From helo to fixed-wing

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Today I saw 3 chinooks flying in formation over my school. This is an unusual sight here, and everyone tought it was awesome. So I've been thinking about becoming a military chopper pilot. It is not only based on what I saw today; it is based on many years of going back and fourth on the idea of becoming a military aviator.

Would it be possible for me to get free ratings by taking fixed-wing tests in the military if I was to already be a helicopter pilot. And can I transfer from a helicopter unit to a fixed-wing unit( or whatever it is called)?
 
Once you go one way, you generally stay that way, simply due to high training costs. There are exceptions like C650, but I think in his case, there were no more AH-1 Cobras to be had, so he was able to swing into his in-the-rear-with-the-gear gig( /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif). Seriously though, especially in the Army, fixed-wing pilots are very few. Other services, you go one direction, you stay that direction.
 
Short Hijack....

Today around Nashville, it was like Army Helo city!!! "Flight of 2 H-60's", "Single H-60", "Flight of 4 Apaches"...All over my freaking practice area, transitioning over the airport, and just being a pain in the rear in general!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Damn those guys....

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
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Thanks USMC,
I'm racking as much instrument and PIC time while I'm here. I'm not sure about this but do I need to take a ride to get a Commercial Instrument rating or can it be done by test?

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Unless I am mistaken your instrument rating dosent diffrentiate between comercial and private. It does however restrict you to the catagory and class of aircraft (helicopter).

In your case you should get your CPL rotorcraft and instrument rotorcraft. You should just have to take a quick checkride.

When you switch over to fixed wing you can skip the private and go straight to comercial airplane single and multi engine land.

When you get your multi engine you would have to add Airplane to your instrument rating, this covers both singles and twins.

To get your CFI you have to take seperat checkrides for each type of aircraft.

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Crosing over from helos to fixed wing inside the military is pretty tough. It is very rare since Uncle Sam spent all that money on you, he doesn't want to hear about you changing your mind.
 
Did you get to practice your intercept procedures? I hope not.
 
Thanks for all the info. If let's say I was a apache pilot, could I join the airforce and fly something else?
 
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Thanks for all the info. If let's say I was a apache pilot, could I join the airforce and fly something else?

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Ummm, why in the heck would you even do that if it was possible?
 
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Thanks for all the info. If let's say I was a apache pilot, could I join the airforce and fly something else?

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Ummm, why in the heck would you even do that if it was possible?

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Well If I was ever to be a military pilot, after my service I would like to apply for the majors/regionals or corporate. I like helicopter flying in the military, but not in the civillian world. It's not like I can apply for a fixed-wing job at a major when I fly the apache or blackhawk in the military. Or can I?
 
If you went into the military as a helo pilot you would almost certiantly stay with that through your career.

That's not as bad as it sounds, I flew as a Gunner/Arial Observor (kind of a assistant crew chief) while I was in the Marines.

It was the most fun I have had flying in any form. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif After shooting a machine gun while hanging out the side of a helicopter and landing on a rooftop with your nose wheel hanging out into empty space while picking up a load of Navy Seals. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Flying a 747 across the atlantic seems pretty boring. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif



If you flew helos in the military all the helo time will count toward your total time for the purposes of getting your ratings, and qualifications for 135 ops.

Example.
1300 hrs helo, comercial liscense,
+
200 hrs fixed wing
=
ATP liscense & Citation type rating

I personaly know a guy who did just that.


Now for the bad news /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif several airlines dont allow you to count ANY helo time toward your total time for their minimums. In my opinon this is grossly unfair, but thats life. So you would be on your own to build fixed wing time at a small regional/corporate/freight operation.


All in all if you want to be a fighter pilot join the Airforce or Navy and be a fighter pilot.

If you want to fly low and play in the dirt with the troops, join the Army or Marines and fly helos.

If you just want to fly airliners, go the civilian route and fly for the airlines.
 
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Now for the bad news /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif several airlines dont allow you to count ANY helo time toward your total time for their minimums. In my opinon this is grossly unfair, but thats life.

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I think it's completely fair. If you don't agree with it, don't work for them!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Nobody will force you....

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Some one please enlighten me as to why helo drivers sometimes do, or do not get credit for their flight time? I fly in the same airspace as everybody else following the same rules whether it is IFR or VFR, ICAO or FAA. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

The obvious differences are of course the flight characteristics, systems, and aerodynamics. However when you would get a type rating in another fixed wing aircraft these subjects are still discussed and you get credit for previous time.

Managing the cockpit, monitoring systems, radio calls, situational awareness. Whether it is in a helo cockpit or a fixed wing cockpit I’m pretty sure the purpose to do so are the same.

I’m not trying to be too argumentative, just trying to get credit where credit is due. Some are giving it and some are not, so I guess I’m back to my original question. Why is that?.....Oooh look a blue car! LMAO on that one mtsu.

It does break down to if that's the it works now then that's what I gotta live with. Ain't nothin but a thing though.
 
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There are exceptions like C650, but I think in his case, there were no more AH-1 Cobras to be had, so he was able to swing into his in-the-rear-with-the-gear gig( /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif).

