Student Naval Aviator here

Ok, so I got the message in my e-mail that AviatorChat.com isn't getting the kind of traffic they've been hoping to see on here. I figured I would try and do my part to remedy that. I can really only contribute from the experience I've had so far as a United States Sailor and Student Naval Aviator. I read a couple of old posts on here asking questions about going the Navy route towards a flying career and I may be able to answer some questions about the early stages of such a career.

I'm currently flying the T-45A Goshawk out of NAS Kingsville, TX as part of the advanced flight training program for the E-2C Hawkeye or the C-2A Greyhound. It's been almost 2 years since I first stepped into the cockpit of my first military aircraft, the T-34C Turbomentor. I took the scenic route to get where I am now, having enlisted in the Navy in 1995 and finding my way to an officer program from inside the Navy. I did the ROTC option, majored in Mechanical Engineering, and got my master's in Aeronautical Engineering my first year after commissioning. Since then, it's been all about fulfilling this lifelong dream of flying for the Navy.

That's me in a nutshell. I look forward to learning more from everyone else about their various experiences with aviation. I'll be happy to try and answer anybody's questions about Naval Aviator training.

 

I would say the majority of those showing up for flight training have little or no flight experience. In fact, having a lot of flying experience, i.e. a commercial license, can be a negative player towards someone making it through flight training. Military flying is quite different than civilian flying. The instructors here will teach you as if you've never been in an airplane before.

Although some kind of technical degree is looked on favorably by the Navy, it's by no means a requirement for acceptance into flight school. There are a number of engeering majors, sure. There are also a good number of business, political science, and other such non-technical majors amongst my peers here in Kingsville.

For you personally, you would need to look into applying directly for OCS. You can do that with an officer recruiter in your area and can apply for pilot directly. Assuming you meet all the requirements, a package would be sent to the selection board and they will make the decision on acceptance. At that point you'd just be getting ready to attend OCS, which is currently in Pensacola. After graduation, you'd go right into flight training. Hope that helps.

 

No, you are able to apply directly for pilot as I understand it. That being said, I didn't go through OCS, but have several friends who did, so I know some things about it. Please, don't take what I say as gospel though. Confirm it with a recruiter if you're truly interested.

From what I've heard, you will have plenty of time between being accepted and showing up to OCS to "get ready". Also, you would not have to attend if you weren't accepted for a pilot slot. You would either walk away, apply again, or try for other Navy job if being a Naval Officer is really what you want to do. You can find the answers to the questions you have and more at this website:

http://www.usnavyocs.com/portal/index.php

 

I am in the advanced pipeline for either the E-2C Hawkeye or the C-2A Greyhound. I'm hoping for the Hawkeye only because I want to be more of a part of the tactical side of things.

I've been flying the T-45A for about 6 months now with about 2-3 to go. Before that it was the T-44A which I flew for about 5 months, and the T-34C which was about 6 months. All together with API, and times sitting around waiting for the next phase to begin, I've been a student now for 33 months. If you do the math, that's a lot of sitting around! Between the Navy being backed up with student pilots, and the E2/C2 syllabus being the longest in the Navy, it takes awhile.

I will going to the carrier either in March or May, depending on how quickly I can get through the events that come before that. Right now I am in Forms which is one of the most fun things to do. I just got back from taking a jet to Las Vegas for the weekend. That was a blast! I had never been there before and now I can't wait to go back.

 

During the periods where I was waiting around for further training, I more or less took my mind off of flying. It wasn't really worth thinking about too much if I wasn't able to put it to practice at the time. Besides, they didn't really just let us sit around. We were still being paid after all. They had various odd jobs here and there for us to do. Some were mundane and some actually required work. I usually knew a few weeks in advance when I was supposed to be starting back up. It was then that I started cracking the books back open again. Playing around with flight sim helped to keep my instrument procedures relatively sharp. It hasn't turned out to be a big deal. Once they get you started in one aircraft, it's pretty much non-stop until you're finished.

I'm anticipating another delay in training once I'm done here and have moved to Norfolk to start with the E-2. It may not be long though from what we're beginning to hear. We'll see I guess. I can usually find something worthwhile to do while waiting. It often includes consumption of alcohol!!!

Wish me luck tomorrow guys. I'll be doing my instrument check ride. The one that will finally earn me my instrument rating! It will be nice to finally not be so limited by weather. I'll be going up to Houston and back. Hopefully it will be fun.

 

Ok, let's see if I can remember all of the questions.

E2/C2 was second on my dream sheet. I chose strike first, E2/C2 second, and Rotary third. At the time of my selection, Oct 05, the strike pipeline was making an effort not to select anyone with any kind of airsickness issues coming out of primary. Well, yours truly got sick a couple of times while learning how to do spins. I got over it but it wasn't good enough. They figured I still had the grades for carrier aviation so that's how I got E2/C2. Airsickness is not necessarily a no-go for strike. It all depends on timing and the needs of the navy.

