Changes to GG Rotary Flight Training

severn said:
... is this applicable to USNA Mids?
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I only scanned the article below so I'm not an authority, but it looks like it.

www.dvidshub.net

Tomorrow looks different for Naval Helicopter Training!

The U.S. Navy took a first step to enhance rotary-wing aviation capabilities with an innovative approach that will benefit an age-old partnership. Eight Student Naval Aviators (SNA) including five Navy and three Coast Guard students began training under a new joint-Service, public-private...
www.dvidshub.net www.dvidshub.net
 
RJB1690 said:
I only scanned the article below so I'm not an authority, but it looks like it.

www.dvidshub.net

Tomorrow looks different for Naval Helicopter Training!

The U.S. Navy took a first step to enhance rotary-wing aviation capabilities with an innovative approach that will benefit an age-old partnership. Eight Student Naval Aviators (SNA) including five Navy and three Coast Guard students began training under a new joint-Service, public-private...
www.dvidshub.net www.dvidshub.net
Click to expand...
... six months ago, someone mentioned this regarding Mids taking this route. Thanks.
 
I saw a very similar article from the Coast Guard perspective last week. It looks like it'll be implemented in 2026? By 2026? My DD is a 2025 with flight dreams so it's not clear if she'll be in this or the old path. She asked some aviators on campus what they thought and they were all certain it would produce worse pilots, but I'd kind of expect them to say that. Personally I would miss getting a regular pilot's license on my way to helos, but I'm not 23 and trying to get on with my career.
 
They’re also testing this program with USN SNAs who want to go helos. A small test group to evaluate how effective it is before it’ll be expanded

They did the same with Project Avenger (VR stuff), expanded it to a whole primary squadron, but then found out it wasn’t working how they wanted it to so they’re cutting it
 
Sounds more like a cost-cutting/burden shifting plan than training improvement. That said, I don't know the specifics of the USCG or USN programs.

I do know on the AF side, pilots get half the flight hours before earning wings vs what I got. I don't consider that "better."
 
On the Fleet side, there is a mix of opinions. While it is good to have more focused training, it might give less career options later on. Those who did T-6s first before the TH-75/73 are considered unrestricted Naval Aviators (they can be assigned to helicopter or fixed-wing flying assignments). That is why helo pilots can teach Primary and you will see them flying fixed-wing later in their careers (like C-130s or C-40s in the USNR). Being helo-only could potentially pigeonhole a Naval Aviator into only being able to fly in helicopter assignments. Digressing, it is still worth a try though to see what results it brings. I will say for the current/future SNA crowd, don't pick it just because you might get priority for class placement. Do it because you only want to fly helos and only helos. Being a flight student in Pensacola is not a bad gig.
 
I find it ironic that the Navy and CG would model their help training after the AF lol.
 
Would rotor wing only training affect a pilot's ability to fly commercial airline after getting out of the service?
 
Texas_Pirate2024 said:
Would rotor wing only training affect a pilot's ability to fly commercial airline after getting out of the service?
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Yes. Even now, airlines don't care about helicopter hours. They are only really looking for fixed wing hours, with multi-engine hours preferred. Most helicopter pilots that want to go to the airlines have to try to get fixed wing hours somehow before getting out. Best way to do that is usually as a primary instructor in the T-6.
 
I heard that the rotary-only students still might be considered "unrestricted" Naval Aviators when they wing and could do a T-6 IP tour later on...

Some of my friends are in this program, I guess I'll ask them what it's like when I run into them at Milton.
 
gonavy14 said:
Yes. Even now, airlines don't care about helicopter hours. They are only really looking for fixed wing hours, with multi-engine hours preferred. Most helicopter pilots that want to go to the airlines have to try to get fixed wing hours somehow before getting out. Best way to do that is usually as a primary instructor in the T-6.
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Not necessarily accurate. There are plenty of airlines that are hiring from military rotary hour experience only currently and have designed specific programs that will get helo pilots through their fixed wing add ons to the commercial ratings. The FAA mandatory retirement age and commercial pilot shortage forced the industry to relook at how it viewed helo pilot applicants. It’s one of the biggest factors hurting Army pilot retention that it’s much, much easier to bounce out to the airlines than it used to be. Fixed wing hours help but they aren’t as set in stone required anymore. You might not walk into a major but you’ll be able to get your foot in the door.
 
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