http://www.washingtontimes.com/natio...4314-4356r.htm

New pilots
The Army long has relied on warrant officers to pilot attack and
transport helicopters. Now the Navy is going to give it a try. Navy
planes and helicopters are piloted by line officers who serve as
pilots. Other officers serve as naval flight officers . Under a pilot
program, the Navy is asking "hard-charging sailors" to apply to become
chief warrant officers and be among 30 selected for flight school, says
a message from the chief of naval operations. New warrant officers
must, on receiving their wings, sign up for at least eight years'
service. The Navy plans to keep fighter jets off limits for now, but
will open up four aircraft: two types of helicopters, a patrol plane
and the venerable EA-6B electronic jammer that targets enemy tracking
radars. A selection board will pick 16 enlisted personnel this July and
14 others next year. All must complete flight training and fleet
qualifications before being promoted to senior warrant officer. Capt.
Mark Guadagnini, division director for aviation personnel at Navy
Personnel Command, said tapping the enlisted ranks does not mean the
Navy has a pilot shortage. In fact, he told us, there are 12,500 pilots
on active duty and more waiting in line. The new policy is being
adopted for somewhat complicated reasons. It has to do with freeing up
a backlog of junior pilots who need to spend time as squadron
department heads in order to be promoted. The problem is not new, Capt.
Guadagnini said. It's just that someone thought of this new way to
solve it. "The Navy is always looking for better ways of doing
business," the test pilot said. He said the fighter community will not
necessarily stay off-limits to enlisted personnel forever. "If it
works, and then there is a requirement to change the way we are doing
personnel business, we can put them in any community," he said.