Mil CIV 2 Tips for the transitioning military helicopter pilot
When I was commissioned as an officer in the Marines, I had no intention of staying in beyond the required time commitment that I had to fulfill. But life as a Cobra helicopter pilot grew on me. Supporting our Marines on the ground was an awesome responsibility and one that we all took quite seriously. The military provides great training, support and mission focus – an entire system that we take for granted at times. I had no plans to continue flying post-service either, but time and space aligned. I was not only able to stay in the cockpit, but able to do so in another model of Cobra that was retrofitted for firefighting operations. I got to do nearly the same job without being shot at! Was I fully prepared to make the transition? In my mind, I was more than ready to leave “Big Green” behind and take on this challenging new mission, but there was a lot more luck than planning. What I would like to offer are just a couple points that may reduce your need for luck as you make your transition in a more thoughtful and intentional way.
My possession of a commercial fixed- and rotary-wing license was a fluke. Completing flight school was my primary concern in Pensacola, Florida. Once done, a friend approached me with a flyer that offered a one-day session to obtain both FAA certificates through equivalency and a written exam. I went only because I had nothing else to do. Had I not done this, I likely would not have continued flying after retirement. I now had my commercial licenses, but I did no “civilian flying” during my military career. If you have even the remotest idea that you will fly following your service, obtain your certificate with intention and, if the opportunity is present, use it to maintain all of your skills. This requires adhering to the next necessary step: a valid medical certification.
The military uses an annual flight physical to ensure that you meet the physical standards required to be an aviator. I received my initial FAA Class II medical only because an FAA certified military flight surgeon offered it as part of the annual physical. If you
18 July/Aug 2024
By Mark C. Voelker
DON’T BE LUCKY - BE INTENTIONAL
don’t have this luxury, find an AME in your area while you are still enlisted, and spend the money to maintain your medical annually. This builds a rapport with a doctor, history within the system, and familiarity for how the FAA medical system works – well before it becomes the system you depend on. I was hired as a contract pilot for the Forest Service months before I officially retired, yet no one told me that I had to obtain a Class II medical before my flight training in this new capacity. They made assumptions that I would just know this. Fortunately, I listened to my intuition and had taken care of it on my own. This leads to what was most revelatory about transitioning from military to commercial flying: the “support system” or lack thereof.
How is commercial flying different from the military? In the commercial world, the mission for many companies means employing their assets safely, efficiently and effectively, yet in the most financially profitable way possible. Certainly, that’s a different “bottom line” than in the military. In commercial flying, you are the sole operator/decision-maker in the aircraft. Ensure that every decision you are making is right by you first, then the company. You are the only one looking out for you. Making this clear with the operator who hires you is of utmost importance and, in nearly every case, the mutual respect will pay off.
A planned transition makes for a less stressful one. Being intentional is essential.
About the author: Mark Voelker flew AH-1W SuperCobra helicopters for the U.S. Marine Corps for 18.5 of his 20 years of service. With multiple deployments aboard naval ships in the Western Pacific and two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, his military flight time of 4,800+ hours covered the gamut including basic familiarization and instrument flying, operational test and evaluation, and combat operations. Following retirement from the Marine Corps, Voelker flew for the U.S. Forest Service, piloting the AH-1F FireWatch Cobra for 13 years in support of wildland firefighting operations around the western United States.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84
