wings. YOU WILL MISS THE AR 95-1!

Thanks for some of the feedback. If I'm reading some of the posts correctly it sounds like you could have AF MAJCOM approval to convert/wear your AF pilot wings even before you join the unit and/or go off to the AF FWQ. I'm already a Captain in the ARNG and have gone through the Army FWQ but I had heard that the AF might not even recognize the Army FWQ training and would want you to go through at least the AF FWQ if not the full-blown UPT in order to learn how the AF does their flying. I wonder how long it would take to get an Aeronautical Review Board to approve the pilot wings conversion and how long a wait to get a FWQ slot (I would imagine their are fewer of those than regular UPT slots).

Sherpa,

Don't quote me but I think that you would just have to do the last half of UPT since you have sherpa time. I think you would just do T-1s if you go to an Airlift or Refueling Sqn. Not positive.

As far as the ARB goes. In my case, I interviewed with a unit in May 02, had my ARB package done in 7 days. My C-130 unit then submitted it to the ARB and I was sworn in by the end of September. Do you have a unit that is going to sponsor you?

Humboldt

Crossing into the BLUE (AFOQT/TBAS)
 

I just heard about FWQ from a buddy of mine and I am super excited. It breathes new hope into my AF dreams. I thought my time had passed as my 29th birthday is approaching and I originally thought my only chance to fly fixed wing Air Force was through the traditional UPT program. Is it a requirement to complete the AFOQT and TBAS prior to the ARB? Since you are essentially being granted aviator status in the AF through the ARB do those no longer apply? I am returning from my second round in Iraq as a Helo driver with the Army and I am excited about making the jump to the Air Force. I am just trying to gather all the information possible to make the right decision. I currently have a packet in the the helo commissioning program to track me into the Pave Hawk. I don't want to accept that and close the doors on my chance for what I really dream of.

Hi!

We had one Army guy (Task force 160) going to Air Guard. He wore wings just like us...we were all Capts, I think. No bullcrap to put up with. It was set up differently back then, but we did finish in about 10 months, due to crap weather at our base. We did almost 0 solo time, and "flew" through T-37s pretty quick, and shorter T-38s also. They did NOT LIKE HELO guys to get Fighters, so did everything they could to stop us. They didn't like that the Army guy was going to A-7s....and nothing they could do about it. We DID have some FAIPS, but no big deal. Relatively decent program and course. Overall very good instructors.

cliff
GRB