82 // AUGUST 2018 #365 http://www.airforcesmonthly.comLuftstridsskolan
they want you to have the best opportunity
to become as good as you can be.
“We are not in a rush, we are enjoying it
here. I think this year at the school has
been the best year of my life. I’ve been
inspired by being here and I hope that one
day I can come back as an instructor.”
The pilot course
One advantage of pre-assigning a type is that
the structure and flow of training can be adjusted
to suit the aircraft the cadet is going to fly.
The first two years of education are similar for all
trainees. It starts with a standard armed forces
junior cadet syllabus which lasts for six months.
This provides a foundation for the armed
forces and is common across all branches.
Once they’re junior cadets, they will
progress to the National Defence College
Aviation (NDCA). The first one-and-a-
half years of a three-year programme is
spent at Stockholm’s Military Academy
Karlberg, where they learn the theory of
tactics, military techniques and leadership,
as well as undertaking physical training.
After the first year of the academy, students
are divided up for the next 12 months. The
fixed-wing course heads to the Luftstridsskolan.
Here they’ll go to the 1st squadron, flying
Above: The SK 60’s side-by-side confi guration has advantages in the early stages of training, making
interaction between student and instructor much easier. The instructor can monitor the students, making
notes on where their hands and feet are, and where they are looking.
Below: SK 60A serial 60040 prepares to depart for
a night training mission. Students will solo on the
type after around 30 hours – with a fast, dynamic
jet, things can go wrong quickly, and the additional
fl ying time keeps everyone safe.Luftstridsskolan’s 3rd squadron and fly
the HKP 15 for the next two years.Fixed-wing
Basic flying training starts off with a theoretical
element combined with some simulator work.
The candidates will make their first flight in
the SK 60 within the first three or four weeks.
Theoretical training, combined with simulator
work, continues alongside live flying and
there is around two hours of theoreticalCivil vs military
Cadet Johansson – who had civil flying experience
before applying to the air force – told AFM: “The
environment in the school is completely different
from the civil world and even the other branches
of the military where you get called by your last
name. As soon as you get here, the first thing the
teachers ask is: ‘What’s your nickname?’ That
kind of sets the standard of how we speak to
each other here and how the environment is.”
Cadet Norén added: “The whole idea is to build
up a relationship where you feel safe, where you
don’t have anything to lose by telling the truth. In
the other branches you may be penalised every
time you do something wrong, even if it’s not
your fault. Then later on you won’t say what
happened because you are afraid of the potential
penalty. We even discuss family relations with our
teachers – it’s a really trustworthy environment.”
Cadet Johansson continued: “In the civil world
you have grades and here you either pass or you
don’t. You never see on paper how good or bad
you are flying. The Swedish Air Force dropped
the grades in the ’70s because it leads to a
competition as to who is the best pilot. We don’t
know who’s best because it doesn’t matter.”
For Cadet Johansson, civil pilot school felt as
if it was ‘every man for themselves’ since all
were looking to get the best grades and secure
the top job. “You were friends, but you didn’t
really care about each other,” he added.
“Here it’s totally different,” Cadet Johansson
continued. “If someone has a bad day, we all
learn from it and we don’t judge. We help each
other to go from there to the next level.”the SK 60. Bückeburg in Germany handles
the basic rotary training, on the EC135.
After this year of flying, the students
head back to the academy in Stockholm
to complete the NDCA programme with
an officer’s exam. With this, they become
officers in the Swedish Armed Forces,
earning a bachelor’s degree in war science.
The fixed-wing course then returns
to the Luftstridsskolan to join the 2nd
squadron and begin advanced flying
training. Transport pilots stay with the
2nd squadron for five months before civil
aviation training at Ljungbyhed, and then
head to their future squadron for type rating
and combat readiness training (CRT).
Fighter pilots remain in the 2nd squadron for
11 months to complete advanced fixed-wing
training, all done in the SK 60. They’ll then go
to F 7 at Såtenäs for six months’ conversion
training (CT) with the JAS 39 Gripen. Here
they learn all about the fast jet, including
avionics and sensors. Once they have cleared
the CT hurdle, they’ll head to their future
squadron for CRT and will be assigned one of
three Swedish fighter wings: F 7, F 17 or F 21.
The rotary trainees return to Bückeburg
for another six months of flying to conclude
their basic training. They’ll then join the