Aerial Gunner (Helo)

[augustv]

Looking for additional info on the Aerial Gunner field. Recruiters do not have any info. I am looking for school and career info. Also looking for info on the Air Force Reserve Techs (aerial gunner).

Thank you.

AV

[SN]

Have you searched this website? I clicked on Aviation Rotary Wing, selected all the topics and found multiple threads on the subject.

[Doogie320]

What is this "search" that you speak of? I do not understand....

















BTAR

[Fire-Gunner]

To be an Aerial Gunner you must complete the following:

-flight physical
-altitude chamber, 1 day
-Underwater Egress School, 1 day, Fairchild AFB
-Water Survival School, 3-4 days, Fairchild AFB or Pensacola NAS
-Combat Survival School, 17 days, Fairchild AFB
-Basic Aerial Gunner School, about 5 weeks, Kirtland AFB
-Aerial Gunner Mission Qualification, currently about 5+ months (for H-60's), Kirtland AFB

[CombatSp]

What does the flight physical and the altitude test consist of ?

[WS-G]

Originally posted by CombatSp
What does the flight physical and the altitude test consist of ?

USAF Class III physical is the standard for enlisted and non-rated officer (i.e.: non-pilot, non-navigator types) aircrew. Much like the enlistment physical, except a few extra tests are added, such as an electrocardiogram, spirometer, blodd-pressure from the standing and reclining positions (as opposed to just sitting), and a bit more scrutiny into your eyeballs (don't worry, 20/400 correctable to 20/20, with a refraction within +/- 5.50 dioptre is the standard, and is waiverable; had a waiver for excess refractive error in the left eye myself).

The chamber is simply the Aircrew Physiological Training Course, which was a 3-day initial, followed by a 1-day refresher ever three years therafter (at least that's the way it was when I went through it in the 1980's). It's simply an academic overview of elementary human physiology as affected by the flight environment. The decompression chamber exercises (we had 2 of them) are just a practical exercise to demonstrate the effects of hypoxia, practise pressure-breathing (you won't be doing any of that as a helo crewman, BTW), experience a rapid decompression, that sort of thing. Again, nothing to worry about. The course was actually quite fun.

regards,
Will

PS: Not a Gunner. Was a C-5A crew chief for six years. Currently on active duty (Army NG now), and using my limited off-duty time to add a helicopter rating to my FAA ticket. Helo's f***in' rule!