Post: #1

Just curious about the life style of anyone who is or who knows about being a military helicopter pilot stationed domestically or abroad? I've loved helicopters my whole life, flown in a few of them, and the idea of becoming a pilot through the military appeals to me; constantly on the move, in different cities/countries, working with my body/hands on a daily basis and meeting new people (how accurate is this?).

I assume the Air Force would be the most preferred branch while being the most competitive? I'd also like to hear about the downsides/drawbacks, I have a bachelor's degree in English so that could be a strike against me

Post: #2

It's hard, brutal work. The demand for helicopters in a war zone is intense. Pilots that are deployed put in some long days and nights. In Iraq, they were flying in 48C temperatures.

The US Army and I think the Navy and USMC all have more helicopters than the USAF.

You can become an Army helicopter pilot right out of high school after warrant officer and flight training.

Post: #3

Helicopters are there to support the troops on the ground while the Air Force is more fixed wing or "Fighter Mafia" type aircraft. There was an Army program called "high school to flight school" but with all the cuts it looks like this might be less likely than going Army ROTC so you can take your chances with it. As an aviation branched commissioned officer you won't always be flying but riding a desk for much of your career but as a warrant you should ALWAYS be flying. The Army is the only branch that has this option as far as I know the Marines, Navy and Air Force are smaller and more selective on picking up pilot candidates.
High school to flight school
December 16, 2009
http://www.army.mil/article/31913/
‘High School to Flight School’, http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armytrng/...ypilot.htm
High School to Flight School Chances?
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index...403AALPBh8

I was never in an aviation unit or a warrant/commissioned officer so I don't know that much about that but I looked into becoming an officer years ago and took the AFAST (Army Alternate Flight Aptitude Selection Test) and it was tough most of the material on the test can be studied for the following lonks may help good luck.
https://forums.goarmy.com/thread/230525
http://flyarmy.blogspot.com/2005/08/how-...afast.html
http://community.armystudyguide.com/grou...4921024762
http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/p611_256_2.pdf
http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/do...flight.pdf

Post: #4

Aviation units are chill in the Army.

Post: #5

The best thing about being a military pilot is that you can be a civil one when you leave the forces.

That's some major dough you'll be racking in.

Post: #6

(05-29-2014 01:27 AM)Vicious Wrote:  The best thing about being a military pilot is that you can be a civil one when you leave the forces.

That's some major dough you'll be racking in.

Yeah but the major dough takes years. I knew a guy with thousands of hours in multi-engine turboprops (US Navy P-3) who was making shit money in a regional airline ($28,000) and had a training contract binding him to that airline for a couple of years.

When you're a senior pilot with a US major airline it's great, but working your way there is not a sure thing and takes awhile with the regionals.

Being a helicopter pilot is not the way to go to be a fixed wing pilot for a major airline. Being a US Navy P-7 (Boeing 737) or a USAF C-17 pilot are the best ways.

The other thing about helicopters is, they are fucking dangerous. If you follow military news, there is almost a standing story that reads: (X) Killed in Military Helicopter Crash. They are crashing all of the time, in peacetime.

Just remember, when you are on a helicopter, you and the fuselage and everything in it are hanging from the rotor on that one metal hub.

The book to read on military helicopter flying is Chickenhawk by Robert Mason. After his description of flying a helicopter you will think you can fly one yourself.

http://www.amazon.com/Chickenhawk-Robert...0143035711

His book Chickenhawk: Back in the World is also an excellent story about his return to the USA and getting busted for running marijuana into the USA on a yacht>

Post: #7

(05-30-2014 03:33 AM)Sp5 Wrote:  

(05-29-2014 01:27 AM)Vicious Wrote:  The best thing about being a military pilot is that you can be a civil one when you leave the forces.

That's some major dough you'll be racking in.

Yeah but the major dough takes years. I knew a guy with thousands of hours in multi-engine turboprops (US Navy P-3) who was making shit money in a regional airline ($28,000) and had a training contract binding him to that airline for a couple of years.

When you're a senior pilot with a US major airline it's great, but working your way there is not a sure thing and takes awhile with the regionals.

Wasn't talking about airlines, offshore rather.

And sure, everyone will have to do the dog years as a junior. But that's true for just about any business.

Post: #8

I'm just getting out of an Army aviation unit near Nürnberg Germany, I'm an enlisted medic so it wasn't that great for me, but the pilots have a great life. Also, if you already have a bachelors degree you'll be able to go in as an officer and have a better shot at flying Blackhawks which apply a lot better to civilian aircraft. Warrent officers usually fly Apaches, which while a lot more badass, don't give you as many job opportunities for when you get out.

Post: #9

The major problem is (at least in the Australian military) is that the aviation regiments are in the middle of fucking nowhere. Then you go abroad....... and guess what? You are station in the middle of fucking nowhere.

The reason why I didn't go for it when I joined the military is that you have to become an officer first, before they even let you look at a multi-million dollar piece of machinery. That's 2 years of intense yes sir no sir training before you even start to learn about your job role.

Post: #10

I went through Navy Flight School. I'd recommend Army, USMC, Coast Guard, and Navy before USAF for helicopter flying. But the Air Force gets nice everything (at least that's the stereotype).

As the guys above said, the flying as a Warrant Officer in the Army is a good deal, better pay than enlisted, not as high as the O's, but at least as a Warrant you will be flying your entire career. Eventually the officers are going to be riding a desk. But the Army doesn't always have the best places to be stationed...I've had buddies that loved their time stationed in Germany, though.

