Flight Surgeon then Pilot

[maschmi2]

Does anyone have any kind of information of getting a position in the left seat via medical school?

I'm contemplating going to medical school and becoming a flight surgeon for the military. From there, using the hours I acquire as a flight surgeon to work for a position in the left seat. This way I'll always have something to fall back on.

Any thoughts/opinions/input?

 

[UPS Capt]

My brother is an ex-Navy flight surgeon. He received all of about 25 hrs flying a JetRanger under the supervision of an instructor pilot . Hardly enough to qualify for any flying position, let alone, the left seat of something. He does have a couple friends who were ex-fighter pilot types who then went to med school.

 

[bssthound]

Unless the regs have changed (they can and do) an Air Force doctor cannot go to pilot training. An Air Force pilot, however, can go to Med School. The time a flight surgeon spends flying won't get him into the left seat of anything because it's NOT pilot time. If you're serious about pursuing that career path I'd recommend pursuing Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) and upon graduation from UPT start sounding off about Med School. Should you get accepted and go straight to Med School you'll have to get your civilian tickets and build flight time just like anyone else to fly in the left seat of anything.