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Nov
13
2025
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Posted 23 days ago ago by Admin
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Slick paint jobs. Bubble windows. Long lines. Tan flight suits and maybe a T-shirt. Best of all—facial hair is no longer a career-ending offense. Welcome to the utility world of aviation. It was foreign territory for me, but after more than 20 years in the Army, I knew I wanted to work in the utility sector. I’d gone from enlisted to warrant officer, checked all the boxes, collected all the quals, and finally hung up the uniform this past summer. Then came the big leap into my new civilian career. Here’s how I pulled it off.
First stop: FAA medical. I wanted that done and approved before I even dropped my retirement
packet. This is critical if you’re filing a VA claim. I dove headfirst into CFR 38 Part 4 and the AME Guide like it was a new aircraft manual. Get copies of your military and civilian medical records before you see the AME or file claims. It’ll save you headaches.
Next, I knocked out every certification I could through the “Mil-Comp” route—commercial, type
rating, CFI, and ATPH. Depending on your service, you might even be able to complete the ATPH in your military aircraft. Yes, it can be done.
I also discovered the magic of “networking.” Turns out it’s more than just drinking coffee with W5s at AAAA. Events like HeliSuccess, Mil2Civ, and Verticon (formerly HeliExpo) opened my eyes. Seeing other veterans who had already made the jump gave me the confidence I needed. These events taught me how to polish logbooks, write resumes, prep for interviews, and—most importantly—manage expectations. If you show up squared away, there’s a solid chance you’ll walk out with a job offer.
The hard part was getting out of my comfort zone. Be genuine. Be humble. Sure, you’ve got a
mountain of military flight hours, but you probably haven’t done what civilians have. A chief pilot once told me, “All those quals are sweet, dude, but have you ever put a 100-foot pole on bolts from a few hundred feet in the air?” Not what I wanted to hear—but exactly what I needed. That honesty lit a fire in me the military grind had long buried. For the first time in years, I had a real challenge again—one that couldn’t be solved with “time-in-grade.”
A few weeks after my retirement ceremony, I found myself in Canada, riding right seat in a
Blackhawk fighting fires. Trading my Standardization Pilot hat for a SIC slot was the smartest move I’ve made in a long time. The pressure was off, I was learning from pros, and was enjoying being the “new guy.”
The fire season’s winding down now, and logging and powerline work are next. Whatever aviation sector you’re chasing, don’t settle. Keep pushing until you land where you want to be. That’s when flying becomes fun again. Fly safe and have fun!
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