{"id":241,"date":"2020-08-19T16:14:46","date_gmt":"2020-08-19T20:14:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.soaringtools.org\/?p=241"},"modified":"2021-02-28T10:52:57","modified_gmt":"2021-02-28T15:52:57","slug":"aim-high-air-force-primary-jet-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.soaringtools.org\/index.php\/2020\/08\/19\/aim-high-air-force-primary-jet-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Soaring & Air Force Primary Jet Instruction?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I wanted to share how I was taught to fly and teach in the USAF.\u00a0\u00a0 While a jet vs. glider sounds very different, perhaps much can be learned from Air Force methods.\u00a0 It had one goal:\u00a0 produce consistently the best pilots in the quickest amount of time and with the fewest use of resources (on time & budget).<\/em><\/p>\n

You’ll see indented text like this below.\u00a0 I’ll use that to highlight the training concept involved.\u00a0 Couldn’t some of these things be done to train our glider students more quickly and with greater success & satisfaction?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

My plane was the Cessna T-37<\/a>, which was used until 2009.\u00a0\u00a0 As a student, this was make or break, were you capable of becoming an Air Force Pilot?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As we were told, “The United States Air Force could teach a chimpanzee how to fly, but you know what — we don’t have the time or money to train chimps!”<\/em><\/p>\n

As an IP (Instructor Pilot) I also became a Flight Scheduler for our ‘classroom’ of about 13 instructors and 30 students.\u00a0 The USAF statistics said we’d lose a third of the students. Most would wash out prior to solo.<\/p>\n

The T-37, a definitely complex aircraft:<\/em>\u00a0 two jet engines, hydraulic systems, generators, inverter, three tank fuel system, UHF radios, transponder, a fully stuffed instrument panel,\u00a0 explosive charges for the canopy & ejection seat, and pages of checklists and procedures.\u00a0 Click here for the Dash One<\/a> (POH).<\/p>\n

Training prior to Solo – the book & syllabus<\/h3>\n

We followed one book & syllabus. They laid out what was expected as training progressed.\u00a0 We knew what to teach, when, and what the performance standard was.\u00a0 I don’t have the syllabus, but here is an example<\/a> of what both students and instructors read.\u00a0 Interested in what they use for Soaring Instruction at the Academy<\/strong><\/em>:\u00a0 The syllabus<\/a> and the student manual<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A simple concept, all instructors use the same training manual, techniques, and maneuver standards.\u00a0 This insures the student isn’t confused and learning interference is reduced when flying with other instructors.\u00a0 What does your Club do?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There were 12 flights in the syllabus, broken into 4 blocks of instruction, 3 rides each.\u00a0 Then you had to be ready to go solo.\u00a0 It was demanding on both instructors and students.\u00a0 Actually, the ride limit was used to force IPs to decide — can this person solo without getting killed?\u00a0 It was a benchmark.<\/p>\n

I’ve seen many CFIGs fret over whether a student was ready to solo. I can recall just graduating from Pilot Instructor Training, returning to my base, and joining a flight<\/em> room.\u00a0 It just happened they were starting a new class and I had three fresh students to solo.\u00a0 I had a little anxiety at the start, but I just followed the program, insured they met standards, and each soloed on time.\u00a0 Happy to say I never had a student wash out.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Before the First Flight<\/h3>\n

Time in the air was precious. Plenty on the ground for memorizing procedures,\u00a0 maneuvers, how they were performed, ‘chair flying’ at home, table briefs with an IP.<\/p>\n

Ground prep. insured the only thing going on in the aircraft (the activity that could ONLY HAPPEN in the aircraft) was the\u00a0 ‘student practice’ of flying. My role as IP was safety observer and conversation limited to brief comments.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n