annum, and up to 150 pilots transition
through IFF each year.
The UPT element involves running eight
classes per year, each with around 25
students learning their new trade over a
55-week period, and is roughly divided
into three phases. Not all students go
through all phases of UPT — this depends
on where they are from and the aircraft
type they will progress to in the future.
For example, they might just take the
rst two phases, or join the program for
the third phase only. They can expect tobe taught by instructors from across the
partner nations.
The opening stage comprises academic
lessons and pre- ight training. It takes in
such elements as altitude chamber tests,
ejection seat and egress training and
parachute landing falls.
With this completed it’s time for
primary aircraft training. This is
about mastering basic ying skills via
approximately 125 hours in the Texan
II, spread over 26 weeks including a
heavy amount of simulator time. The live ying includes basic instrument ying,
two-ship formation and navigation
work. Some students will already know
which platform they are heading to even
before they arrive at Sheppard; some
may be on a track — ghter, bomber,
multi-engine or rotary — whereas others
aren’t streamed until they complete
phase two here.
Advanced aircraft training is the third
phase — it’s 26 weeks of exhilarating
T-38 ying for those earmarked for
ghters or bombers. The track consistsAbove left to
right: Stylized
helmet visor
covers distinguish
instructors with
previous front-
line tours from
the students
with fl ying kit
that is yet to be
personalized.
As well as the
resident 80th
FTW, the 82nd
Training Wing at
Sheppard teaches
new maintainers
and armorers,
as evidenced
by the ground
instructional
airframes in the
background here.
This image: A T-38
student shows his
hands to indicate
that he will not
touch the controls
and defl ect
the external
surfaces, so that
the groundcrew
can perform
a fi nal walk-
round external
inspection.FEATURE ARTICLE // EURO-NATO JOINT JET PILOT TRAINING
38 March 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
30-41 ENJPTS C.indd 38 19/01/2018 11:10