Eighteen Afghan helicopter pilots, once hailed as heroes in the fight against the Taliban, are now finding themselves navigating an uncertain future in the U.S. Fleeing their homeland after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, these skilled aviators are struggling to rebuild their lives and reclaim their place in the air.
Their mission now is not one of combat but survival — working relentlessly to gain their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot certifications, a critical step toward re-entering the aviation industry they once dominated.
Their harrowing journey and unwavering determination have inspired one aviation professional to champion their cause, providing support and a path forward despite the many challenges they face.
“When this opportunity came to me to help this group, it was specifically from Special Operations pilots within the United States military,” said Randy Rowles, president of the Helicopter Institute in Fort Worth, Texas. Rowles, a seasoned FAA examiner with nearly three decades of experience, has become an advocate for these pilots, dedicating his time and resources to help them achieve certification. “A few of the pilots were from the 160th Task Force, the Night Stalkers. Those pilots said, ‘Hey, we know who these guys are and we can vouch for what they did.’”
Each pilot had undergone rigorous training under a U.S. Department of State contract, receiving instruction equivalent to the U.S. Army’s Initial Entry Rotary-Wing training program.
“Their training consisted of around 200 hours, exactly like U.S. military pilots,” he said. “The pilots were turbine-trained, mostly flying the Bell 206.”
After completing their training, the pilots flew either the MH-6 Little Bird gunship helicopter in direct combat against the Taliban, or operated Black Hawk or Mil Mi-17 helicopters for troop transport missions. They frequently supported U.S. forces and evacuated the wounded. Each pilot accumulated between 300 and 1,200 flight hours.
“When I say they’re heroes, it’s because they didn’t ask for this battle to take place in their country. They weren’t asked to help the United States — it was a choice they made. And that choice was a matter of life and death.”
Their decision to fight alongside U.S. forces made them prime targets for the Taliban, and as the American withdrawal unfolded, many pilots had no choice but to flee, leaving everything behind. The documents that proved their qualifications, their military service — everything they needed to continue their careers as pilots — were lost in the chaos.
“Their documents were destroyed,” Rowles said, “and a big part of that was to protect them — who they were, what they did.”
Thanks to the efforts of the Afghan Refugee Resettlement Group, the first pilot eventually made it to the U.S., arriving in Texas in February 2024after three years in hiding. That’s when Rowles stepped in to lend his expertise and resources.
But getting these pilots certified has been no easy feat. Rowles has worked tirelessly to navigate the complex process of getting the pilots certified by the FAA, a task made even more challenging by the lack of documentation and the pilots’ precarious immigration status.
“The TSA approval process is taking longer because we need background checks, and many records are missing,” Rowles said. “Only two pilots have been approved for flight training so far, but we expect more. Because it’s taking so long, they can’t earn a living, so we’re employing them here as best we can.”
While waiting for approvals, the pilots work in support positions at the Helicopter Institute, all while undergoing ground training and preparing for FAA knowledge tests. Rowles is confident in their abilities, saying, “It’s obviously they’ve gone through training, but they didn’t have the hours or the documentation that I needed. They’re dedicated and smart, and they’re doing very, very well.”
When asked why he took on this challenge, Rowles’ answer was simple: “I’ve been in this industry a long time, and there are some people you meet, and you just know. When they ask you to help, you know their intentions are pure. I didn’t have to go to Afghanistan — I was here, building my business, raising my kids. I have tremendous respect for the soldiers who served there. When a few of them came to me and said, ‘Can you help with this project?’ I couldn’t say no.”
Despite the overwhelming challenges — language barriers, missing records, and the sheer cost of certification, which is estimated to be around $35,000 to $75,000 per pilot — Rowles and his team are pressing on. His organization is footing the bill, with little external support. “There’s a local division of Catholic Charities helping with housing, and the Afghan Refugee Group helps with sustenance,” Rowles said.
But time is running out. The public’s focus has shifted, and Rowles fears the world has moved on. “There’s so much going on in the world now that Afghanistan is being overshadowed,” he said, noting that the pilots who risked their lives for U.S. forces have become the “forgotten few.” He added, “Afghanistan may be history for us, but for them, it’s still their everyday reality.”
Even in the face of such adversity, Rowles remains hopeful. He believes the aviation industry will step up, either by providing financial assistance or offering jobs once these pilots are ready to fly again.
A GoFundMe page, set up by the Afghan Refugee Resettlement Group, aims to support these pilots as they rebuild their lives in the U.S. and work toward FAA certification.
“When someone takes that level of risk for their country, their family, and for us, they deserve recognition and assistance,” Rowles said. “Those are heroes to me, and I don’t take that lightly.”