How helpful is a Private pilot's license (helicopter) when trying to become an Army Aviator?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 16:28:09 -0400

I am in the beginning stages of my warrant officer packet for 153A. I'm currently an Intel Analyst in the reserves, I'm working on a bachelors, and my private pilots license. I am still planning on finishing my bachelors, but I want to take a few classes per semester online from here out so I can start the process to becoming an active duty warrant officer sooner. I guess my main question is how competitive will my PPL make me? I have a good college GPA, high ASVAB (84 overall) and GT score (130's i believe?) and my PT scores are high. I'm open to any advice to help me along the way as well, as I am having a hard time finding credible info on the web. Thanks in advance!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2020 4:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 16:30:15 -0400

Nobody knows what the board considers “good”. I have a PPL and I was a FQ-NS at the last board.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Apr 4 at 2020 4:35 PM

SPC Nancy Greene — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 16:35:05 -0400

Not certain of WO regulations. My original enlistment contract included OCS & Jump School. Unfortunately, due to injury in Basic, this career path was not an option. With a Batchelors Degree & Pilot’s license; you ‘should’ be able to ‘lock’ your career path on with your contract.
You ‘should’ have the option of Warrant or Officer. You have already completed Basic & AIT. OCS, Warrant schools are easily accessible with your current background. Pilot’s license is INVALUABLE to the Military!
Best of luck in your Military endeavors!
Connect with me if you would like assistance with your questions...Nancy

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2020 4:53 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 16:53:34 -0400

I wouldn’t concentrate on your PPL entirely. Flight experience will undoubtedly help you in flight school but I’m not sure that the board pays too much attention to it. Having college experience is a plus and if you could finish your bachelors that would show the board that your can start something and follow through and finish it. Your GT and PT are good so if you really want to become an Army aviator there is no reason to wait (it’s a long process). Your next step would be to schedule to take the SIFT test and then get a flight physical. These are the basic qualifications to see if your are eligible. The Warrant Officer Recruiting Webpage has all the information you need about submitting your packet and be sure to follow the sample packet EXACTLY. I had my bachelors but zero flight experience and only two years active service when I was selected. Any additional questions you have I will be happy to help with.

Response by SGM Robert Murray made Apr 4 at 2020 7:05 PM

SGM Robert Murray — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 19:05:00 -0400

It's frickin' awesome. It makes you almost a shoe in if your whole person evaluation meets the appropriate standard. There's still the professional development that comes with being a warrant, yes. Flying? If you even are identified as a student pilot and you've taken the private pilot prep exam. If so, you've got that down. Keep pushing.

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Apr 4 at 2020 7:52 PM

LT Brad McInnis — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 19:52:42 -0400

If your package is as strong as it can be, your grades as good as they can be, your PT scores as high as they can be, then sure go for it. But, if you don't even make it in the 1st cut of the board because of the basics, then it doesn't matter if you have a PPL. FWIW, I was working on my PPL in HS with plans to be a Naval Aviator. Was told by a 0-6 FO, that it doesn't matter, they can teach a monkey to fly, and generally they don't want you to have developed bad habits. The military will teach you the way they want you to fly.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2020 11:30 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 23:30:28 -0400

Having flight training experience will not help you get selected. However, where that experience will come in handy is when you start flight training. With a PPL you “should” have an understanding of how pitch and power are utilized, how to talk to atc/make ctaf calls, unserstand some faa regulation, and understand a list of other basic aviation fundamentals. Coming in with zero experience everything is thrown at you, so if you can have a solid foundation prior to arrive it will undoubtably help in that regard. As for the board, if you have low AFS years, a degree, good pt score, and some solid LORs. There’s no reason you would not get picked up.

Response by SSgt Don Gabel made Apr 5 at 2020 10:50 PM

SSgt Don Gabel — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 22:50:38 -0400

Some preliminary Flight training won’t hurt. The helicopter aerodynamics are extremely important. So if you to get a head start find a good book on helicopter aerodynamics. It will make the classroom a bit easier.

Response by Maj Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2020 6:34 PM

Maj Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 18:34:15 -0400

Most others are answering the question, “Will a private license help me get selected for the aviator path?” I’m going to answer your question, “Will a private license be useful to me, getting through flight school?”

