Mil CIV 2 Tips for the transitioning military helicopter pilot


MILITARY TO CIVILIAN PILOT


By Michael Toth M


any times when I was flying a UH- 60 Black Hawk while


stationed at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii,


I thought about how great this job is! There were also many times I thought about potential job prospects that would be available to me as a helicopter pilot in the civilian world if I decided to leave the military. To be honest, I overvalued my military experience and how it would transfer to the civilian aviation market. I thought: What company wouldn’t want to hire me? I flew one of the most advanced military helicopters at the time and I was well trained. I flew VIPs, conducted many sling-load, firefighting, disaster-relief, IFR and NVG operations. I was a catch! I would easily walk into one of those corporate aviation departments I heard so much about, and walk out with a job offer. I was wrong.


I served in the U.S. Army from 1984 to 1992. After a couple of years fumbling around with college, I realized it wasn’t for me and I needed to move on to Plan B. I enlisted in the Army as a 31V, tactical radio repairman. After a couple of years serving as an enlisted soldier, I applied for flight school and was accepted with a start date in January 1987, the same month my first child was due to be born. I served as a warrant officer in 1987-1992. I honestly


20 July/Aug 2025


thought I was going to make Army Aviation a career. Life introduced alternate plans, and I made the decision to leave the military.


I thought it would be a smooth transition to the civilian market. Like most of my military colleagues who were also planning on returning to the civilian market, we were wondering: Where do we start? We used to review the advertisements in the Army Times, where offshore oil-rig flying was the only job listed. However, being born and raised in New York, I wanted to get a job as a corporate pilot in the Northeast. As my transition out of the Army began, I researched the companies throughout the country that had helicopter operations.


When my separation from the Army


was complete, I returned to New York and began the process of locating and researching all of the helicopter operators in the Northeast. I would drive to those departments to drop off a resume and hopefully speak to someone. I made countless phone calls, sent countless letters, and began attending meetings with regional groups such as the Northeast Regional Helicopter Council. During one of these meetings, I got the attention of the chief helicopter pilot from a company in Trenton, New Jersey. Finally, a


breakthrough! He invited me down to tour the facility where he was employed, and he became my mentor.


I was told that local experience was important in the Northeast Corridor before I could move on to the corporate operators. I secured a position with a sightseeing tour company in the NYC area, followed by a couple of years with a reputable Part 135 operator, and I became familiar with the NYC corridors and executive transportation. After acquiring the necessary experience, continually attending many industry related meetings and conferences, and interacting with my mentor, my dream was realized.


I was offered a job in 1997 and flew for 25 years with that Fortune 100 corporate flight department that I had dreamed about. I had the opportunity to fly numerous variants of the S-76 helicopter and Gulfstream jets, and held various leadership positions. As one of my military friends said, “Stick with it, 100 noes equals one yes!”


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