Qualifications for Army Helicopter Pilots
An Army helicopter pilot is the one position in military aviation that does not require a college degree. The Army has a specific rank class called warrant officers. They are trained in a specific technical areas, including as helicopter pilots. The job classification for an Army warrant aviator is 153A.
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Enlist First
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To be selected for warrant officer training and then helicopter flight school, you must be already enlisted in the Army, or the Air Force, Navy or Coast Guard. You can enlist in the Army on a path to become a warrant officer and pilot, but you will need to meet the qualifications along the way.
Warrant Officer Qualifications
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Warrant officer qualifications are higher than basic Army enlistment requirements. To become a warrant officer requires U.S. citizenship, secret security clearance and a score of 110 or higher on the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB. You must take the ASVAB before enlisting in the Army, so you will know if your score is high enough to qualify for helicopter training.
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Physical Qualifications
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Applicants for helicopter aviation training must be between 18 and 33. They also must pass the Army's Class 1 Flight Medical Exam. The flight medical exam is comprehensive, with visual acuity being a major qualification. A applicant's vision must be 20/50 or better. Depth perception must be normal, and color blindness will disqualify a prospective aviator.
Aviation Aptitude
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The Army tests aviation aptitude with the Alternate Flight Aptitude Selection Test, or AFAST. A minimum score of 90 on the AFAST is required to qualify for helicopter training. The AFAST tests your aptitude in instrument comprehension, complex movements, helicopter knowledge and mechanical functions. Numerous study guides are available to help prepare for the AFAST.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit helicopter image by Clarence Alford from Fotolia.com
