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Branch that offers greatest chance of a pilot slot?

Old 01-06-2007, 12:28 AM
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Default Branch that offers greatest chance of a pilot slot?

Which branch does one have the greatest chance of getting a fixed-wing pilot slot in--Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Air National Guard? I left out Army because from what I have heard, its almost exclusively helos.
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Old 01-06-2007, 05:20 AM
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With Guard and AFRES, you know your plane before you start pilot training. So if you are hired by a unit and sent to school, you can be 100% certain you will fly fixed wing, assuming you graduate and your unti does not fall to any future BRACS. I have heard that there are some reqs for some of the fighter units, where they want you to be in the top X% of the class. In my class, we had 2 helo slots that went to non-vols. Some classes have folks that want helos which makes the rest of the class happy. There was a class that had 3 people that wanted 2 slots. YMMV. BTW, this info was brought to by an active duty AF, heavy pilot. Good luck.
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Old 01-06-2007, 07:32 AM
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That's a tough one. AF has way fewer helo's, but it's harder to get a slot there than in the Navy/USMC. Navy/USMC is over 50% helo pilots - not that's a bad thing (I flew H-60's for 5 years and then got to switch to E-2's; the H-60 was WAY more fun)

USMC will guarantee you a pilot slot early in the process, but you will still drop 9 months at "The Basic School" learning how to lead Marines in the field. They want Marines first, aviators second so if you're not into digiflage (new cammo) don't go. Navy doesn't have that requirement, but you won't know if you got a pilot slot until past the "commitment" line. You could end up on a ship (insert hanging gesture here).

That said, even if you get helo's, you'll fly a T-34 first (about 120 hrs), and can go back as an IP after your sea tour or go fly C-12's (King Airs) and get your airline prep time that way. I've never heard of anyone having a problem getting hired after instructing or going C-12's. IP'ing is more turbine PIC, but you're on your own for ME/ATP. In the C-12 you'll get less PIC, but it's MEL and they usually have a deal set up to get your ATP on your annual check ride.

Others here can speak better of the AF.

HTH
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Old 01-07-2007, 06:13 AM
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If I had it to do all over again, I'd find me a Guard Unit that flew tankers.
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Old 01-08-2007, 05:47 PM
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Depending on your age, I would wait about 5 years and go for the Air Force if you want active duty. Either that or start rushing guard units with fixed wing aircraft. The reason I say wait 5 years if you can is that I predict the Air Force to be in desperate need of pilots again in about 5-10 years. They're always a few years behind the power curve and right now they're letting pilots leave active duty when they should be thinking about upping bonuses and ramping up the pilot production line.
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Old 01-14-2007, 05:43 PM
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I'd be real careful about going military just to get airline time. It's a tricky tight rope to walk. There are new things called "IA's" in the Navy that can have you managing a prison in Baghdad when you figured you were on your way your T-34 shore tour. P-3's are getting sent to the boneyard everyday and the slots for T-44/C-12 instructors are very very very limited. That being said, everyone I know that signed up for whatever reason has loved what they have flown. E-2guy is right that helo guys seem to be extremely happy flying 60's. There are ways to make flying in the military work for you when its time to get to the airlines, but my word of caution is there are many unknowns, both good and bad, waiting for you when you sign that contract. I've had a blast and I'd do it again tomorrow. You're guaranteed to meet your best friends for life.
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Old 01-15-2007, 12:09 AM
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I agree with all the above. I joined the Marine Corps to fly fighters and got my chance. I felt the Marine Corps ,at the time (1994), gave me the best chance of flying because of their pilot slot guarantee. None of the other services offered this at the time. I knew full well going in that I may not fly Fighters but, that's the chance you take and no matter what you end up flying I'm sure you'll love it. I have numerous friends that did not end up with thier first choice, F-18's, but love it whether they fly C-130's or Helo's.
If they all offer a guaranteed pilot slot then I believe the Air Force will give you the best probability of flying fixed wing aircraft because that's what they mostly have. If your just looking for flight time then this is probably not the route for you. Your going to have to want it to make it through, but you'll have a blast doing it.
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Old 01-15-2007, 06:55 AM
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Marines will offer a wide variety of jobs. You could be a F18 or AV8 driver, CH46 or 53s, AH or UHs, MV22s (if you dare), and if you are lucky then maybe C130s, but then also comes the ground tours as Forward Air Controllers, Air Officers and a few other gigs. More often than not, the ground jobs are the ones that stick with you forever, but most never regret having seen how the Marine Infantry units operate. Over ten years in C130s I logged only 2500hrs and that is high for my peers, so you can definitely accumulate flying time quicker elsewhere. If all you want is FW time in military as fast as possible, go Guard or USAF.
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Old 01-16-2007, 09:07 AM
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Originally Posted by Lowtimer77 View Post
Which branch does one have the greatest chance of getting a fixed-wing pilot slot in--Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, or Air National Guard? I left out Army because from what I have heard, its almost exclusively helos.
USAF: Some Helos
USN: Penty of Helos
USMC: Lots of helos
USA: Gobs of Helos
USCG: Almost all Helos

Actually your best option would be the ANG:

1) Get hired at a regional airline FIRST.

2) You select the squadron you wish to affiliate with, so you would only consider fixed-wing squadrons. When you go to flight school you are guaranteed that aircraft. This is the ONLY way to get fixed wing for sure.

3) When you return from guard training, you have enough seniority at your airline to hold captain...get you PIC and now you are applying to majors with both the 121 and military tickets punched...you are golden!
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Old 01-16-2007, 09:30 AM
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Originally Posted by rickair7777 View Post
USAF: Some Helos
USN: Penty of Helos
USMC: Lots of helos
USA: Gobs of Helos
USCG: Almost all Helos

Actually your best option would be the ANG:

1) Get hired at a regional airline FIRST.

2) You select the squadron you wish to affiliate with, so you would only consider fixed-wing squadrons. When you go to flight school you are guaranteed that aircraft. This is the ONLY way to get fixed wing for sure.

3) When you return from guard training, you have enough seniority at your airline to hold captain...get you PIC and now you are applying to majors with both the 121 and military tickets punched...you are golden!
Thank you, Rick, for that post. It has cleared up quite a bit for me! (This might be the path I'll chose, if possible )
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