USMC and Navy have some pretty good spots to be stationed around the US, and the Coast Guard has a load of places to fly helos (Miami, Savannah, Hawaii, New Orleans, Atlantic City, LA, San Fran, etc.....they do have some shitty places, but you can see there are some good options).

Cool part of doing the Army/Navy/USMC thing is you can switch halfway through your career to the Coast Guard, basically "restart" your flying career so you won't have to ride a desk as much, still get the 20 year pension. Reasonably competitive, but the Coast Guard takes a lot of their pilots from other services.

As for the "constantly on the move," you'll have your tours that can be around 4 years a pop, and deployments depending on the service you chose. Will certainly result in changes of scenery....

Just be prepared for the paperwork....never thought I'd have so much to do. Especially if you go the officer route. Also the constant "don't rape" trainings and "diversity is good because diversity is good" lectures are about as awesome as AIDS.

As for your degree....You just need one to be an officer, English is fine, they don't care what it's in.

Talking to people who have gotten out, there are a few decent paying jobs, usually for Oil and Gas....taking people to and from oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, or Medevac/air ambulance jobs....my understanding is that pay will start around $55k and should ramp up from there (some jobs considerably so), depending on the helicopter you fly and the mission you'd be doing (the big boys that are certified for instrument flying getting more than the smaller, daytime-good-weather-only helos). General schedule for those is working half the year, either 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off plus vacation, or something like that....so not a bad gig.

OP, i can go on if you had any other questions

Post: #11

You will want to become a warrant officer in the Army for the best chance I think. Warrant officers fly more than officers who have command duties which increase with time and service. Your training will be in Alabama for almost two years i think. The Army has the most helicopters, more than any other branch. They have a pretty good life with the military because their work hours are limited even in combat zones. I'm sure it is sure stressful while they are out there. Us infantry dudes definitely didn't have the conditions they had. I suggest talking to a national guard recruiter and finding a unit in a state with multiple aviation slots open. It was pretty awesome watching those dudes buzz our convoys in Iraq and communicating with attack air in theater when I had my own infantry platoon.

Post: #12

(05-30-2014 03:33 AM)Sp5 Wrote:  

(05-29-2014 01:27 AM)Vicious Wrote:  The best thing about being a military pilot is that you can be a civil one when you leave the forces.

That's some major dough you'll be racking in.

Yeah but the major dough takes years. I knew a guy with thousands of hours in multi-engine turboprops (US Navy P-3) who was making shit money in a regional airline ($28,000) and had a training contract binding him to that airline for a couple of years.

When you're a senior pilot with a US major airline it's great, but working your way there is not a sure thing and takes awhile with the regionals.

Being a helicopter pilot is not the way to go to be a fixed wing pilot for a major airline. Being a US Navy P-7 (Boeing 737) or a USAF C-17 pilot are the best ways.

The other thing about helicopters is, they are fucking dangerous. If you follow military news, there is almost a standing story that reads: (X) Killed in Military Helicopter Crash. They are crashing all of the time, in peacetime.

Just remember, when you are on a helicopter, you and the fuselage and everything in it are hanging from the rotor on that one metal hub.

The book to read on military helicopter flying is Chickenhawk by Robert Mason. After his description of flying a helicopter you will think you can fly one yourself.

http://www.amazon.com/Chickenhawk-Robert...0143035711

His book Chickenhawk: Back in the World is also an excellent story about his return to the USA and getting busted for running marijuana into the USA on a yacht>

SP5
Are you a pilot?
Have you been in the service?
Have you flown a helicopter?

Post: #13

I flew CH-46E's in the USMC in the mid to late '80's. Marine Corps aviators go through Navy flight school. All Naval Aviators get their instrument ratings in flight school and maintain them while flying in the fleet. It is an OK life, decent pay, interesting work at times. I can't say exactly what the routine is like now, but back in the day in peacetime a Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron is working on readiness for the next big deployment. Night operations on night vision goggles was a big thing back then. Squadrons on the East Coast (MC Air Station New River, North Carolina) were in a rotation of going on 6 month Mediterranean cruises on a helicopter carrier. It was pretty interesting because we trained like hell as a part of a big team which was capable of amphibious landings and special operations. For that period of time we were at the absolute pointy end of the spear.

Overall, life in a squadron can be a bit more relaxed than in the USMC ground units. Captains and Lieutenants were on a first name basis. Many of our enlisted men were bright people and we had a crew chief and a first mech (like an assistant crew chief) who flew with us and made sure that everything was being done right in the back of the bird. Crew coordination is tremendously important so you need good communication and teamwork.

My problem with the Marine Corps was that it is important to me to own my time. If you are in the military they own you, and that is not comfortable for me. Some people love that life.

The photo below is of a CH-46 loading troops on a carrier. Marine CH-46's have been replaced by the tilt-rotor Osprey.

Post: #14

25 years active and reserve enlisted and officer military service.

Not a pilot but have been a regular military helicopter passenger.

One thing to add - In 2008 I met a CW5 flying Blackhawks in Iraq who flew Hueys in Vietnam - was wearing 1st Aviation Brigade combat patch. National Guard guy. So you can fly helicopters a long time in the Army.

Post: #15

I forget if this is the job title my infantry buddy told me but you may want to look up being a warrant officer.

They are basically the same as a military officer but your helicopter would be usable under your discretion. So if you feel you are being asked to go somewhere that would put your helicopter in danger [your health not as important of course ].

http://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/b...corps.html

That being a single example.