The advanced pipeline is flying the T-45A. For primary you start in the T-34C. This is supposed to be phasing out to become the T-6II and depending on where you go for primary, you can fly it now. The intermediate phase for E2/C2 is flying the T-44A, basically a military King Air 90. After advanced you earn your wings of gold. At that point you will receive orders to the Fleet Replacement Squadron where training will begin on your fleet aircraft.

I would say strike is the most popular choice. Almost everybody wants it before starting primary. Those numbers go down during primary as people start to determine what kind of flying they like doing best, i.e. instruments, aerobatics, formation, straight and level stuff. I would agree that potential flying time is an important factor in some people's decision to choose a big aircraft like the E-6A Tacamo or the P-3C Orion. The last time I checked, most people get selected to fly helo's. I would say that's for two reasons: 1) We've got a lot of them, 2) They require two pilots to fly them. It looks fun though and I wouldn't mind having a go at one at some point.

My guess is about 20-25% of students get selected for strike. That number will fluctuate based on, once again, "the needs of the Navy". You are chosen based on a score you earn in primary called a Navy Standard Score, or NSS. The NSS ranges from 20-80 with 50 being average. The goal is to stay above 50 but I would recommend just doing as well as you can and not worrying about your NSS until the end. Coming up with the score is done with a lot of smoke and mirrors but it has something to do with comparing your performance with the 200-250 students ahead of you who have completed.

That's about all I can type right now. Hope I answered all of the questions. Keep them coming.

 

AF vs. Navy huh?? Well, I offer you this. Pick which one is right for you.

The piece is written by Bob Norris, a former Naval aviator who also did a
3 year exchange tour flying the F-15 Eagle. He is now an accomplished
author of entertaining books about U.S. Naval Aviation including "Check
Six" and "Fly-Off". In response to a letter from an aspiring fighter pilot on which military academy to attend, Bob replied with the following:


22 December 2005

Young Man,

Congratulations on your selection to both the Naval and Air Force
Academies. Your goal of becoming a fighter pilot is impressive and a fine
way to serve your country. As you requested, I'd be happy to share some
insight into which service would be the best choice. Each service has a
distinctly different culture. You need to ask yourself "Which one am I more
likely to thrive in?"

USAF Snapshot: The USAF is exceptionally well organized and well run. Their
training programs are terrific. All pilots are groomed to meet high
standards for knowledge and professionalism. Their aircraft are top-notch
and extremely well maintained. Their facilities are excellent. Their
enlisted personnel are the brightest and the best trained. The USAF is
homogenous and macro. No matter where you go, you'll know what to expect, what is expected of you, and you'll be given the training & tools you need to meet those expectations. You will never be put in a situation over your head. Over a 20-year career, you will be home for most important family events. Your Mom would want you to be an Air Force pilot...so would your wife. Your Dad would want your sister to marry one.

Navy Snapshot: Aviators are part of the Navy, but so are Black Shoes
(surface warfare) and Bubble Heads (submariners). Furthermore, the Navy is
split into two distinctly different Fleets (West and East Coast). The Navy
is heterogeneous and micro. Your squadron is your home; it may be great,
average, or awful. A squadron can go from one extreme to the other before
you know it. You will spend months preparing for cruise and months on
cruise. The quality of the aircraft varies directly with the availability
of parts. Senior Navy enlisted are salt of the earth; you'll be proud if
you earn their respect. Junior enlisted vary from terrific to the troubled
kid the judge made join the service. You will be given the opportunity to
lead these people during your career; you will be humbled and get your
hands dirty. The quality of your training will vary and sometimes you will
be over your head. You will miss many important family events. There will
be long stretches of tedious duty aboard ship. You will fly in very bad
weather and/or at night and you will be scared many times. You will fly
with legends in the Navy and they will kick your ass until you become a
lethal force. And some days - when the scheduling Gods have smiled upon you - your jet will catapult into a glorious morning over a far-away sea and
you will be drop-jawed that someone would pay you to do it. The hottest
girl in the bar wants to meet the Naval Aviator. That bar is in Singapore.

Bottom line, son, if you gotta ask...pack warm & good luck in Colorado.


Banzai


P.S.: Air Force pilots wear scarves and iron their flight suits.



Flare to land, squat to pee.

 

Yeah, it's a lot of fun to fly. That picture is a little old, but it gets the point accross. I've just entered the last part of training known as Phase 1, Formation. Right now I'm doing the 2 plane parade form. Shortly I will be in cruise formation, and then we'll start adding aircraft to the flight. After that the final portion of training will begin, carrier quaification. I'll post a link to a youtube video that shows the T-45 in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf_gESt0i2w