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Helicopter Flight Training Program (HFTP) 2008
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
CDT Kathleen Carey
This past summer I had the privelage to attend the Helicopter Flight Training Program in Grand Forks, ND. This program is different than other CTLT programs as it is actually an internship that cadets must apply for early in their junior year. In order to apply for the HFT Program, cadets must complete an application packet, pass the Army Flight Aptitude Selection Test(AFAST) and complete a Class I Flight Physical. The program is extremely selective and only 20 cadets a year are selected to attend.
The program consists of a month of helicopter flight training with the Department of Aerospace at the University of North Dakota. Cadets attend daily classroom instruction on physics, weather, and the principles of aviation as well as complete in-cockpit training in a Schweizer 300C. The program is rigorous and by the end of the month cadets are required to pass a classroom instruction and exams, acquire 20 flight hours, complete a solo flight and pass a check ride with a flight instructor. When not in class or at the airport, cadets are housed in the university dorms and granted access to all the UND facilities, including the gym, student union, and the dining facilities.
For someone who never believed they would become a pilot, my month in North Dakota was a blast! I learned more than I ever thought I would about physics and rotary aircraft, made great friends and actually soloed a helicopter on my own! It was not all fun and games though as learning to fly a helicopter (especially how to hover one) is extremely humbling. If you are interested in aviation and up for the challenge, I highly recommend applying for the Helicopter Flight Training Program. It is one of the most unique and rewarding experiences you will have in Army ROTC.
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