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Aviation
Aviation | Surface | Submarine | SpecWar | Marine
Naval Aviation is renowned for
the demands it places upon its flyers. The skills and concentration
required to land a high performance jet on board an aircraft carrier
deck pitching in the black of night, or to track a submarine while
flying at only a few feet above stormy seas, are linked to a solid
academic background and top physical conditioning. There is more
to it than that; it requires a combination of talents and dedication
that many people possess, but few are challenged to use to full
measure.
NROTC graduates are selected for
flight training during their final year of school based on their
grade point average, Aviation
Selection Test Battery scores, and whether or not they are physically
qualified. All are volunteers. Before commencing flight training,
Student Naval Aviators must successfully complete the Introductory
Flight Screening program. After IFS, they arrive at Naval Air Station
Pensacola to begin the Aviation Indoctrination (AI) program. This
course involves academic training in aerodynamics, engineering,
air navigation, aviation physiology, and water survival, as well
as physically challenging practical applications of physiology
and water survival training.
Upon completion of AI, a Student
Naval Aviator (SNA) is assigned to one of five navy training squadrons
for primary flight training using the T-34C Turbomentor, a single-engine
turboprop aircraft, or the T-6 Texan JPATS. Primary flight training
includes the basics of contact, instrument, formation, and aerobatic
flying. After successful completion of primary training, student
aviators are selected for their community pipeline and move on
to the intermediate phase. Selection is based on personal preference,
individual flight performance, and the needs of the service at
that point and time. Student pilots will be selected for one of
five pipelines: Strike (tactical jets), E-2/C-2, Maritime, E-6,
or Rotary wing (helicopter). Upon completion of their intermediate
training, SNAs are awarded their wings and proceed to specific
Fleet Readiness Squadrons for specialized training in their aircraft,
either fixed wing (including the F/A-18 Hornet, EA-6B Prowler,
S-3 Viking, P-3 Orion, C-130 Hercules, E-2C Hawkeye, C-2 Greyhound)
or rotary wing (SH-60 Seahawk, H-53 Sea Stallion, H-46 Sea Knight,
H-2 Sea Sprite, H-3 Sea King).
Naval Flight Officer
Upon completion of AI, Student
Naval Flight Officers (SNFOs) report to the NFO training squadron
(VT-10) in Pensacola, Florida. VT-10 is the largest training squadron
in the Naval Air Training Command providing fourteen weeks of intense
training using the T-34C Turbomentor, a single-engine turboprop
aircraft. Students learn visual flight rules and basic airmanship
while accumulating an average of twenty-two hours of flight time
over eight flights. Additionally, they go through an extremely
extensive ground syllabus concentrating on navigation and aircraft
electronic systems. Flight simulators are also extensively used.
After the successful completion of
primary flight training, SNFOs proceed to tactical navigation intermediate
training which may be continued in VT-86 at Pensacola, Florida
or at the 562nd Flight Training Squadron which is the Air Force's
joint training squadron located at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas.
Training will include flight time in the T-34C, the T-6, the T-39N,
a multiplace twin-jet operated by civilian contractors, or the
T-1A Jayhawk, a multiplace twin jet used by the Air Force.
Those selected for training in the
562nd FTS will fly an average of eighty additional hours in the
T-43A (a modified Boeing 737) developing skills in long range,
over-water navigation using celestial, inertial, and radio navigation.
After twenty-two weeks, SNFOs are awarded their wings and proceed
to Fleet Readiness Squadrons to train for navigator slots for the
P-3 Orion patrol plane, EP-3 Aries electronic reconnaissance aircraft,
C-130 transport, or E-6 strategic communications aircraft.
Those not selected to join the joint
Air Force training squadron will remain in Pensacola in VT-86 for
an additional fourteen weeks of training including fifty additional
flight hours in the T-34C, the T-39N, a multiplace twin-jet operated
by civilian contractors, or the T-1A Jayhawk, a multiplace twin
jet used by the Air Force. SNFOs who complete intermediate training
will be selected for one of three training pipelines: Strike, Strike/Fighter,
or Aviation Tactical Data System.
Aviation | Surface | Submarine | SpecWar | Marine
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