11A2 Career Guide
11A2: Mobility Pilot
Career transition guide for Air Force Mobility Pilot (11A2)
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Top civilian roles for 11A2 veterans, with average salary and market demand data.
Airline Pilot
Skills to develop:
Corporate Pilot
Skills to develop:
Flight Instructor
Skills to develop:
Airfield Manager
Skills to develop:
Logistics Manager
Skills to develop:
Salary estimates from VWC career data
Hidden Strengths
Cognitive skills your 11A2 training built — and where they transfer.
Rapid Prioritization
As an aircraft commander, you constantly evaluate and triage competing demands – changing weather, fuel consumption, air traffic control instructions, and crew needs – to maintain mission effectiveness and safety.
You excel at quickly assessing the urgency and importance of multiple tasks, allowing you to make critical decisions under pressure and allocate your attention effectively.
System Modeling
You develop a mental model of the aircraft's systems, airspace, and operational environment to predict behavior, anticipate potential problems, and ensure mission success.
You possess the ability to understand and predict how complex systems operate, allowing you to identify potential risks and optimize performance.
Team Synchronization
You lead a diverse crew and synchronize their actions through clear communication, delegation, and cross-monitoring to safely and effectively accomplish mission objectives.
You can orchestrate the efforts of multiple individuals, ensuring seamless coordination and communication to achieve shared goals.
Situational Awareness
You maintain a constant awareness of the aircraft's position, altitude, speed, surrounding traffic, weather conditions, and potential threats to make informed decisions.
You have a heightened ability to perceive and understand your environment, anticipate potential problems, and react accordingly.
Non-Obvious Career Matches
Logistics Manager
SOC 11-3071.00You've been expertly managing complex logistics mid-air, coordinating fuel, cargo, and personnel. As a Logistics Manager (11-3071.00), you can leverage your experience to oversee supply chain operations, transportation, and distribution, ensuring efficient movement of goods and resources.
Emergency Management Director
SOC 11-9161.00You've been rigorously planning and preparing for unexpected in-flight scenarios, assessing risk, and making swift decisions under pressure. As an Emergency Management Director (11-9161.00), your planning skills translate to coordinating responses to natural disasters or other crisis situations.
Project Manager
SOC 11-9021.00You've been commanding complex missions from start to finish, coordinating a team, sticking to a flight plan, and ensuring everyone arrives at their destination. As a Project Manager (11-9021.00), you can translate your skills to overseeing project scope, resources, and timelines across a variety of industries.
Training & Education Equivalencies
Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT), various USAF bases (e.g., Vance AFB, OK; Laughlin AFB, TX; Columbus AFB, MS) followed by Mobility Aircraft Qualification Training (e.g., Altus AFB, OK for C-17; Little Rock AFB, AR for C-130)
Topics Covered
- •Aerodynamics and Flight Principles
- •Aircraft Systems (Engine, Hydraulics, Electrical)
- •Navigation and Flight Planning (including instrument flight)
- •Air Traffic Control Procedures
- •Crew Resource Management
- •Emergency Procedures and Egress
- •Tactical Airlift Operations
- •In-flight Refueling Procedures
Certification Pathways
Partial Coverage
Differences in FAA regulations, specific aircraft type ratings, and civilian airspace procedures need to be studied.
FAA written exam, flight experience requirements (hours), and specific aircraft type ratings not fully covered in military training.
Focus on business aviation management principles, financial management, and marketing aspects unique to civilian aviation management.
Recommended Next Certifications
Technical Systems Translation
Military systems you've used and their civilian equivalents for your resume.
| Military System | Civilian Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Head-Up Display (HUD) | Augmented Reality (AR) Overlays for Pilots |
| AN/ARC-210 RT-1794(C) Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency (VHF/UHF) Radio | Commercial aviation VHF/UHF radio systems (e.g., Collins Aerospace, Garmin) |
| Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) System | Commercial Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems (e.g., FAA NextGen, Eurocontrol) |
| AN/APN-241 Radar | Weather radar systems in commercial aircraft |
| Joint Precision Airdrop System (JPADS) | Automated cargo delivery systems, precision guided logistics |
| KC-46 Pegasus Remote Vision System (RVS) | Advanced camera and sensor systems for remote operation of machinery |
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