Providing Lift for Aspiring Pilots

Services around the globe are using more and increasingly capable fixed-wing training aircraft to help prospective pilots earn their wings of gold. A number of upgrades and procurement plans are moving forward or are on the books to allow aspiring aviators to more safely and efficiently prepare for their initial squadron duty.
By Marty Kauchak

Services around the globe are using more and increasingly capable fixed-wing training aircraft to help prospective pilots earn their wings of gold. A number of upgrades and procurement plans are moving forward or are on the books to allow aspiring aviators to more safely and efficiently prepare for their initial squadron duty.

Throughout training aircraft fleets, technology has become an integral part of the aircraft’s onboard training systems and ground-based training systems.
Requirements

The U.S. Air Force provides one insight of how training aircraft support different levels of a pilot accession program. Every prospective service pilot must fly in a minimum of three different aircraft before they receive their wings. “Each service aircraft builds upon the other, providing training skill-set transfer, minimizing duplication, but reinforcing important skills necessary for aviation in this demanding profession,” said Lieutenant Colonel Steve Fournier, deputy chief, Undergraduate Flying Training and Standardization Division, A3/FI, Air Education and Training Command (AETC).

The USAF initial flight screening (IFS) program is six weeks in length and allows successful students to receive 25 hours of flight time in the Diamond DA-20 aircraft. The service is moving toward a 100 percent centralized screening process of pilot candidates through a contract with Doss Aviation, Pueblo, Colo., before entry into the next phase—specialized undergraduate pilot training program (SUPT). In January 2008, Doss Aviation was screening 950 SUPT candidates, with a fleet of 30 contractor-owned DA-20s.

“During IFS, potential candidates undergo an intense screening process to identify those with the best skills and potential to complete SUPT. IFS also provides some foundation in situation awareness and hands-on skill experience in a general aviation aircraft within a military training environment,” added Fournier.

During SUPT, all students receive 90 hours of primary flight training in Hawker Beechcraft T-6A Texan II, a turboprop aircraft replacing the 1950s-era T-37B.

The T-6A incorporates state-of-the-art, commercial avionics and is the U.S. military’s Joint Primary Aircraft Training System. The Navy uses 52 T-6As for the primary and intermediate phases of its undergraduate military flight officer training. The T-6A has also been delivered to the Hellenic Air Force and the NATO Flying Training Canada program.

Following primary training, Air Force students fly in their third and final aircraft before receiving their wings. “Students may be assigned to one of four aircraft for this advanced training phase,” pointed out Fournier.

The majority of primary graduates will fly the T-1A Jayhawk (also a Hawker Beechcraft product) and will join the tanker or airlift fleet. This off-the-shelf, state-of-the-art business jet teaches crew concepts and advanced aviation skills.

The next largest group will fly the venerable Northrop Corp.-built T-38C Talon and receive follow-on assignments to fighters or bombers. This supersonic advanced trainer adds twice the speed and places greater emphasis on formation skills preparing their graduates for front-line combat aircraft.

A similar-sized, third group will attend advanced training with the Navy and fly the T-44/TC-12, twin-engine turboprop aircraft, which is perfectly suited to produce graduate ready entry into C-130 follow-on training.

The fourth advanced track available is rotary wing training where students fly the UH-1H Huey with follow-on assignments to helicopters or the tilt-rotor Osprey. The UH-1H will be replaced by the TH-1H Huey II beginning later this year.

AETC’s training aircraft inventory is 318 T-6A Texan IIs, 179 T-1As and 450 T-38Cs.

Sea Services’ Mainstay: T-45 Goshawk

The Boeing T-45 Goshawk jet trainer has earned its stripes during 15 years of maritime service and 800,000 flight hours. Major partner BAE Systems provides the rear and center fuselage, wing assembly and other components. Rolls Royce supplies the Ardour Mk51 turbofan powerplant.

The aircraft has trained over 3,000 student jet aviators, allowing them to transition to the F/A-18A-D Hornet, F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler, EA-6B Prowler, E-2C Hawkeye and AV-8B Harrier II Plus aircraft, and many others in foreign militaries.

There have been 207 T-45 deliveries to date, with seven scheduled for delivery for 2008 and the remaining seven in the program of record for 2009.
Overseas Developments

Training aircraft are also an integral part of overseas services’ pilot training.

BAE Systems’ Hawk advanced jet trainer (AJT) trains prospective aviators in 25 of the world’s air forces. The Hawk AJT fills an important niche in the pilot training.

“The Hawk AJT has been developed to produce a graduated training experience safely leading young trainees from turbo-prop trainers to the most advanced fighters,” said Paul Earnshaw, Hawk AJT spokesperson, BAE Systems. The Hawk family of training aircraft has trained pilots to transition to Tornado, Harrier, MiG29, F-16, F-18, Gripen, Su-30, Mirage 2000, Eurofighter Typhoon and many other fast-movers.

Aero Vodochody’s L-159 series aircraft has evolved to support the Czech Air Force and potential customers. In March 2007, the L-159T1 completed its maiden flight. This advanced training aircraft complements its predecessors, the two-seat L-159B and the single-seat L-159A.

“The two-seat L-159 is primarily designed for advanced and operational training with a secondary combat capability,” said Zuzana Kolouskova, communication specialist, Aero Vodochody a.s. “Flying the L-159, pilots gain experience in the fighter-style cockpit environment of an advanced aircraft before converting to supersonic multi-role fighters, such as F-16, F-18, JAS-39 Gripen, MiG-29, Su-30 and others. For this purpose the L-159 aircraft is equipped with latest technologies, including head-up display (HUD) and integrated digital avionics based on military components and other advanced systems,” added Kolouskova.

