To expand the frame of reference, and support Dan Brown’s position, the US Army Warrant Officer Pilot program requires a high school diploma. Those young men and women fly aircraft like the Apache and the special ops versions of the CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Blackhawk, at night, low level, in weather etc. Very sophisticated aircraft and operating in an uncontrolled, unfriendly environment, sometimes populated with unfriendly and armed people. They do just fine.