Navy or Air Force Flight Surgeon Questions

[BoboJenkins]

Ok, so here is the deal, both of my parents are surgeons, orthopedics, so naturally I feel a pull towards the medical field. However, I also desire to learn to fly, which is how I stumbled upon the flight surgeon career. My question is, would it be possible to do a general, or orthopedic surgery residency, and then go to flight surgeon training, or would I have to specialize in aerospace medicine and wait until I left the military to pursue a surgical career? Any help is wanted. Thanks in advance.

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[idq1i]

Flight surgeons are not pilots...

 

[BoboJenkins]

Flight surgeons are not pilots...

I am aware of this, however they do get extensive flight training, and subsequently have to get a certain amount of flight hours in every month.

 

[BoboJenkins]

You would most likely do it between internship and residency during a GMO/FS tour. You could do it after residency if you really wanted to, but most people do not want to leave the OR for three years.

Thanks! So I could transition, while still in the military from being a flight surgeon, to a surgery residency?

 

[DeadCactus]

Your post demonstrates a failure to do your own research so you get the short blunt answer: Your idea is frustratingly misinformed. If you want to fly, go get a private pilot license.

 

[Clap MD]

I am aware of this, however they do get extensive flight training, and subsequently have to get a certain amount of flight hours in every month.

"Extensive" is a bit of a stretch. You get about 10 hrs of flight time at AMP (AF Flight Surgeon "school"). The certain amount of flight hrs every month (at least in the AF) is 4, which can range from multiple 0.8 sorties in something fast and fun to knocking them all out in one flight taking a nap on a heavy. All depends on your assignment which is by and large a crapshoot.

A buddy of mine is a Navy FS and they actually do significantly more flying, up to (and maybe including, but I never heard if he actually did) soloing a T-6.

So if you want to learn a lot about flying from the military, you'd get more of that from the Navy.

To the "flight surgeons are not pilots" above (sorry I didn't quote it...): this is true. The AF is, however, very actively recruiting into the 48VX career field which is Pilot Physician, which may be something you want to look at if you are young enough and OK with doing something less clinical than a typical medical career. This incurs a $h*t-ton of ADSC and from what I've seen, you better be ready to be a career guy.

Thanks! So I could transition, while still in the military from being a flight surgeon, to a surgery residency?

This is the most common route though often, and in my case, unintended. Experiences during FS tours are very widely variable. I got lucky with mine. Like you, I intend on entering a surgical specialty after my time here. All this being said, if you get offered a categorical training spot straight of of school, TAKE IT. The mental/clinical atrophy as a FS is very real.

Hope all this rambling helps with your decision. I'll be spending the next ~4.0 hrs in a 130.

 

[Clap MD]

If you want to fly, go get a private pilot license.

Nailed it.

 

[j4pac]

Navy hasn't soloed in the T6 in many years. Everything up to that, but no solo. Last I heard, many were paying for that last portion at local schools in Pensacola to get their license.

You're right. They complete the rest of the curriculum, but not the flight phase. They were getting back seat opportunities in a T39...however...the T39 is now retired (thank goodness...it was a death trap). So now Navy FS students are limited to sim training. The days of FS's learning to fly are over. There are MANY flight schools in Pensacola that are governed by the FAA, including a few which our student aviators go through in a pre-API course called IFS. Flight lessons aren't cheap.

Flying isn't my thing...I honestly enjoyed the sims more than most of the stick time. I'm willing to say that the Flight surgeon school would still probably be awesome without the stick time. But based on what the OP is going after (actual stick time)...it's a poor investment.

 

[BoboJenkins]

"Extensive" is a bit of a stretch. You get about 10 hrs of flight time at AMP (AF Flight Surgeon "school"). The certain amount of flight hrs every month (at least in the AF) is 4, which can range from multiple 0.8 sorties in something fast and fun to knocking them all out in one flight taking a nap on a heavy. All depends on your assignment which is by and large a crapshoot.

A buddy of mine is a Navy FS and they actually do significantly more flying, up to (and maybe including, but I never heard if he actually did) soloing a T-6.

So if you want to learn a lot about flying from the military, you'd get more of that from the Navy.

To the "flight surgeons are not pilots" above (sorry I didn't quote it...): this is true. The AF is, however, very actively recruiting into the 48VX career field which is Pilot Physician, which may be something you want to look at if you are young enough and OK with doing something less clinical than a typical medical career. This incurs a $h*t-ton of ADSC and from what I've seen, you better be ready to be a career guy.



This is the most common route though often, and in my case, unintended. Experiences during FS tours are very widely variable. I got lucky with mine. Like you, I intend on entering a surgical specialty after my time here. All this being said, if you get offered a categorical training spot straight of of school, TAKE IT. The mental/clinical atrophy as a FS is very real.

Hope all this rambling helps with your decision. I'll be spending the next ~4.0 hrs in a 130.

Thanks! Very useful information!

 

[backrow]

You're right. They complete the rest of the curriculum, but not the flight phase. They were getting back seat opportunities in a T39...however...the T39 is now retired (thank goodness...it was a death trap). So now Navy FS students are limited to sim training. The days of FS's learning to fly are over. There are MANY flight schools in Pensacola that are governed by the FAA, including a few which our student aviators go through in a pre-API course called IFS. Flight lessons aren't cheap.

Flying isn't my thing...I honestly enjoyed the sims more than most of the stick time. I'm willing to say that the Flight surgeon school would still probably be awesome without the stick time. But based on what the OP is going after (actual stick time)...it's a poor investment.

When did that change? According to the most recent website update (http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmotc/nami/academics/Pages/FlightSurgeon.aspx) the Navy Flight Surgery course still retains flight time. I have not heard of them discontinuing actual flight training/stick time; however, I believe there was one year a few years ago where they were limited to mostly T-39 time when the transition to the T6 was occurring and the budget was significantly constrained. Speaking with recent FS grads I haven't heard any of them mention a lack of stick time.

 

[j4pac]

You guys are right...I'm wrong. There was a lull for FY 2014 due to sequestration..those classes didn't get stick time. I just got confirmation from a buddy who just graduated that he got tons of stick time in both the helo and t6.