Making Pilot in Command

After getting through progression, it might seem like a huge relief.  You no longer have to fly with only IPs, and you get you get out and do missions.  You might not feel like you have to stay on your game as much when it comes to academic knowledge, but don't let it slip!  After progressing, you should start looking into the PC program that is set up in your unit.  Every unit will be a little bit different as to what they require to become a PC.  Some have an hours requirement and a task list, some just have a task list.  When I progressed to PC in my unit, there was both.  There was a 500 hour requirement a 100 hour NVG requirement, and a task list to complete.

A PC checklist usually consists of a task list that needs to be signed off by PCs in the company before you can be looked at by a PC board to determine if you're ready for a PC checkride.  So really, the process is threefold: completing your PC checklist, getting looked at in a PC board, and completing a PC checkride (or sets of checkrides).  It will take awhile to complete your PC checklist, but you should begin knocking it out piece by piece as soon as you can.

Remember that everyone will progress to PC at different times depending on a number of factors.  Maturity and judgement are going to be looked at by all the PCs that you fly with and will be big factors in determining if you are ready to be a PC.  I have seen many people think that they should be a PC because they have a certain number of hours.  That is NOT how it works (or at least not how I think it should work).  There are 800-1000 hour pilots that shouldn't be PCs, and there are 500 hour pilots that should be PCs.  The attitude that PC status should be given to you and not earned is (in my opinion) in and of itself a sign that you aren't ready to be a PC.

Anyway, once you complete the checklist and have the hours, you will be looked at in a PC board.  This consists of all the company PCs, the Commander, and the SP/IPs sitting together in a room talking about whether or not you are ready for a PC checkride.  You may not get picked up on the your first look and that's OK. I didn't get picked up on my first look.  If you don't, you should get debriefed telling you what you need to do to get put up for a checkride after the next PC board.  Do those things satisfactorily and you should get put up for a PC checkride.

The PC checkride will be much different than any other checkride that you've had so far.  You will be functioning as the PC (so make sure you've taken the time and asked other PCs if you can act as PC while you're out doing missions and training.)  The IP/SP that is giving you the checkride will be acting as a fresh PI.  You will be given a mission and constraints and you need to complete the mission and make PC level decisions throughout the flight.  You will probably have an in depth academic evaluation as well.  Expect that you will have some changes come up throughout the flight that you weren't briefed on.  This is part of the process.  Don't let the "PI" do anything stupid.  Remember, you are the PC for this flight.  Take charge and make decisions.  It will probably be a very stressful flight.

The PC checkride will probably be catered to your unit's mission set.  For mine, I had to plan a VIP flight from my airport to one that was just barely inside fuel range.  Seems simple enough.  However, I was given many changes throughout the planning process and the flight, and when I was on my way back I got a hasty mission that I had to perform under NVGs with limited planning.  All in all, it went well, but it was a LONG day and it was pretty stressful.  I made PC approximately 1 year after becoming RL1 which I felt pretty good about. 

If you pass your PC checkride, you will be made a PC for the company.  At this point, you might feel like "I've made it", but again, don't get complacent.  Many PCs get that invincible attitude that leads to accidents.  However, enjoy your time as a line pilot PC.  It is very enjoyable.  You'll get to build your skill set and you'll probably actually learn a ton as a PC.  I know I did.  Remember though, that you have more to look forward to in your a career....like choosing a track.  I'll talk about that in my next post. 

First Duty Assignment

Parked on the CG's Lawn to prep for a VIP movement

After flight school, I got assigned to a TDA unit.  If you don't know what that means, it just basically means that it's non-deployable.  There are a few out there, most of them are Medevac or VIP.  It can be good and it can be bad.  For me, it was great.  All of the people I know that went to TDA units out of flight school are getting consistent hours and obviously don't have to worry about deploying.  Most of my friends that went to MTOE units took awhile to get started flying, and don't fly that much when they are stateside.  However, generally they are flying a good amount of hours during deployment, and they get that aviation deployment under their belt.

I average about 30 hours a month of flight time which seems to be pretty good upon asking around.  Also, I'm really happy with the mission that I am performing.  I am qualified in almost all "special mission tasks" with the exception of Caving Ladder and Water Bucket Operations.  I am qualified in FRIES, SPIES, Helocast, Paradrops, and Rappells.  Although passenger movements are our bread and butter, we perform those special mission tasks on a fairly regular basis.

