Clear Skies for Next Generation Helicopter Pilot Training

Heather J. Dane, CAE Senior Communications Manager, recently spoke with Matthew Johnson, Helicopter Division Chief Pilot and G120TP Advanced Instructor Pilot at the CAE Dothan Training Center (DTC) in Dothan, Alabama, to learn more about his journey from the U.S. Army to leading and managing the training, standardization, and effective performance of all DTC helicopter instructor pilots.

CAE’s instructor pilots (IP) play a pivotal role in nurturing young officers as they strive to become world-class military aviators. It is an exciting and highly rewarding career allowing veteran pilots to continue the important mission of military readiness.

For the past four and half years Matt Johnson has been working at the CAE Dothan Training Center, a 79,000 square-foot facility located in Dothan Alabama, supporting academic, simulation and live flying training for the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and other customers. 

Matt describes the DTC as a home among folks who care deeply and feel a sense of duty to give back to the profession. The team is dedicated to teaching and mentoring pilots with varying degrees of experience to be mission focused, safe and prepared. It is more than a job for this crew, but an opportunity to make sure our pilots and flight crews return home to their families.

“The people here have shown me some of the greatest friendships and sense of camaraderie that I thought lost after I left military aviation. There has not been one day I have not felt really good about coming to work! I thoroughly enjoy my job here.”

Leading the training, standardization and effective performance of all helicopter instructor pilots, Matt ensures all instructor pilots have the tools, training, and the latitude to perform their jobs at the highest level of professional excellence. A task that requires confidence in themselves and their organization. At the DTC, Matt encourages a squadron atmosphere of high esprit de corps where everyone is part of a team, taking great pride in the strength of the collective experience.

A typical day for Matt focuses on people and flying. Starting with an initial check in with leadership, what he calls the daily morale checks for his circle, he then moves on to the tasks awaiting him for the day.

“On flying days, there is a typical pre-brief information gathering, a formal flight briefing and a step to the flight line,” says Matt. Matt leverages his experience as a former U.S. Army AH-64 pilot and G120 instructor pilot. With his extensive experience with multiple aircraft platforms, environments, and combat experience, he brings great value and insight to students. “What is first learned is always best learned and an effective message must be presented to our future war fighters and public servants. I believe that my tenure as a military aviator and officer, along with my years of diverse flying experience shows the relevance and importance of what I, and we as a team, have to offer," he concluded.

As the day continues, “The squadron always seems to gather for lunch and hang out as the morning crews are on the way out and the afternoon crews are gathering for their respective flight periods,” he continues. “The people here have shown me some of the greatest friendships and sense of camaraderie that I thought lost after I left military aviation. There has not been one day I have not felt really good about coming to work! I thoroughly enjoy my job here,” he added.

Matt says CAE has afforded him the ability to continue flying and opportunities for professional growth in ways he didn’t expect. An encouraging environment of trust and autonomy allows him to strive for and succeed in areas outside his scope of experience. “CAE has recognized a willingness to work hard and learn, and provided excellent opportunities for professional growth, education and quality of work and life balance. I am a better pilot, a better instructor, and a far more well-rounded professional for the short time I have been here,” he adds.

From Matt’s perspective it is CAE’s work environment and culture that stands out the most. “The family atmosphere. Nobody comes in and punches a clock. Nobody is here to ‘make the doughnuts’ so to speak. We all take our chosen professions very seriously. I have not worked in another job where so many incredibly talented and experienced folks have been so interested in each other’s personal success. We all work hard, and as a team, we seem to gather and play hard as well.”

CAE encourages all military personnel transitioning to civilian life to pursue opportunities that allow them to continue their mission and bring their experience to our future aviators. We value the perspective our veteran personnel bring to training and solutions and we are committed to assisting in the transition to careers utilizing skills, knowledge and experience they have acquired in service.

Join CAE’s team and continue your mission with us.

CAE is frequently hiring rotary wing instructor pilots to train new student pilots enrolled in the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Commands, Introductory Flight Training - Rotary (IFT-R) program.

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