Description
The Aviation Warfare Community consists of pilots, naval flight officers (NFOS) and aviation generalists. Pilots and NFOs are trained to fly and operate the weapon systems of naval aircraft. Aviation generalists serve in positions related to aviation but are not qualified to perform aircrew duties. Aviation officers make up about one half of all the Unrestricted Line (URL) officers in the Navy. All pilots and NFOs begin their Naval aviation career training at the Aviation Schools Command, Pensacola, FL. Student pilot training generally requires 12 to 18 months to complete. This is governed by type of aircraft, student load within the training commands, and other unpredictable circumstances. While in Pensacola, several decisions will be made that will influence the prospective aviator's entire career. For pilots, the general type of aircraft (helicopter, jet, propeller) to be flown will be determined and the appropriate training curriculum entered. All student NFOs enter a common training curriculum. Final assignment to a particular fleet aircraft type occurs just prior to receiving the coveted "wings of gold".
Core Skills
- aviation mission planning and execution
- operation of complex avionics and weapon systems
- aircrew and flight operations leadership
- risk management and safety program implementation
- command and control in dynamic environments
- data-driven decision making under time pressure
- cross-functional coordination with maintenance and ops
- training and mentoring of junior personnel
- technical report writing and debriefing
- use of mission planning and navigation software
- resource and schedule management
- systems thinking and integration of complex systems
Common Certifications
- FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate (Appropriate Category/Class)
- FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate
- Aircraft Type Ratings (as required)
- FAA Certified Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII/MEI) (optional)
- OSHA 30-Hour General Industry (Aviation Safety)
Civilian Career Paths
- COMMERCIAL AVIATION
- AVIATION MANAGEMENT
- PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Defense contractor jobs for 131X
Browse openings matched to this specialty on military.contractors
Data sourced from official Navy publications and public military occupational references. Descriptions may be summarized for clarity. Verify all information with your branch career counselor or official military documentation before making career decisions.