FAA credit for military time

[dhc8fo]

When I was in P'cola in flight school I took the FAA writtens for the fixed wing commercial and instrument. That was all we had to do to get the FAA ratings since we were getting the equivalent training thru the military.

Question is can I do this for any more ratings, like my rotor CFI, a CFII, or an ATP? Has anyone else done this? If so, can you give me some guidance?

Thanks guys!

 

[SIG600]

As far as I know... Military time only counts towards a commercial certificate with approiate ratings for your community, and a type rating if you flew anything big i.e. P-3, KC-10, etc. Nothing more. A CFI/II is a whole new regime of tickets.

 

[skiddriver]

Your time only counts for experience requirements. CFI/CFII take civilian training. You can self-study for the ATP written, and use your military flight time to qualify for a checkride. Did mine in a C-12 with and FAA examiner in the first passenger seat and one of our squadron IPs in the right seat.

 

[Andy]

When I was in P'cola in flight school I took the FAA writtens for the fixed wing commercial and instrument. That was all we had to do to get the FAA ratings since we were getting the equivalent training thru the military.

Question is can I do this for any more ratings, like my rotor CFI, a CFII, or an ATP? Has anyone else done this? If so, can you give me some guidance?

Thanks guys!

Short answer, no. Long answer, read on.

I got my commercial through the mil equivalency test just as you did (with a ME centerline thrust restriction).
I used VA benefits to get my commercial SE and CFI. I've never gotten the CFII. It didn't take too long; I'd get all of the written tests done prior to actually doing the flight training. I used Gleim (http://www.gleim.com/?PHPSESSID=e1ab9112201b517a8d3dfa18dbe25fd6) for the writtens.

Make sure that you keep a separate 'civilian' logbook for all of your flight time. I logged both civilian and military time in that logbook. I never used any multiplier for my military time, in spite of taxi times usually being longer than 5 minutes. Also, make sure that you log instrument and night time on your military flights ... I have seen a LOT of military pilots shortchange themselves until they come up for their ATP.

When I came up for my ATP, I just went to one of those weekend wonder classes after I had the ATP and FE writtens completed. I did another weekend course for my writtens at lone eagle; http://www.loneeagleseminars.com/index.html
It's been more than 10 years, but I highly recommend Lone Eagle for 'cram' courses.

Are you going to be flying fixed wing or rotor in the military?

 

[dhc8fo]

Are you going to be flying fixed wing or rotor in the military?

Was a helo guy....retired and went civilian. Went to the Academy so didn't qualify for the GI bill. Just recently looking into the VA benefits.

I was just looking for the magic pill!

Thanks guys.

 

[Andy]

Was a helo guy....retired and went civilian. Went to the Academy so didn't qualify for the GI bill. Just recently looking into the VA benefits.

I was just looking for the magic pill!

Thanks guys.

Sorry, no magic pill. I checked all of that when I was converting all of my ratings.

 

[Pistlpetet]

When I was in P'cola in flight school I took the FAA writtens for the fixed wing commercial and instrument. That was all we had to do to get the FAA ratings since we were getting the equivalent training thru the military.

Question is can I do this for any more ratings, like my rotor CFI, a CFII, or an ATP? Has anyone else done this? If so, can you give me some guidance?

Thanks guys!

So did you ever take your Military Flight Records to the FSDO and get your Rotorcraft/Instrument put on your Ticket?

If you did not, you are SOL if you have not logged at least 10 hours of Military PIC time in the last twelve months in whatever you were qualed to fly. That needs to be proven to the FSDO for them to issue any rating based on military experience.

That book the FAR/AIM has all your answers to your questions.

 

[T2Pilot]

You can't get around taking the tests and checkrides. Your military time can qualify you to take the ATP test (you need a "permission slip" from the FSDO by showing your logbook.) The test isn't too bad if you do self-study. I paid for a course that included test prep, flight prep and checkride. The test prep was basically sit in a room and study. The flight prep was with a young brand new CFII who knew the piper Seminole very well but nothing about military flying. I knew nothing about G/A flying so we had a cultural gap. It took me awhile to catch on to flying an NDB with a fixed compass card. The instructor had never heard of an actual working compass card on an NDB. This slowed learning down a bit. The checkride was the easiest I ever had. My military ones have been much tougher. I'd skip the paid test prep but go with the flight training with a guaranteed pass (or they'll retrain you for a new check).

One area where you can skip a checkride is type ratings if your military aircraft has a civilian equivalent. Then you just need the hours and a checkride showing you are qualified as an aircraft commander.

 

[T2Pilot]

Another thing to consider....if you are going to get a type rating anyway i.e. 737, 727, etc. you can do your ATP at the same time as the type rating. Take the ATP test before you start the type (test is good for two years) and make sure your commercial has no restrictions such as centerline thrust only. The type rating check meets the ATP requirements and you'll save a few grand.

 

[Pistlpetet]

There is no CFI sign off or permission that you need to take the ATP written test. You just need to meet the Requirements for license and Flight time.