Arriving To Your First Aviation Unit

I arrived at my first duty station with 1 other WO1 and one more incoming a month later.  Most of the time you will arrive with many other WO1s and LTs, but since I was assigned to a small flight company that was not assigned to a CAB, it was just us.  All units are different, so YMMV, but I didn't experience any WOJG games, or "hazing".  After a few weeks of in processing, it only took me about a month or so to get on the flight schedule.  I just found out who the flight scheduler was and asked if I was going to be on the schedule every couple of weeks.  They have to work with the Standardization Office to figure it out to get you through RL Progression though, so be patient.  You want to be eager, but not pushy.  Show that you want to fly, but don't annoy anybody about it.

Performing FRIES

Before I started flying, I spent most of my days studying.  It is VERY important to have solid oral knowledge. Many times an IP will do an oral evaluation with you well before you start flying, and if you've arrived with other junior aviators, they will use this to base their decision on who gets to start flying first.  So, I spent my time in the books.  Also, since you have the time, don't just study using study guides.  Actually get into the publications and read them.  You'll learn new things, and refresh on things that aren't considered "important" in those study guides.  

Starting RL Progression

If you are unfamiliar with RL (Readiness Level) progression, it is a series of flights that are used to progress you to a fully mission capable pilot.  When you arrive at your unit, you will probably receive a Commander's Evaluation to determine where you are at with your skills and what RL they are going to place you at.  RL3 is for crew members that are undergoing training in base level tasks (1000 series in the ATM).  Once you are considered proficient in RL3 tasks, you will be designated as RL2.  RL2 is for crew members that are undergoing training in additional and mission tasks (2000 and 3000 series). The tasks that you will be train on will be dependent on your unit's METL (Mission Essential Task List), or the tasks that your unit is authorized to perform.

Performing SPIES

You have 90 days to progress from one RL to the next.  My progression from RL3 to RL1 took about 5 months.  This was due to a couple of different factors.  There was one month that I didn't fly at all right after I started progression, and then during progression I was sent to the ALSE course at Ft. Rucker which was a over month long.  In addition, I had to get proficient on all of the mission tasks that we perform at our unit.  Another factor is the climate of the standardization office.  At the time I was in progression, they wanted to see every task performed to a satisfactory level multiple times before signing off that task.  For example, if I went out and did Paradrops satisfactorily, the IPs wanted to see it a few more times before signing me off (which isn't required).  The nice part was that I got a lot of hours during progression.  It is really nice to get through progression and be able to fly with pilots that aren't IPs.

Additional Duties
One of the things that you'll find out, if you didn't already know, is that your job as a pilot isn't just being a pilot...unfortunately!  Each untracked pilot has some additional duties.  The types of duties will depend on the unit.  Since my unit is fairly small, I was assigned a lot of additional duties.  Some were bigger than others.  My additional duties were ALSE officer, NVG officer, OPSEC officer, Social Media Admin, Information Security Officer, and some other minor ones.  After about a year I was given even more including Master Resilience Trainer, Information Management Officer, Training Officer, Assistant Operations Officer, Traditional Military Gift Fund Manager, and Fridge Fund Manager.  So, I definitely have my hands full when I'm not flying.  Generally, you will be assigned as the fridge guy and possibly one or two small jobs and that's it.

One thing that I found out is that additional duties are what makes your OER (which is basically an annual performance review).  And good OERs are what get you promoted.  Being a good pilot, or knowing all about missions and aviation related material doesn't really have much a place in your OER....which I find unfortunate.  My primary MOS is UH-60 Pilot, but only a minuscule part of my OER is about my PRIMARY job!  But, I digress.  The point is to do well with your additional duties.  Not just because it will hopefully get you a good OER, but because it will help the unit as well.  And since, as Army pilots, we don't actually fly very much (especially compared to our civilian counterparts), you'll have a lot of time on your hands anyway.  However, don't let your knowledge slip.


After getting through progression, the next milestone that you'll have to hit is making PC (Pilot in Command).  I'll talk about that in my next post.