If you were to pursue an airplane license before helicopter training, I would say it’s not worth the effort. The expense and the time drain won’t help you a bit when you climb into something that’s not an airplane. Sure, learning something about weather, or a circular slide ruler, or basic systems, or airspace—these are universal. But the monkey skills will be useless. In fact, they could hinder your transition into a helicopter. You’d be better off reading a textbook from cover to cover before you go.

Meanwhile, if you acquired some helicopter lessons, even just a few, not even a complete private license...this would be useful. You’d already be good at hovering, maneuvering, landing. You’d know the aerodynamics and the systems. That would definitely help you—through the BEGINNING of flight school.

Eventually, though, your peers will catch up to your level. It’s inevitable. And eventually, you’ll move on to things that you didn’t get in your training. Off-airport landings. Instrument flight, instrument navigation, instrument approach and landing. Formation flight. All these things come before you get your wings. And everyone else will complete this training, too. Your peers WILL catch up to you—the ones who didn’t have any training until their first lesson at Rucker. You’ll look back at your few lessons—even a whole private certificate—and probably say, “It helped me advance very quickly in the beginning, but then I outpaced myself.”

If you’re made of money, and have nothing better to do, and you live near an airport with helicopter instruction, it couldn’t hurt you. But if it’s a Herculean effort to get helicopter training, then I wouldn’t worry about it. And what if you get hurt in training, or there’s something wrong with your medical clearance, and you’re denied flight school? Big waste. Go buy a textbook, and teach yourself weather theory, and how to read weather reports, and what colors mean what things on a runway, etc. That’ll make you some bank, too.

If you’re thinking about going the Navy/Marine/Coast Guard route, my answer changes dramatically. But you said Army. Good luck! I was once an E-3 with dreams of being an officer and going to flight school, too.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2020 2:53 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 14:53:33 -0400

I don't know anyone who has ever sat on the board, or who knows what the board considers competitive, for certain. However, I've never seen anyone who was fully qualified and held a PPLwho wasn't selected. I'm sure it happens, but I've never seen it.

Response by SFC Jeremy Boyd made Apr 11 at 2020 3:52 PM

SFC Jeremy Boyd — Sat, 11 Apr 2020 15:52:20 -0400

Having a PPL isn't necessarily a qualifier, but it can definitely help set you apart for the WOFT board. The majority of WOFT applicants will either have no flight hours, or a certain amount of flight hours but no license yet. Having a high ASVAB and line scores helps a great deal also. I would also suggest, if you don't already have one, that you attempt to at least secure an Associate's Degree from your college while in pursuit of your Bachelor, if you have enough credits to do so. It won't weigh as heavily as a Bachelor's Degree with the board, but it would at least be a level of post-secondary education credential coupled with your license. I've seen too many WOFT applicants in the past try to board with just a high school diploma or a number of college credits with no degree credential, just to not make the cut. Also, make sure your applicant statement on why you want to be an Army Aviator and your letters of recommendation are strong. Ensure at least one of your letters of recommendation is from current or prior Army Aviator that can speak well on your behalf, and also one from the pilot who instructed and licensed you.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2020 10:36 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Jun 2020 22:36:12 -0400

I had a friend that had his pilot license in the 82nd ABN, only thing he had was going out the ass end of a C-130 or C-141. He was still a PFC.

Response by SGT George G. made Jun 25 at 2020 1:24 PM

SGT George G. — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 13:24:52 -0400

Finish college first! Having a PPL did not have any bearing on allowing me to take the warrant officer exam. I never got into flight school but did 153 combat missions with just a bit under 700 hours as a Crew Chief for the Battalion commander of the First Cavalry,MG George W Putnam Jr. I received training from the PIC( a first LT) and ended up with about 50 hours of stick time on UH-1H Hueys. For the new WO 1's I could hover and go around the pattern a little bit better than them. Won many a case of beer when I bet them I could hover within a 10 foot square. I got em all. Shared my winnings with the LT. Proud to have served with the HHT 1/9 Cavalry Phouc Vinh Vietnam 1970-71

Response by SSgt Don Gabel made Aug 16 at 2021 11:25 PM

SSgt Don Gabel — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 23:25:51 -0400

It certainly can’t hurt, recommend getting a head start on aerodynamics and systems. I recommend these to manuals: Rotorcraft Flying Handbook by the FAA (FAA-H-8083-21) and Principles of Helicopter Flight by W J Wagtendonk from ASA (Aviation Supply and Academics)

Don CFI-I Helicopters and Airplanes