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HEY I resemble that remark! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
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Some one please enlighten me as to why helo drivers sometimes do, or do not get credit for their flight time? I fly in the same airspace as everybody else following the same rules whether it is IFR or VFR, ICAO or FAA. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /quote]

Pitotheat1
Welcome aboard, you'll enjoy this site. I believe I can answer your question with a little perspective, as I've flown Rotary and fixed wing both Military and Civilian. The simple (if there is ever such) answer is that airplanes and helicopters are different and thier mission / flight profiles are very diffetent. I will grant you that helicopters are in alot of ways more difficult/challenging to fly and definaltely in the military sense require a larger situational awareness sense. Helicopter pilots use a different set of muscles than airplane pilots and the two are very different. You and I know that helicopter pilots Insrument skills are not the primary skill, tactics are. Other variables include weather interpretation, its different for a helicopter pilot flying within a limited circle of influence and also at a constant low altitude, where an airplane pilot may fly a larger circle of influence (longer leash) and in different stratum. Its like my buddies flying Sherpa's who stay at realatively low altitudes, they have no idea what its like to fly in the flight levels and all that goes along with that.
I believe it is easier for me to teach someone like yourself who has a solid foundation on situational awareness to be an airplane pilot than it would be for me to teach someone to be a tactically proficient pilot that lacked situational awareness. You will find this true as you add ratings in minimum time compared to those who have to do so maximizing thier instuction.
Another big variable in the civilian world is the insurance companies dictate more to us pilots than does the FAA. You have my sympathy about not getting due recognition, but at the same time helicopter time is not the same as airplane time, one can enhance the other but not replace it. Hope this helps.

Jim
 
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. You have my sympathy about not getting due recognition, but at the same time helicopter time is not the same as airplane time, one can enhance the other but not replace it. Hope this helps.

Jim

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Thanks for taking the time Jim,
Looks like I'm just going to have to out there and get that experience to have a full understanding.
I’m looking forward to that though, no doubt.
 
If I recall correctly, you don't need a 4-year degree to fly in the Army, but you do need one to fly in the Air Force.

JR
 
I can't speak for the A.F. side but for the Army it is true that you do not need a four year degree to fly helicopters. However you do need a recruiter that does know how to sign you up for the Flight Warrant program if you are "comming of the streets". They have thier quota to meet and may not be so keen on spending their time learning how to do it. If you do run into that sort, just excecute some persistence and that should help you along the way or sent in the right direction. Check out the U.S. Army web site for more info.

Gawd I sound like a commercial
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....on second thought don't do it man! It's not as romantic as it seems!
grin.gif
 
Today there was a marine recruiter at my hs and to tell the thruth, he was the reduste recruiter out of any other recruite r of the other services that I have seen. He didn't know about the vision requirements needed to become a pilot. I did but just asked to see if he would tell me.

I'm considering going to the A.F and trying out for a slot. Considering more ANG or Reserves. My instructor said that ANG and NG were know as "weekend warriors" but this is not really true anylonger for certain reasons. So how many days a week does a airman work? If I don't get a pilot slot, I'm still considering any position in the cockpit. What exactly is a crew chief? Like, what does he do?
 
FYI, Most recruiters don't focus on Officer recruitment, just enlisted. It's a lot of work and doesn't count toward their monthly quota. If you are intrested in flying as an officer, get in contact with a current pilot for the scoop on how to get selected. (mikeD, ect)

My expireance is from the Marines, but all the services are similar.

Currently with the war in Iraq, serving in the ANG or reserves is a question of when, not if your unit will be called up for a long term deployment.


If you go into the AF as an airman, depending on your job, you can expect to work 8-10hrs, 5-6 days per week (7 day weeks of 12 hr days are not unheard of). Some days are slow and you get off really early, other times you sleep in your shop because you are too tired to drive home.



On helos and cargo planes they have crew chiefs. Most fighters and bombers have "plane captians". They have similar jobs, except crew chiefs get to ride along.

As a crew chief you are responsible for maintaining "your" plane. You do the preflight, routine maintce, cleaning, and servicing. The pilots just show up and drive. Therfore your work day starts 2-3 hours before launch time and last 1-2 hours after you land. Plus the time you spend fixing your bird. It is a very tough job, with probably the longest hours in the airwing, but very rewarding and fun.

My main job was part of the airframe shop, but I got deployed a lot, and crosstrained to cover much of what the crewchiefs did, and got to go flying with them fairly often. It was a blast!
 
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Today there was a marine recruiter at my hs and to tell the thruth, he was the reduste recruiter out of any other recruite r of the other services that I have seen. He didn't know about the vision requirements needed to become a pilot. I did but just asked to see if he would tell me.

I'm considering going to the A.F and trying out for a slot. Considering more ANG or Reserves. My instructor said that ANG and NG were know as "weekend warriors" but this is not really true anylonger for certain reasons. So how many days a week does a airman work? If I don't get a pilot slot, I'm still considering any position in the cockpit. What exactly is a crew chief? Like, what does he do?

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That is a bunch of crap!!!!! I know many AD pilots that only fly once or twice a month. I know many res/AG pilots that fly every week. I think the "weekend warrior" remark is ridiculous. It makes a "Guard bum" look as if he is not profficient, and thast he is just a idiot that jumps in the cockpit on the weekends.
 
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