U.S. Army Second Lieutenants Kyler Suerth, left, and Blaine Dolin, student pilots assigned to the 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment, stand outside their LUH-72 Lakota helicopter after the completion of their first solo cross-country flight at Shell Army Heliport, at Fort Rucker. The flight marked the successful completion of their first solo cross-country mission and a newly reintroduced training curriculum designed to build pilot autonomy, confidence and critical decision-making skills before they transition to tactical flight phases.
FORT RUCKER — Army aviation students are taking a major step in their training as the first class begins solo cross-country flights during the basic warfighting skills phase of flight school. This return to early career autonomy will help build confidence, sharpen decision making and better prepare new aviators for operational service, Lt. Col. Andrew Bartlett, the battalion commander overseeing the rollout, said.
Second Lt. Blaine Dolin, a student pilot with 1-145th Aviation Regiment, preflights the LUH-72 Lakota getting ready for his solo cross country flight on July 10 at Shell Army Heliport near Fort Rucker.
Second Lt. Kyler Suerth, a student pilot in the 1-145th Aviation Regiment, prepares for his solo cross-country flight at Shell Army Heliport near Fort Rucker during the Basic Warfighting Skills phase of flight school.
U.S. Army Second Lieutenants Kyler Suerth, left, and Blaine Dolin, student pilots assigned to the 1st Battalion, 145th Aviation Regiment, stand outside their LUH-72 Lakota helicopter after the completion of their first solo cross-country flight at Shell Army Heliport, at Fort Rucker. The flight marked the successful completion of their first solo cross-country mission and a newly reintroduced training curriculum designed to build pilot autonomy, confidence and critical decision-making skills before they transition to tactical flight phases.
Second Lt. Blaine Dolin, a student pilot with 1-145th Aviation Regiment, preflights the LUH-72 Lakota getting ready for his solo cross country flight on July 10 at Shell Army Heliport near Fort Rucker.
Second Lt. Kyler Suerth, a student pilot in the 1-145th Aviation Regiment, prepares for his solo cross-country flight at Shell Army Heliport near Fort Rucker during the Basic Warfighting Skills phase of flight school.
