is it hard to become a helo pilot?

It's probably the most popular (in OCS) and difficult to get into in the coast guard, yes. If it doesn't work out, consider going into another branch and then doing the direct commission aviator over to the CG. I don't mean to recruit for other services, but if you want to fly, don't let anything stop you.

Yes, it is difficult to become a pilot in the Coast Guard. It is difficult to become a pilot in any service.

I disagree with Celeret's advice of trying to join another service in order to later come into the CG later for a few reasons.

1. If you qualify for flight school in other services you will qualify for the Coast Guard so why not start in the Coast Guard.

2. You will be committed to the other service for at least seven years, sometimes longer. If you don't time it right, ot the other service keeps you in service, you will be beyond the accepted experience level for the Coast Guard.

3. There is no guarantee that you will get accepted into the Coast Guard after all that. It is probably more competitive than a basic flight school slot out of OCS. Think about it this way. If you are competing for a flight slot out of OCS or the CG academy you are competing against fellow college grads. If you go to the DCA program you are competing against other professional pilots who have varied backgrounds of experience and training.

Good luck.

Now I am not a pilot, I am enlisted Aircrew But I have been witnessing a trend right now. Everyone I have seen or heard of that qualifies for flight school has been awarded flight school....At least people from OCS.

Now It was a rumor that the CG needs pilots right now. Can Anyone confirm or deny?

I don't like to come in here since I was never an officer but I hope noone mines me sharing a quick story.

I took my 17 and 11 yr old sons (at the time) to the Air Station in Clearwater a couple of years ago. One of the aircrew guys gave us a great tour of the Hawks and the C-130's.

Sitting in the H-60 Jayhawk, my older son told our tour guide that he knew how to fire up the J-Hawks. Kind of wondering, the PO said, "Tell me how." so my son did. The Petty Officer was amazed. Then my son explained that he had been to Quantico, VA on a field trip with his high school Marine Corps JROTC group where a Marine pilot told them. My son remembered.

Pretty cool! He's now a LCpl with the Marine Corps and an Amphibious Assault Vehicle Mechanic/crewman.

Stay safe,

Don

quote:

Everyone I have seen or heard of that qualifies for flight school has been awarded flight school....At least people from OCS.

Now It was a rumor that the CG needs pilots right now. Can Anyone confirm or deny?

Yes, we do need pilots but we are still not to the point where everyone is getting flight school just because they are qualified. We had one Officer here that did not get flight school out of OCS even though he was qualified and I know of a few more. With that said, our pilot did get selected on a later board and will be leaving for flight school soon.

It is still difficult just to get qualified, it may be a bit easier to find an available slot right now.

21 yrs, that was a neat story.

Everyone of my OCS classmates that wanted to become a pilot had a chance to go to Flt School. Out of 9, 6 completed the program.

Does anyone know if there is any chance of someone with poor vision becoming a pilot? Such as getting a waiver after having PRK eye surgery? Or is it hopeless?

Brett, I never saw you with glasses when you were playing. I am surprised you are trying to be a pilot after all those years as a QB.

Good luck.

I always wore contacts throughout the years.

Brett,

Now that the jokes are out of the way, here is what I found but don't hold me to it entirely as I am not a doctor, I just look in their manuals.

the newest version of the medical manual that I could find COMDTINST 6000.1C states that you have to have 20/50 vision or better that can be corrected to 20/20.

If you have PRK it states "candidates will be considered" for flight school. Not sure if that means you need a waiver or if it is totally acceptable. But either way there is a chance. If you have LASIK it states you cannot get a waiver.

Good luck.

Thank you tankkllr for the info. Cool, so there might be a chance. Now I have a tough decision on my hands. I'm debating whether to enlist in the Coast Guard and become an AST, or try to enter in as an officer to become a pilot. My dream scenario would to be an AST my first 4 years and then enter into aviation school afterwards to become a pilot. Since I am already going to be 25 years old when I enter the Coast Guard, I don't think this will be possible due to the age limit of being under 27 to enter officer school. Plus, I'll need to get PRK surgery before I either become an AST or pilot. I wish my recruiter wouldn't have changed jobs. I don't really have anyone to bounce my ideas off of. I have a college degree, but it is not in aviation, so I don't know what my chances are of becoming an officer and being accepted to flight school.

My dad and my step mom both around 70 yrs old, just had corrective eye surgery and both are very happy with the results.

I couldn't say if their medical issues were similar to yours though.

Good luck,

Don

quote:

Originally posted by 21yrsUSCGUSCS:
Sitting in the H-60 Jayhawk, my older son told our tour guide that he knew how to fire up the J-Hawks. Kind of wondering, the PO said, "Tell me how." so my son did. The Petty Officer was amazed. Then my son explained that he had been to Quantico, VA on a field trip with his high school Marine Corps JROTC group where a Marine pilot told them. My son remembered.

One of my flight instructors, a commercial pilot, told me a story about a time when he was filling in for a line-boy at an airport. This Citation rolled in, shut down and some big wigs got off. The grey-haired pilot got off, leaving the young-gun rookie co-pilot, in his Ray-Bans, onboard to keep an eye on things.

So my instructor, having done this before, walked on up to the flight deck and asked the 'kid' if he needed anything? The kid, with his nose in the air, just shook his head 'no'. So then my instructor asked the kid, "Mind if I take this baby for a spin?" Again, the kid just sneared, and with his best John Glenn voice smugly said, "If you can start it, you can fly it.", just thinking this guy is a dead-beat line-boy. So my instructor says, "Sweet!", jumps in the left seat, pulls out the check list and starts flipping switches. He said that kid just about crapped his pants as he reached over to get the chechlist out of my instructors hand. Meanwhile, the grey-haired pilot is standing just outside the flight deck, laughing his a$$ off.

Don't know if it's true, but a funny story anyways.