Last active-duty C-5 co-pilot upgrades to first pilot Feb. 3

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Tiffany Low
  • 60th AMW Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The C-5 co-pilot sits in the left seat of the aircraft preparing for his qualification checkride. He reviews his check list one more time before he begins take-off procedures. He knows that his checkride would determine his destiny – whether he is ready to take the left seat and upgrade to the next level. 

1st Lt. Bryan Foley, 22nd Airlift Squadron pilot, upgraded to first pilot Feb. 3 and marked the end of the era of C-5 co-pilots in the active-duty Air Force. 

“The position of co-pilot was designed to allow new pilots out of Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training to gain experience in a fairly complex weapon system such as the C-5,” explained Capt. Jeremy Watts, 22nd AS training chief. “A co-pilot would come to the C-5 with little to no operational flying experience, so typically the co-pilot would spend their first year or so restricted to flying in the right seat to gain experience before transitioning to the left seat.” 

However, the position limited the amount of training new pilots were exposed to and created the need for additional training at their first duty station. 

To solve the problem, Air Mobility Command implemented the Mobility Pilot Development, which “reduce [flying training unit’s] training time, reduce aircraft commander development time, capitalize on skills trained in SUPT and graduate dual-seat qualified pilots from the FTUs,” according to the AMC MPD Process Guide. 

“Instead of getting a co-pilot restricted to right seat operations out of our schoolhouse [Altus Air Force Base, Okla.], we get an MPD pilot who is qualified in both the left and right seats,” said Captain Watts. 

According to Lieutenant Foley, with the changing system, it will become necessary for new and inexperienced pilots to learn faster and handle more responsibility immediately following initial training. 

“Co-pilots were traditionally given free reign to learn and train while developing their experience. I’m glad I can represent what was a very strong and very traditional training system, as the final [active-duty] ‘right seat only’ C-5 pilot,” he said. 

Because Lieutenant Foley came in under the old system, he had to go through a training program at Travis designed to give him the skills needed to fly and taxi the C-5 from the left seat. 

He completed 21 hours of computer-based training, 16 hours of simulator training and around five hours of flying in the C-5. 

“[Passing the checkride] means taking on more responsibility as a pilot and taking a greater step in the process of becoming an aircraft commander,” he said.