To meet the US Air Force’s goal of producing 1,500 pilots per year, the service is testing a new Initial Pilot Training (IPT) model to provide a comprehensive program within a faster time frame.
The IPT is designed to train the pilots in basic airmanship, instruments, and multi-engine flying competencies within 139 days, or about four and a half months, logging about 110 flying hours.
Next comes the revised Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) that runs for 108 days, approximately four months, where trainees complete around 57 flying and 50 simulator hours in the T-6A Texan II.
Upon completion of the new IPT and revised UPT programs, students earn their military pilot wings.
The latest training model has a total duration of around 10.5 months in contrast to the traditional schedule spanning approximately 14 months with an eight-week initial flight training followed by about a year-long UPT, before transitioning to a specialized track.
“The threats are growing, and we are out of time. AETC is harnessing the power of American academia and industry to rapidly reoptimize our ability to train and develop Airmen for Great Power Competition,” said Air Education and Training Command (AETC) commander Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson.
“If called upon, we will be ready to defend our nation; and if there is a fight, we will win.”
Small Group Tryouts
The AETC partnered with the University of North Dakota Aerospace Foundation flight training program in Arizona, and the Brunner Aerospace flight training program in Texas.
Under the partnership, 65 US Air Force student pilots under two Small Group Tryouts (SGTO) took Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 141 certified courses during the IPT.
They earned their private pilot certificate, instrument rating, and multi-engine rating upon completion.
Next, they moved on to take the UPT with a revised T-6A syllabus, focused on military-specific aviation competencies at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, in September last year.
Meanwhile, the second class of SGTO students is scheduled to begin T-6 training in March at the same installation.
Trainees who took part in the IPT SGTOs will continue to be tracked through the completion of graduate formal training units.
“The model we are testing allows for increased throughput to meet Air Force pilot production requirements, and initial data shows it does so while also increasing the quality of our graduates,” said Brig. Gen. Matthew Leard, AETC’s Plans, Programs, Requirements and International Affairs Director.
It also “establishes relationships with the commercial aviation training enterprise to create future capacity, if needed,” as the AETC eyes expanding partnerships with several public universities that offer FAA Part 141 flight training with the capacity to conduct more SGTOs this year.
