The U.S. Navy operates more than 3,700 aircraft, making it the second largest air force in the world— second only to the U.S. Air Force. Below are the careers in aviation that work together to get our birds in the sky.AVIATION JOBS IN THE NAVYFIGHTER PILOTComplete complex air maneuvers while flying at Mach speeds. Catapult off carriers at 170 mph and land on moving runways only 300 feet long. Gather intel, drop ordnance and conduct defensive missions—all in the F/A-18 Hornet and the cutting-edge F-35C Lightning II.AIRCRAFT HANDLING OFFICEREvery performance needs a choreographer and on the deck of an aircraft carrier, that person is you. You’re in charge of directing the movement of the entire flight deck from the jet launch sequence to aircraft recovery.FIXED WING PILOTIn the C-2 Greyhound, you transport parts, personnel, and mail to the 5,000 people aboard. In the cockpit of the E-2C Hawkeye, you’re on patrol as the command control center in the sky. If you’re flying the P-3 Orion or the brand-new P-8 Poseidon, you hunt submarines using cutting edge software, radar, sonar, and acoustics.HELICOPTER PILOTAs a helicopter pilot, the sky is your domain. Hover over the sea for search and rescue, extract Sailors and Special Forces from a hot landing zone or track and neutralize enemy submarines in defense of your ship.NAVAL FLIGHT OFFICERIn this role, you’re the navigator, the lookout and the weapon operator inside naval aviation. Whether you’re hunting submarines from a P-8 Poseidon, navigating an E-2 Hawkeye through enemy territory or dropping bombs from the backseat of an F-18 fighter jet.PAY AND BENEFITSOur people are our most valuable assets, so we care for them well. With world-class training, opportunity to pay for college and advanced degrees, access to the best health care in the country, retirement plans, tax incentives, and more perks than you could have imagined, Navy active-duty benefits are the most competitive out there. Earn up to $150,000 while finishing your degreeRegular monthly income ranging from $4,000 to $6,000 prior to your graduation   Free graduate education through Post 9/11 GI Bill30 days of paid vacation time each yearCompetitive and pay and bonuses: Total compensation at 4 years of service for Lieutenant in San Diego, CA ($130,000)Automatic Promotions based on ability and performanceComprehensive medical and dental care at no cost to sailorLow-cost childcare servicesOpportunities to travel the worldExcellent retirement benefits including Blended Retirement System/Pension and 5% 401K Government matching contributionFood allowancesA housing allowance that is based upon the location of the school you attendEDUCATION OPPORTUNITIESBeyond professional credentials and certifications, the Navy can help ease your financial burdens and advance your career with generous financial assistance and continuing education programs, including:Post-9/11 GI BillNavy Tuition Assistance ProgramNaval Postgraduate School (NPS)Navy College ProgramVOLED Assistance CenterVOLED Region AdvisorsNavy War College (NWC)USAF Air University Air Command and Staff CollegeQUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTSU.S. citizen19 years of age or olderBachelor’s degree or be in pursuit of a bachelor's degree with at least 60 credits hours and be currently enrolled full time to a baccalaureate degree from a non-NROTC affiliated institution accredited institutionPrior Service Navy and other branches of service are welcome to applyGeneral qualifications may vary depending upon whether you’re currently serving, whether you’ve served before or whether you’ve never served before.WORK ENVIRONMENTIn the field of aviation, you’ll make the world your home. You may be assigned to sea or shore squadrons on almost any continent. You will have the opportunity to work in a variety of environments—airborne aircraft, hangars, flight decks, flight lines at air stations and on aircraft carriers.