U.S. Army student pilots fly solo cross-country for first time in decades

Published Jul 17, 07:02 PM UTC

The U.S. Army announced on July 17, 2026, that student pilots will fly solo cross-country for the first time in decades as part of a curriculum overhaul by the 1st Battalion, 223rd Aviation Regiment. The new program, prompted by a 55% rise in severe aviation accidents between fiscal years 2020 and 2024 and a series of fatal crashes, aims to produce more skilled pilots. Students undergo two weeks of cross-country instruction and a check ride before flying 50 to 100 nautical miles from Shell Army Heliport without an instructor. Second Lt. Kyler Suerth, a West Point graduate, completed his solo flight this week, citing radio calls and civilian airspace navigation as key challenges. Students will take at least two solo flights and up to five cross-country flights before moving to tactical terrain training without GPS. The Army is also advancing contractor-run training for its rotary-wing program.