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Military Flight to Civilian Transition.


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Curious what the transition to civilian flying is like. Specifically regarding jobs available and transitioning from military platforms to civilian.

 

Is there a "better choice" between choosing the UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache Longbow, or the UH-47 Chinook?

 

Are there/what are the strengths and weaknesses of the platforms when transitioning to civilian flight?

 

I have always been drawn to the AH-64 and the UH-60 with aspirations to pursue a career in the 160th SOAR. I ship out to Fort Jackson on the 27th of October-I know I have awhile till selection but I want to weigh my options before I make that final decision when the time comes.

 

Thanks!

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Any airframe will do. Just off hand some of the guys I work with flew UH-60s, AH-1s, CH-46s, CH-47s, UH-1s, OH-58s & V-22.

 

Generally, the instrument jobs will want heavy prior instrument time. In that case I'd lean towards either the 60 or the 47. Still, a 64 IE would have no problem rolling into a SPIFR gig when they retire.

 

Some of your higher end corporate jobs and GOM S-92 / S-76 jobs will require an ATP to fly as a Capt as well. Plenty of commercial helo jobs that just require a COM though. Just depends on what you want to fly, where you want to work, and how much money will allow you and your family to live comfortably.

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Great information! I plan on serving 20 plus years in the Army but I like to plan ahead and keep my options open. I would love to do Emergency Medical Service (EMS), off-shore to oil rigs, or corporate flying once I'm out. Seems like the UH-60 would be the best platform to select if I want to pursue those options; I sure do love the mission of the AH-64 though!

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I'm planning on 20+ in the army too but I picked the 64 because I want to do something you can only do in the military to take advantage of of my military experience.

 

I have a friend who I work with at the fire station who is also a firefighter in the air guard. He said it's miserable doing the same thing at both jobs.

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Great information! I plan on serving 20 plus years in the Army but I like to plan ahead and keep my options open. I would love to do Emergency Medical Service (EMS), off-shore to oil rigs, or corporate flying once I'm out. Seems like the UH-60 would be the best platform to select if I want to pursue those options; I sure do love the mission of the AH-64 though!

I agree with what Scott said above. Pick the mission you want to do. Worry about retirement when it comes. Doesn't matter what you fly, if you do 20 years in a twin engine, IFR aircraft and you have an ATP, you're gonna have your pick of most jobs.

 

If you wanted air ambulance (HAA), a 60 over a 64 wouldn't matter. There's another poster in VR that's retired 64 and flys HAA. Special on Lifetime channel on HAA and one of the pilots flew 64s as well; a CPT at that. How a CPT got 2,000 hrs in a 64 I'll never know. 😀

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I'm planning on 20+ in the army too but I picked the 64 because I want to do something you can only do in the military to take advantage of of my military experience.

 

Great way to look at it, Yamer. Thanks for the wealth of knowledge and advice everyone! I'm grateful for your time and willingness to help out a newb and future Army Aviator like myself. Hopefully I get the 64 when the time comes! Kinda bummed the 58's are retired now.

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Pick the mission you want. Your airframe is like your kid, you're gonna love 'em no matter what, until they try to kill you.

 

20 years is a long time. By the time most guys make 20, they've turned into military retirement welfare queens. They aren't ready to start over again at the bottom. On the civil side, you can have a decent schedule, decent paycheck, or fun. Pick which one you want.

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