At what point would a military student pilot be able to fly as a civilian PPL?
Posted by Hunter_Lala@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 17 comments
Say there's a student pilot training in the military, and that's their only flight experience. At what point could they say, go to a local civilian airport and rent an airplane?
Planning to go to OCS as soon as I finish my degree and this thought crossed my mind recently. (Not that said student aviator would even have time to fly as a civilian anyways)
mountainbrew46@reddit
Not until you graduate, go though the mil comp process and get a CPL
PG67AW@reddit
And you might even get a multiengine CPL only, so going to rent a 172 wouldn't work lol.
Hunter_Lala@reddit (OP)
Wtf I didn't even realize that was possible, though I suppose it makes sense lol
unnecessary_overhead@reddit
Used to be common for Air Force guys a couple of decades ago. I know a guy that had to get his single engine add-on as a civilian because he did T-37, T-38, then tankers. I think he might have never flown a non-turbojet, let alone single engine.
PG67AW@reddit
Lol yeah it is. Even on the civilian side you could just do all your training in multi and never touch a single engine. Like others have said, you should have the experience to get both on the mil conversion if you want them.
msandovalabq@reddit
When I finished Navy advanced I did the mil comp and was able to get CPL single and multi. YMMV
mountainbrew46@reddit
To my knowledge every branch is using the T-6 for primary now so you’ll get a single engine CPL
Laxboarderchill@reddit
More context is needed from op….upt isn’t the same one that we went through. Vance students for instance are being sent to part 141 schools to get their private, instrument, commercial……prior to even starting T-6’s.
mountainbrew46@reddit
Ahhh fair enough, I forgot about that new part. Man I’m too young to be like 3 entire UPT generations behind on information
Laxboarderchill@reddit
I showed back up to upt as an instructor after being operational for a single 3-year operational assignment. The syllabus was already completely different than the one I graduated from
ShaemusOdonnelly@reddit
Military pilot here. It depends on your flight training. My military's cargo pilots train at a civilian flight school and do their CPL ME IR there, all in one examination, meaning you only get your license at the end of your flight training. You don't get any single engine ratings either, you have to pay for those checkrides yourself. Our Jet or Helo pilots don't get any civilian licenses at all, but they can later convert their military licenses to civilian ones - I am pretty sure that this doesn't include any class ratings either, though.
LockheedTriStar@reddit
Mil guy here, when you graduate you’ll get your commercial pilot certificate. I know some branches differ but in mine we don’t fly any piston aircraft. I’d definitely recommend taking a flight lesson or two + some ground before doing a checkout flight as there are a few differences to be mindful of coming from the turbine world. Good luck!
Due-Introduction7414@reddit
Technically nowadays, once you complete IPT, you can go to a school and get checked out. IPT is giving UPT students PPL, IR, and a multi engine rating.
Previously, you were required to take a comp test and get your commercial that way, but I think once you graduate UPT, you’re eligible to get your PPL upgraded to commercial (just single engine though).
ltcterry@reddit
Only civilian pilots fly civilian airplanes. The FAA has a Military Competency process for military pilots to get civilian/FAA certificates. Once military flight training is complete.
A military solo student can’t pop over to the FBO and solo a 172. Though with an FAA Student Pilot Certificate it could be done if in compliance with all the applicable FARs…
mason_mormon@reddit
These days in USAF you will complete civilian 141 curriculum before continuing to T6s. So the answer is halfway through training. But depending on circumstances, you wouldn't have time to do any of that
Can_Not_Double_Dutch@reddit
Graduate military flight school, take written military competency test, get signed off by someone for official single engine PPL. Then go to a local flight school and get checked out on one of their airplanes.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Say there's a student pilot training in the military, and that's their only flight experience. At what point could they say, go to a local civilian airport and rent an airplane?
Planning to go to OCS as soon as I finish my degree and this thought crossed my mind recently. (Not that said student aviator would even have time to fly as a civilian anyways)
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