Navigators

So You Want to be a Navigator...

Terrific! The "nav" is a crucial member of our team. It's also a great option for folks who want to fly, but aren't eligible for pilot training. It's well worth the effort to go through all of the tests and paperwork, then a year or two of some very intense (but rewarding!) training.


What a Navigator Does

The navigator prepares a navigational flight plan, which includes the route, headings, and altitudes to be flown, checkpoints, enroute times, and estimated fuel consumption. The nav prepares charts for the flight, and inspects his/her navigational equipment prior to flight. During flight, the nav uses the equipment (inertial, global positioning satellite, radios, and/or sextant) to determine where the aircraft is, and uses radar to avoid severe weather.

Eligibility

First of all, you'll need a college degree. You must be no older than 27 1/2 years old by the time you enter navigator training. Since it may take a long time to get through the entire hiring process, you will be pushing the limit if you're older than 25 now. You must also be in excellent health. See the step on flight physical.

Formal Schools

Undergraduate Navigator Training

After 11 months of intensive flight training, you'll graduate as a fully qualified and skilled navigator. UNT is taught at Randolf AFB, Texas (San Antonio), or you may be selected to begin your training alongside Navy navs in Pensacola, Florida.

C-130 Training

Next you're off for two months of training to learn to work in the C-130 Hercules cargo airplane: the workhorse of the Hurricane Hunters (and several other squadrons). This training takes place at Little Rock, Arkansas. Once you finish this school, you're finally a member of our team!

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