JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (April 29, 2025) -- The Mission and Installation Contracting Command has awarded a $5 million contract to a small business to reshape rotary-wing aviator training at Fort Novosel, Alabama, paving the way for the Army’s new Flight School Next program.
The MICC at Fort Eustis, Virginia, in partnership with the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and industry stakeholders, awarded the contract in February after receiving multiple competitive proposals.
“The execution of the aviation contract at Fort Novosel culminates a process that began in December 2024 to initiate a change to Army rotary-wing aviator training, announcing a new civilian FAA Part 141 flight school,” said Shaina McKeel, division chief at the MICC-Fort Eustis contracting office.
The Army Aviation Center of Excellence is launching a transformative initiative by establishing a civilian FAA Part 141 flight school at Fort Novosel. The school will allow students to earn private pilot, rotorcraft helicopter, and instrument helicopter certifications before entering military flight training. The effort aims to better understand the transition from civilian to military aviator.
For the first time, aspiring Army aviators will participate in a proof-of-concept pilot program, paving the way for Flight School Next—a significant shift in how the Army trains future helicopter pilots.
Under the initiative, students will train in commercially owned and operated helicopters, a move intended to enhance training quality, produce more proficient pilots, and potentially reduce costs.
“Flight School Next is an opportunity for our aviators to get more time at the controls, understanding the basics of flying a helicopter, especially during their core foundational aviation experience, and at cost savings,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Michael Corsaro, branch chief. “This foundational training is the building block our aviators need before they step into their graduate-level aircraft, whether the AH-64, UH-60 or CH-47.”
The Army is collecting data to determine the requirements for transitioning a civilian FAA-certified helicopter pilot into a fully qualified Army aviator. The new school will serve as a testing ground for this research.
The program is designed for intensive, accelerated learning. Students will complete all FAA Part 141 requirements within 16 weeks, training up to six days a week for eight to 10 hours per day. Class sizes will range from four to eight students, with up to 48 students trained over a one-year period.
Training will occur in three phases: the first two modeled after FAA requirements for private pilot and instrument rating certificates for rotary wing, and the third connecting FAA lessons to Army regulations, with an emphasis on tactical skills.
“The pilot program will help ensure Army aviation is selecting the most effective approach in revamping flight school training,” Corsaro said.
The Army is evaluating several turbine helicopter models, including the Robinson R66 and Airbus H125, to meet program requirements.
“We met the speed of need,” said Clay Cole, MICC deputy to the commanding general, describing the team’s ability to deliver the power of Army contracting to the warfighter. “We took a requirement that was brought to us as a concept in late October or early November, and by March, we had students training in the aircraft.”
Both the military and commercial aviation sectors have faced a growing pilot shortage in recent years. With competition for qualified pilots intensifying, Army officials believe this innovative approach will give the service a competitive edge in attracting top talent.
About the MICC
Headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the Mission and Installation Contracting Command consists of about 1,500 military and civilian members who are responsible for contracting goods and services in support of Soldiers as well as readying trained contracting units for the operating force and contingency environment when called upon. As part of its mission, MICC contracts are vital in feeding more than 200,000 Soldiers every day, providing many daily base operations support services at installations, facilitating training in the preparation of more than 100,000 conventional force members annually, training more than 500,000 students each year, and maintaining more than 14.4 million acres of land and 170,000 structures.
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