Expert: James Bell - 5/23/2006

Question
Hey james,i am a fresh man in high school and want to fly C-17 or C-5 or maybe even fighter pilots but im intrested more in the heavies. anyways i would like to know if the C-17 or the C-5 or any aircraft can you choose any of them when you get a pilot slot and pass all your courses and all you have to do to choose?  Can you explain to me how to become a pilot for these aircrafts if you can?  how did you reach your goals?  Can you fly more than one air craft that you like? or can you only pick one?

Answer
Greetings Michael -

First of all, I was never a pilot.  I was an enlisted flight engineer (think of Scotty on the Enterprise).  I didn't fly the plane, but I operated and maintained all the systems.

However, I have known enough pilots over my 24 years of service to know their education process.

#1 - Get a degree.  A four year bachelor's degree is required.

#2 - Meet the requirements.  Small and big things: Be a U. S. citizen, meet the physical fitness requirements, weight, height, hearing, etc.

#3 - Get accepted into a commissioning program.  You can do this either through ROTC during college, or an OTC or other available commissioning program.  There are three tests you will need to take: The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocation Aptitude Battery [mostly for enlisting, but everyone takes it]), AFOQT (Air Force Officer's Qualification Test), and another specifically for pilots, but I don't remember what it is called.

#4 - Get accepted into pilot training.  A flight physical is more rigorous than needed for a non-flying officer.  You need 20/20 vision, and a host of other things.

#5 - Finish pilot training at or near the top of your class.  The top pilot in each class gets first pick of aircraft and assignment, then second, third, etc.  The assignments available also change depending on the needs of the Air Force at that time.  I have heard that some classes only get fighter slots, while others only het heavies, but that is a rare exception.  Most graduating classes have a mixture of aircraft available for choosing.

Flight training is broken down into two major components: UPT and MWS training.  UPT is undergraduate pilot training.  That is basic pilot school: theory of flight, basic aircraft design and operation, takeoffs, landings, navigation, visual flight and instrument training.

After that comes MWS training.  This means major weapon's system training.  That is where you learn the specifics of the aircraft you will fly for your first assignment, whether it be a C-5, C-17, KC-10, KC-135, F-15, etc.

Most pilots will fly at least three to four different aircraft in a 15-20 year career.  That's because you move around from assignment to assignment, and that often requires changing aircraft.  During my career I flew on the C-5, C-141 and KC-10.  I've had pilots in my various squadrons that have flown F-4's, B-52's, C-130's, C-21's, G-5's, and many other aircraft.

I hope this gives you a general idea of what layes ahead for you.  If you have anymore questions, don't hesitate to write back.

Sincerely,
James Bell