Alenia Aermacchi’s M-346 was designed to train pilots for flying Eurofighter and other advanced, high performance aircraft and made its maiden flight in 2004.

The Italian Air Force recently confirmed its plan to acquire 15 M-346 trainers. The aircraft is under evaluation by Singapore and reportedly short listed in the United Arab Emirates, according to Aermacchi.

In 2008, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. will deliver 19 PC-21 to the Singapore Air Force and six to the Swiss Air Force.

“The PC-21 features an advanced glass cockpit setup, which emulates the avionic configuration found in most 3rd and 4th generation fighters [multifunction displays [MFD], HUD and other features],” said Jim Roche, vice president and head of business unit government aviation, Pilatus. The PC-21’s mission pages and system and sensor emulation on the MFD’s, the HUD symbology and the hands-on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) switches can be customized to reflect any modern fighter aircraft. “In the case of the Swiss Air Force the PC-21 configuration has been modified to emulate F-18 functionality. For Singapore, the focus is on F-16 block 50,” pointed out Roche.

One insight into the PC-21 system’s software was provided by Presagis. Most training aircraft must regularly fly in both commercial and military air space. This presents a unique challenge for developers that may not be familiar with the DO-178B certification process required for civil aircraft. To help these developers accurately navigate the standard, Presagis provides development software that is qualifiable to DO-178B. “This means software already approved by the certification entities as an approved tool for use on projects requiring DO-178B certification, and ships with the appropriate certification artifacts,” pointed out Robert Kopersiewich, vice president, product management and business development, Presagis.

To allow the PC-21 to conform with the DO-178B, Ultra Electronics Datel uses Presagis’s VAPS and VAPS QCG (qualifiable code generator) software to cost-effectively develop a glass cockpit and two displays.
Government/Industry Teams’ Strategies

Prospective pilots develop and sharpen their skills with technology onboard training aircraft, including the four described below, and their supporting ground-based systems.

The Navy has earned dividends from its decision to integrate buying T-45 into a broader, fully-integrated T-45 training system. “The T-45 training system is a fully integrated, comprehensive system that includes the aircraft, high-fidelity visual flight simulators, computer-assisted classroom learning, an automated training management/tracking asset, and contractor logistics support,” remarked Barbara Wilson, T-45 program manager, Boeing. “This provides seamless transition to front-line fleet aircraft,” she added.

The T-45 training system replaced the T-2C and TA-4. “Return on investment is realized by the reduction of model-type series to a single aircraft, as well as reducing the overall flight-hours requirement by 28 percent with the introduction of high-fidelity simulator events. Duration of training has been reduced by 17 weeks,” said Wilson.

The evolving “T-6B is designed to provide a more flexible training platform,” said Jim Maslowski, vice president, government business, Hawker Beechcraft Corp. The model employs a “mission-driven system” with architecture centered on a state-of-the-art mission computer that drives all primary flight functions, tactical situation and employment capabilities, and hosts embedded training simulations. “These simulations can run the spectrum from simple threat training simulations to complex radar, electro-optical and electronic warfare systems. The system can be tailored to each individual customer’s needs and then the software solution can be employed throughout the associated ground-based training system,” he concluded.

The Hawk AJT is also part of a total system training package including a fully-integrated blend of computer-assisted training and synthetic training aids on the ground, and embedded simulation and synthetic sensors in the aircraft. “All of the activities, student performance and scheduling are controlled and monitored through an advanced training management system that ensures trainees are fully prepared for each event. The Hawk AJT’s embedded simulation capability operational fighter conversion costs can be reduced by up to 30 percent,” concluded Earnshaw.

PC-21 pilots are also supported by onboard sensor simulation and embedded simulation, training technologies on the ground. “We offer the full range of documentation, computer based training, full mission simulation and training management system in order to enable our customer to efficiently conduct pilot training at a minimum cost,” concluded Roche.
Enhancements for Some Trainers

Upgrades are planned or underway for different services’ trainers. The Air Force will extend the T-38’s service life through 2020. “The T-38C has just completed an extensive Boeing avionics upgrade program incorporating an integrated digital system. A propulsion system upgrade is in progress with modification programs scheduled for the aircraft ejection system and brakes. The T-6 is still coming off the production line and there are no plans to upgrade the aircraft at this time.” remarked Fournier.

The T-45s are also undergoing important enhancements. “The ongoing Required Avionics Modernization Program is upgrading analog instrumentation in older T-45A aircraft to the all-digital T-45C configuration. To maintain concurrency, simulators are receiving the same upgrade,” concluded Wilson.

Goshawks are also being upgraded through the Hot Section Reliability Improvement Program to increase aircraft engine life and lower training costs; and the Virtual Mission Training System, which adds a synthetic radar component for tactical training of navigators or undergraduate military flight officers.

The Czech industry-government team has ensured integration of the L-159 into NATO force structure by upgrading the communication system and other on-board systems. Other recent enhancements were completed on the VS-2 ejection seat and the L-159’s full mission simulator.
More Developments

A number of other deliveries and initiatives are on the close-in horizon.

Hawker Beechcraft is moving forward in 2008 to build a developmental test aircraft in the AT-6B configuration as announced at Farnborough 2006.

In April 2008, Hawker Beechcraft received two follow-on orders for an additional 137 T-6A aircraft and had delivered more than 387 T-6As. Initial Navy deliveries of the T-6B are scheduled for 2009 to replace the T-34 in Navy primary undergraduate training.

2008 will also be busy across Hawk AJT program’s portfolio. BAE Systems will complete deliveries of AJTs (Mk.120) to South Africa and 24 U.K.-built Mk.132 Hawks to India. Forty-two AJTs are being built under license in India by Hindustan Aeronautics. Also in 2008, BAE systems will commence delivery of the Hawk AJT (Mk.128) to the U.K.