military certificates/ratings?

[be76pilot]

Hi, I have always wondered if there are any differences between the civilian flight training certificates and ratings, and what you get during military flight training. Are military certificates/ratings issued by the FAA, or the military? Is military flight training consolodated into different certificates/ratings? Any other info about military aviation training, fixed or rotor, would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[weekendwarrior]

In the Army, you get rotor wing (or fixed wing if you are lucky) qualified. Part of flight school is insturment training, so by default, you are already instrument qualified when you get your wings.

The FAA will issue you a commercial rotorcraft instrument rating (and type rating if you fly CH-47's) with a simple written commercial test. It is a military compentency test, not the full blown commercial. Places around here charge you $130 for a 2 hour class, the test, and the FAA rating.

It's the cheapest rating you will ever get, that's for sure. Plus, you get paid to do it. Think about this. I got paid in the neighborhood of $35,000 last year to get 150 hours of TURBINE helicopter time, a commercial instrument helo rating. People in civilian flight schools PAY $30,000 for this rating, and only end up with piston helicopter time!

 

[MDPilot]

Pretty much the same thing with fixed wing. By taking a military competency test, a military pilot can obtain a FAA multiengine commercial instrument ticket. As far as flying military aircraft, no FAA cert is needed. A Military pilot can fly for his entire career without any FAA certification.

 

[be76pilot]

Thanks a lot for helping me understand this topic a little more clearly.

 

[RichO]

Don't forget the type rating you get when you upgrade to Aircraft commander in the C-130........

 

[f18pugsley]

The questions for the military competancy test come from the same question bank as the commercial exam.

When you become a rated aviator, you can take the results from the equivalency test to the FSDO and get a commercial and instrument ticket for the category and class you are rated to fly. Once you have the commercial ticket (or if you had one before going into the military), but then go fly a different platform, you can get the new rating by showing your commercial license and the proof of the new type. I.e. you are an army aviator with the commercial helo ticket, then transition C-12s, you can get the MEL added by simply taking your paperwork to the FSDO. No additional test needed.

On your initial, you will get tickets for all platforms you have flown in the past year. A Navy helo pilot right after winging will get the helo and SEL (for the T-34). A Navy FW pilot will get the MEL and SEL (SEL for the T-34 and T-45, MEL/CL thrust restricted for the T-2, MEL for the F-14, S-3, T-44, etc.)

One caution: You must have flown 10 hours in the A/C category in the past year in order for the times to apply. A certain aviator (me) was lazy and did not do the equivalency stuff for 4 years after wings. Now I need to do the full check ride in order to get the SEL added. $300 for a check ride (plus the plane time) just because I didn't have the foresight to knock it out right after I got winged is an expensive lesson!

P.S. I know of people who fly C-12s, etc who have worked an ATP by taking a FSDO examiner for a check flight. Don't know how they did it, but nothing like doing the check ride in your own airplane.

 

[Crush]

People who join the military simply for what they can get out of it for themselves stand out like a sore thumb. My experience with those who aren't excited about actually serving and flying for the military is that they are incessant complainers and are not usually much fun to have around. The end result for that person is they usually don't find themselves doing too many missions or being picked for any advanced quals anyway so they don't really accomplish their overall goal of tons of hours for the airlines anyway....at least that is how it is in the Navy....may be different in the Air Force, but the Navy doesn't reward too many of those who aren't in it all the way.

 

[NZCHooverboy]

Benefits

Crush, I believe that there is nothing wrong with those that take care of the mission at hand, yet plan for future contingencies. If you are speaking of the bad apples that spend all waking hours in the ready room bitching about the Navy, then I agree with you.



Everyone who serves in Naval Aviation has worked hard to get there. On the flipside, you have to work just as hard to transition back to civilian life. Not every Ensign is destined for Commander. We live in a pyramid organization and most of us should plan on returning to civilian life in our thirties or forties.



My advice is to serve your country well and also take advantages of the benefits available to you. I got my ratings and a master’s degree on the Navy’s dime. I’m now enjoying my second career as an airline pilot after serving for 20 years.

 

[be76pilot]

Once again, thanks to everyone who replied to my original questions, and I am always looking for any more information/advice that you guys could offer.