When Dreams Become Real

Pilot in 24 months

The change in the model of chopper pilot training has been discussed for a long time. Modifications were needed, due to the fact that with the expansion of the fleet of pilots, the needs of the Polish army besides grew. Capabilities Military Academy of Aviation in terms of staff training, they proved insufficient (especially due to the duration of studies). And after 2024 Poland bought 96 Apache AH-64 helicopters from the United States, it became clear that we request fresh pilots practically already.

In 2025, a fresh concept of training was developed on the Air Force Inspectorate's Board of Air Force chopper Air Aviation Board (we wrote about this in the 8th issue of PZ in 2025). “After almost 3 decades of break, erstwhile the last graduates left the walls of the already-unexistent School of Chorąży Aviation, the officers will catch up with helicopters again”, said Brig. Gen. Krzysztof Zwolinski, Head of the Management Board of Śmigłowiec Aviation and Deputy Air Force Inspector DGRSZ. The facility mentioned by him existed in the structures of the Orląt School and ended its operations in 1998. Until then, at the same time, the pilot trained future officers, i.e. subjects and Ensigns of Aviation. Due to the limited number of Mi-2 and W-3 helicopters, they were primarily utilized for training of the subjects, which led to the fact that the Ensigns of the two-year school graduated with a tiny raid – only a fewer hours. The deficiencies in training had to be corrected in linear units. This generated only problems, due to the fact that in aircraft units, alternatively of perfecting the method of piloting and combat tactics, they taught flying practically from scratch. – The system, although good in assumptions, was highly underdeveloped. Now it will be different – says Gen. Zwolinski. Today, according to the fresh concept of training and the adopted timetable, the officers are expected to spend almost 300 hours in the course of studying in the air!

– We request perfect aerial craftsmen. Professionals who know equipment well and focus only on flying. This is the function of the sub-commissioners, as evidenced by, among others, the aviation of land troops in the United States or in the United Kingdom," said Colonel Krzysztof Kwiatkowski, Head of the Military chopper Division of DGRSZ, and adds: "We come out of the presumption that not all pilots must be officers. due to the fact that the latter, apart from being acquainted with piloting, should besides focus on command, staff management, task planning and organisation of aviation training. And that's what you gotta learn in college. The Air Military Academy educates a chopper officer-pilot in 5 years, we'll educate a sub-officer-pilot in two. From zero to hero in 24 months.

The officer assures us that if there are no unexpected disruptions in the schedule, in early 2028 we will have in Poland the first officers prepared to pilot AH-64E.

Soldiers from the Polish Armed Forces Air Force could participate in the pilot program. – During the recruitment, method education and adequate motivation for service were awarded. Candidates for AH-64 pilots they could not be more than 35 years old, they should know English at a sufficiently advanced level and undergo medical examinations at the Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, says Colonel Kwiatkowski. The chance to participate in the training was yet given to the top 10 people, respective more were placed on the reserve list.

From Dęblin to Fort Rucker

Road to Apache helicopters leads through Dęblin. It was there in the second half of January 2026 that the first group of enlisted officers to pilot the world's most modern impact helicopters in the future. – Candidates start our selection course. They will gain general and specialist cognition and applicable skills from piloting and operation of helicopters,” explains Brig-Gen Krzysztof Cur, Rector-Commander of the Military Academy. This course will take 14 weeks, during which 500 teaching hours will be completed. – The officers will undergo theoretical, e-learning training in the field of aeronautical terminology and will work on the selectioner simulator. Everyone will besides participate in air training on Helicopter R-44 Robinson – indicates the gene. Cur.

After finishing the course in LAW, the top 8 people will start training in the UK in 2026 (they will be conducted abroad 2 at respective weeks intervals). The officers are to learn at No 1 Flying Training School in Shawbury, and the training will be conducted under the aegis of the North Atlantic Alliance as part of the NATO Flight Training Europe initiative, offering various types of flight crew training – helicopters and aircraft – in various Alliance countries, to which Poland joined in June 2025.

– This year we have 8 seats provided for the students, but we will be able to send 16 non-commissioned officers to Britain as shortly as possible next year. We intend to keep this strategy until at least 2029 and train 16 people per year," said Colonel Krzysztof Kwiatkowski. Polish officers will join the global audience, including from the UK or Germany. The Canadians and Norwegians besides gotta start studying at Shawbury next year.

The officers will pass the language course there, and after theoretical classes they will practice on different classes of simulators: from trainers to full simulators, which show maximum real flight patterns. Coursers are besides to learn to fly on H-135 and H-145 helicopters. – Graduates of the course after more than a year of intensive learning in the UK will be prepared to operate in a multi-domain and combat environment and trained to execute tactical flights in night vision. After the final exams, everyone will take part in a tactical exercise, during which various types of air missions will be carried out,” explains the Head of the Air Force of DGRSZ.

Ultimately, after 64 weeks at Shawbury, Polish enlisted officers will be assigned to Fort Rucker in the U.S. for AH-64E piloting. Our plans become reality. The officers will be pilots again. We keep our fingers crossed for their advancement in training," says Brig. Gen. Piotr Krzysztof Zwolinski.

That's not all. In July, 2 more teacher pilots from the 4th School Aviation Wing from Dęblin will be sent to Shawbury. Flying to SW-4 and Mi-2 pilots will undergo training on H-135 and H-145 and They'll join the instructor's staff.to teach aviation adepts from different countries for the next 3 years in Britain. – For our aviation, it is simply a large chance to develop, to get fresh skills, qualifications, to look at fresh training methods. And most importantly, it's not a one-time thing. After 3 years at Shawbury, we're going to send 2 more instructors. This will supply us with a constant supply of cognition and skills, including tactical skills – explains Colonel Kwiatkowski.

A Chance for Success

"I'm very happy" – the thirty-year-old Deputy Alexander Piórkowska talks about her participation in the pilot program. I've served in the army since 2020. I graduated from the Air Force Suboffice School and for 4 years I have been associated with the method squadron at the 41st School Aviation Base in Dęblin – he says. He's a school plane technician. M-346 Whitey. erstwhile I found out about this chance for the officers, I didn't hesitate much. I've applied for my admissions, and I've passed all stages of recruitment. I know that this is simply a chance that may never happen again," she admits. She speaks very cautiously of the challenges ahead. I don't have any flying experience, I don't have a tourist pilot's license, I've never even been in a glider. In fact, it is only now in Dęblin that I will see whether I have the propensity to be a pilot. I know there will be quite a few learning, but I will not quit easy – he emphasizes.

Eight enlisted officers will start a course in the UK this year. The best 2 to Shawbury will leave in May and finish training in November 2027 to then train in the United States for a fewer months. According to the authors of the fresh training system, the planned agenda fits perfectly into the transportation agenda ordered across the AH-64E ocean. The first helicopters will scope us in the first half of 2028.

What's next? The key issue for the training of further chopper pilots will be the acquisition of a fresh school-fighting platform, due to the fact that the capabilities of the Mi-2 and SW-4 pilots' armed forces are slow ending. After buying fresh school machinery in Leźnica Wielka is to be created Helicopter Air Training Center.