Posted on May 12, 2017
Gary Henson
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I'm a civilian and I ultimately want to be an army warrant helicopter pilot but someone in army aviation told me I won't be able to get in until 2019 even if I'm accepted. I figured Id choose one of these and try to get some valuable skills and become a warrant once I'm already in instead of waiting for 2 yrs. I've heard as 15E you can make good money in civil sector but not sure about other mos's
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SGT(P) Landon Mintz
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I'm a 15T and I can tell you with no inhabitions put the warrant pack in now. Find out when the next board is and have it ready. You have a better shot right now than ever, I will not elaborate but from the inside looking out I'm telling you your own personal drive and will to compete for that warrant job will determine whether you get it or not. Nothing stands in your way but yourself become that pilot, look forward to flying with you one day.
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LTC Operations Officer (Opso)
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Gary Henson 25B if you get any certificates such as A++.
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SSG Aircraft Mechanic
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Army pilots come from all career fields. If you came in as a 15T (Black Hawk), 15U (Chinook), or 15R (Apache), or really any other 15 series maintenance MOS, you'd get a working knowledge of the systems of an airframe which is pretty important. That would also boost your opportunity to become a Maintenance Test Pilot at some point in your career. If you enlisted as a 15T or 15U and worked your way into a flight company as a crew chief (15T) or flight engineer (15U) that would give you that much more knowledge of an airframe going into flight school. 15P (Flight Operations) wouldn't be bad either because it would give you some experience in the administrative side of aviation.

If you're looking at the Guard, the UH-72 Lakota is also an option. Most, if not all, states have them. It requires the 15T MOS and they'll send you to get your A&P License.
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Gary Henson
Gary Henson
7 y
I've heard different stories about the A&P certification. In person everyone says you can get out and make 6 figures. I did some research online and the average salaries are like 50k. Any knowledge of this? I'm thinking maybe they're talking about contracting work instead of a steady career.
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SSG Aircraft Mechanic
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Contracting work will make you a lot of money. Some require the A&P, some don't.
The money involved does depend on where you work and who you work for. The bigger money comes if you get your FAA Inspection Authorization. You'd do annual inspections on aircraft, return aircraft and parts to service after maintenance, or you could do your own thing and do the inspections on privately owned aircraft. I've talked to a couple of guys that do 2 or 3 inspections a month and make as much if not more money than I do working 40 hours a week.
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Gary Henson
Gary Henson
7 y
Wow..... These were contract workers?
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SSG Aircraft Mechanic
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7 y
No, they just held that IA and private owners would call them to do the inspections on their a/c.
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