Five Dutch and three US instructors are
assigned to the squadron, which has ve
single-seat F-16AMs and the same number
of two-seat F-16BMs.TRAINING PIPELINE
The unit’s core training task is converting
new pilots to the F-16. They arrive having
graduated from the Euro-NATO Joint Jet
Pilot Training Programme (ENJJPT) which is
conducted by the 80th Flying Training Wing
at Sheppard AFB, Texas.
Lt Col Luysterburg commented: “The
current workload is four new students
every nine months...[their] rst six weeks
are spent on academics and in the
simulator. Both are a continuous feature
of the entire course and cover the basics
like the engine, airframe, hydraulics,
starting the jet and taxiing, local air traffic
arrangements for Tucson International
Airport and emergency procedures.” Thesyllabus involves 68 sorties, which equates
to 87 ying hours.
The CO continued: “After three sorties with
the instructor, getting to know the aircraft,
students undertake an instrument sortie
before their landmark rst solo ight.” In total,
the transition phase involves 13 sorties and
just under 20 hours airborne.
They progress to the two-part tactical
phase comprising air-to-air and air-to-surface
tuition. The former requires 28 ights (30.1
hours) and covers defensive and offensive
tactics and traditional dog ghting skills are
followed by intercepts and beyond visual
range engagements.
Starting with one versus one missions,
scenarios become increasingly complex and
progress to two versus one, one versus two
and larger engagements.
“Right after the BFM period in the air-to-air
phase the new pilots get to apply their skills
operating over water which introduces a lot ofdifferent visual cues during ghting,” explained
Lt Col Luysterburg. “This is essential
because when stationed in the Netherlands
they’ll perform mostly overwater operations.
This training is done away from Tucson,
mostly at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar
to date, for a two- to three-week period, so
students can work using unfamiliar runways
and weapons ranges.” The air-to-surface
part of the training involves 19 sorties (25.2
hours) learning different attack pro les, use of
traditional ‘iron’, laser-guided bombs and other
precision weaponry used by the KLu.
The trainee pilots then move onto the
air-to-surface phase. The syllabus covers
all weapons used by the frontline units and
various attack pro les.
Night ying is an important part of the
course (including night-vision goggles use)
with eight sorties (11.4 hours). They are also
taught aerial refuelling during 1.5 hours in
the air.68 Aviation News incorporating Jets October 2018
A pairs landing of 148th FS F-16s. The unit operates from the same runways as Tucson International Airport traffic. Joe CopalmanTucson-based 148th FS operates ve single-
seat F-16s and the same number of two-seaters.